The following is the ultimate guide for novices on how to succeed in extemporaneous speaking. This guide was written by Zoe Becker and Shriya Surana with help from Ananth Veluvali.
Part 1: What is Extemporaneous Speaking?
Oftentimes the name of a speech and debate event is fairly self explanatory. Congressional debate is–you guessed it–a style of debate that mimics the US congress. In Humorous Interpretation, competitors humorously interpret existing literature.
From the name, the procedure of a round of extemp is far less obvious. We know that it’s extemporaneous, not pre-prepared, but beyond that lots of questions linger.
So, what really is extemporaneous speaking?
Extemporaneous speaking (extemp) is a speech and debate event in which competitors draw three questions (typically about current events; think politics and economics) and select one to for which they’ll spend thirty minutes preparing a seven minute response.
Extemp is what’s known as a “limited-prep” speech event. Per the name, it’s an event that involves speaking after a constrained amount of preparation time. Other common limited preparation events include impromptu speaking and extemporaneous commentary.
Any extemp tournament–virtual or in person–centers around a prep room where all extempers draw their questions and prepare their speeches. There, you’ll prepare your speech for half an hour (keep reading to learn more about the mechanics of that half hour) before going to deliver your speech. In most preliminary rounds, you’ll just be speaking to your judge. In extemp, it’s atypical for competitors to stay and spectate speeches after their own though very few tournaments prohibit it. Once you’ve done all that, you’ve completed a round of extemp! You’ll return to the prep room and start it all over again.
Like all other speech events, extemp rounds take place in sections of 4-7 people in which competitors are ranked in descending order (1 is best).
Part 2: Why Do Extemp?
Reasons both big and small draw competitors to Extemp, international and domestic, over the seven other events offered by the NSDA. For those considering or coming from a debate background, Extemp becomes a fast-paced, impactful, and even artistic platform for argumentation. For students hoping to deepen not only their own understanding but also the world’s understanding of critical, multidimensional issues, Extemp offers that chance. The event requires that speakers be given the space to make their case without interruption, while also granting them artistic license to employ humor, drama, and creativity. In a world overflowing with challenges, Extemp is a way for young people to be heard, to stay informed, and to claim an audience for prescribing remedies. To do the event is to discover a reason to care about issues as varied as the world itself.
Of course, Extemp is stressful and demanding. Yet it is also a space that offers a path forward for expression, resilience, and the human condition. From this, the most successful Extempers extend their impact far beyond the round. They return to their communities at ground zero, applying their communication skills to activism, continuing to educate themselves about the world, and growing into informed voters and global citizens.
Part 3: Parts of an Extemp Speech
In order to master extemporaneous speaking, you must have a firm grasp on the structure of an extemp speech. When it comes to structuring your speeches, it’s best to not reinvent the wheel. Almost all extemp speeches follow the same basic formula.
The introduction of an extemp speech has the most moving parts.
Any speech begins with an attention getting device, which extempers typically call an AGD. An AGD functions similarly to the hook of an essay. In it, speakers will utilize a quote, a joke, a surprising statistic, historical parallel, or narrative to grab their audience’s attention. Historically, jokes have been a favorite form of AGD among extempers. That said, over the past several years, narrative AGDs in which extempers tell the story of one individual impacted by the issue in the question have also widely proliferated. For an example of a joke AGD, check out Anthony Babu’s 2025 Nationals winning speech. For an example of a narrative AGD, take a look at Teddy Gercken’s 2023 nats finals speech.
After your AGD, you’ll link your opening to the topic at hand and then transition into your background. In your background you should provide your audience with any information they’ll need to know in order to understand your question and the context behind it. You should define any key terms in the question, including subjective or relatively unknown words & phrases. Additionally, you’ll want to set up the state of play regarding the issue (government, war, economy, etc) being discussed in your speech.
After your background, you’ll deliver a statement of significance (SoS). This one sentence serves to explain why it’s important that we listen to your speech and consider the question being asked. Typically, an SoS ends by setting up the question. It may look something like this: And, it’s when considering that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could endanger millions of lives and upend the global semiconductor industry that we must ask today’s question…
After your SoS you’ll state your question. Make sure you memorize the specific wording during prep. Many judges look down on a misstated question.
Next, of course, you’ll answer the question with your thesis and a preview of your three points. As you’re watching example speeches, pay particular attention to how extempers structure their answers. For a yes or no question they’ll begin by saying which side they fall on and then deliver their thesis.
For more intricate information on each part of your introduction, check out this article.
