Impromptu Prompts

IMPROMPTU TOPICS (inspired by the SLVHS debate team's favorite books)

1. "But maybe that was the trick -- to accept the responsibility and forgo the control. To love without expectation." - Ruth Ozeki,All Over Creation
2. “Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything.” - Kurt Vonnegut,Cat's Cradle
3. “Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.” - Brandon Sanderson,The Way of Kings

We follow the NSDA Impromptu guidelines:

1. Preparation and Delivery: The speaker has seven minutes in which to prepare a response and present a speech without consultation of prepared notes.

2. No notes shall be used during presentation.

3. Time: The maximum time limit is 7 minutes with a 30-second “grace period,” which includes both preparation and speaking. Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. There is no other prescribed penalty for going over the grace period. No minimum time is mandated. We ask students to record their prep time and speech.