In Extemp, it is easy to get caught up in the stress of only 30 minutes of preparation and forget about arguably the most important thing in determining your success: the judge. Judges aren’t robots that score you off of a rubric. Although they may look for certain things in both your content and presentation, at the end of the day each of your judges are actual people. They might be teachers, parents, alumni, and so on. Some might know every detail about U.S. and China relations, while others may think the “Belt and Road” initiative is the newest fashion line from a clothing brand. Regardless, your job as an extemper is to make them care about your speech.
This guide will help you make a lasting impression and give you that extra edge in your room to stand out.
Speak Like an Expert
When applicable, it is beneficial to list specific leaders’ names, major policymakers, or relevant experts to display both precision and credibility. Judges subconsciously think, “wow, this person knows their stuff.” It is often crucial to talk about the leadership of a given country when talking about their policy, whether domestic or foreign. Therefore, citing the specific names behind such policy or action is a very simple way to add credibility to your argument.
Instead of saying:
“India’s democracy is under threat.”
Say:
”Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s Bharatiya Jakarta Party has centralized power in ways that challenge the independence of the judiciary and press.”
In this approach, you show the leader;s name, party, and specific political trend all in one sentence. Instead of sounding vague and generic, it sounds analytical.
Of course, you shouldn’t go overboard. Nobody needs a roll call of all cabinet members. However, being able to name the German Chancellor or Colombia’s current president gives you more authority. Just as important is being able to pronounce someone’s name. The last thing you want to do is mispronounce a global leader’s name throughout the duration of your seven minute speech. A quick Google search or peak at Voice of America’s pronunciation guide can do the trick.
Diversify Your Sources
Judges have heard The New York Times and The Washington Post a thousand times. So, try surprising them. Incorporate government white papers, reports, think tanks (like Brookings or CSIS), or academic journalists like Nature Energy and Foreign Affairs.
Bonus tips:
- When you cite, add credentials before it. For example, “According to William Frey, award-winning demographer, who writes in a Brooking’s Institute article…” sounds significantly stronger than “According to Brooking’s Institute”
- Another tip is to add a description after certain sources, especially if they may be relatively unknown. For instance, “The Brooking’s Institute, an international think tank, explains…” Another example could be, “The Nature Conservancy, a non-profit dedicated towards fighting climate change, explains…”
Another aspect of diversifying your sources includes quoting people, not just articles. While facts may inform, quotes can persuade. Judges love when you bring voices into the room, whether it is a U.N. secretary general, a protest in Sudan, or a farmer from a CNN interview. I’d suggest incorporating such quotes as an on-top, power-line, or a concluding statement.
For example:
”We are fighting for our further, not our past,” said a Ukrainian student quoted in BBC news…[then transition]
That single line helps humanize your point, a feat difficult to accomplish strictly using statistics. On that note, humanizing your topic is also critical, and this tip can help you accomplish that goal. While accuracy is extremely important, connection is as well. If your topic is abstract, like fiscal policy or global debt, find the human story behind it. Tie it to real lives, emotions, or relatable experiences. Incorporating quotes is one way to do so.
Highlight emotional or memorable quotes, they can make fantastic AGDs, transitions, or impact lines. I will say don’t look at some devastating quotes as “yes, I have an extemp transition!” but to remember the real human value behind them. Those words were from real people from real experiences, and empathy is above all.
Turn Transitions into Themes
Transitions are often overlooked, but can be crucial to making you stand out in a room. Don’t let yours sound like an outline. Instead of saying, “First, let’s look at..” make your transitions a moment to step out of your comfort zone.
Or better yet, extend your themes. If your AGD was about chess, reference “moves” and “endgames” between points. If you started with a storm metaphor, make your transitions thunder and lighting. A consistent thread helps the judge remember you.
To learn more about transitions, check out this article!
Relevant to this topic is your conclusion. This is your opportunity to end with echo. It is not uncommon for judges to remember you from either your first impression (introduction) or last impression(conclusion). Therefore, capitalize on making the most of your conclusion. Don’t just stop your speech after restating the question and answer. Bring back your AGD (a lot of judges have a preference for this) and tie it back in a clever wordplay, or deliver a line that ties the story together with power in an inspiring manner.
Example:
AGD – When Neil Armstrong’s lunar module started drifting off course in 1969, he took manual control and landed it himself, Even the most advanced machine needed a human hand to guide it.
Conclusion – Today, as AI steers more of our world, we face the same truth Armstrong did. Progress only matters if we’re still the ones at the controls.
This is an example of both a circular and powerful conclusion that mirrors the AGD’s imagery while leaving the judge with a clear final thought.
Final Thoughts
The most elite extempers aren’t encyclopedias that are able to recite information (although some definitely can). They are storytellers with actual substance behind their words.
If your judge leaves thinking, I learned something and I enjoyed it, you’ve already won the round.