After your introduction, you’ll deliver each of your three points! Before your points you may use an on-top which is a brief joke or narrative that serves as a transition. Beware of long, elaborate on-tops; they can derail your speech and distract from its substance. If you do choose to employ them, it’s often best to ensure they’re somehow tied to you AGD.
Each point, lasting around a minute and a half, will utilize direct and indirect evidence to answer the question. To learn more about how to actually prep your points, check out this video by Annie Zhao and Katherine Hu. Points are always broken down into an a subpoint, b subpoint, and c subpoint/impact otherwise known as substructure. Substructure is a vast topic area with plenty of concepts to master. We recommend checking out our advanced substructure article series in order to get a complete grasp on the concept and its application.
Finally, you’ll wrap up a speech with a conclusion. In your conclusion you should restate your thesis and your points before closing with a rhetorical flourish or tie back to your AGD.
Part 4: Extemp Prep Mechanics and Strategies
“How well can you make your point?”
This singular question should guide your argument. Any claim requires adequate evidence for it to be communicated clearly and authoritatively to the audience. In a constantly changing climate of policy, dispute, and peacemaking, a speaker has the obligation to deliver the truest version of an answer to the prompting question in that moment. In a world connected through quickly accessible news, the information guiding the thesis of your speech can easily communicate a narrative backed by evidence. Thus, an extemporaneous speaking round is split into two segments: preparation and delivery.
Every tournament featuring Extemp will have a demarcated “extemp prep room.” Often, tournament communications will require extempers to arrive early to tournaments for a meeting in this room to discuss any tournament-specific logistics. This meeting will go over critical timings for speakers to attend their rounds and the topic area for the round. The extemp prep room is typically a large room, such as a library or auditorium. Be sure to arrive early to pick an ideal spot with outlet access and comfortable seating.
As will likely also be explained in the prep room meeting, extemp prep is staggered by a standard 7-10 minutes per speaker. In other words, speaker one might “draw” or formally pick their prompt at 8:00, speaker two may be invited to draw at 8:10, speaker three at 8:20, and so on. It is important to be vigilant with your speaker number, order, and pairing/section number, since often the coach running the prep room will ask for verbal confirmation of these details.
Once your speaker flight is invited to draw, you may be given an envelope, site link, or slips containing three unique question prompts. It is typical for an extemper to select their prompt within the first 30 seconds of drawing the questions. The prompt you select will then be shown or said to the draw coordinator to be marked as chosen. This is when the 30-minute prep time begins. Then, the speaker will return to their seat and begin an online search. While it is typical for extempers to split prep time 15/15, with half time spent prepping and half memorizing evidence for the speech, competitors should experiment to find out the most comfortable distribution of time. Examples of other time splits include 10/20, 17/13, and, occasionally, 23/7, though this is not recommended for novices. As you practice before a tournament, attempt to keep your prep/practice time split consistent to allow yourself time to adjust. For later steps, this guide will assume you, the speaker, will adopt a 15/15 standard time split.
For the first 15 minutes, you will prep. The first 2-5 minutes should be used to gain contextual understanding of the topic you are missing, form a thesis, and three supporting points. No later than 7 minutes in, find impactful background sources for your statement of significance, background information, and, if time allows, a hook.
By minute 15, you should focus on finding timely, trustworthy, and telling evidence to support your argument. Have the evidence correspond points introduced in the Novice Guide segment on Parts of Speech. This evidence should be a mix of theory, examples, and numbers. For example, if you are making the case for a particular politician to support the construction of affordable housing, consider what medium of evidence you will use to support this point. Using numerical evidence, you can argue that 78% of the politicians’ constituents, when responding to a survey, felt unable to afford their homes long-term.
Using theory, look to research supporting the ultimate conclusion of your argument. You might find a paper that finds that this politician’s voters’ top issues are housing and homelessness, concluding that the housing crisis should be the main highlight of the politician’s campaign for office in the coming months. Finally, cement your case for affordable housing as a prime solution using an example of a similar region or historical instance where a politician facing similar issues was able to counteract systemic inequity and win over voters through an affordable housing project.
Evidence is not just a great way to prove your point, but cement its impact. It is important not to treat your research during this period as a checkbox to be filled in, but as a medium of expression, allowing you to best communicate stories, sentiments, and solutions to an audience. If you do not find what you are looking for on the first try, consider rewording, adding a “statistics” to your query, or another approach to prove your point.
While many successful extempers conduct their own internet searches, depending on tournament rules, a tournament may allow for Artificial Intelligence or search-optimizing technology to be used, including Perplexity AI, Extemp Genie, and Prepd. Make sure to double-check with your own tournament’s policy on prep before using these tools, because policy on the usage of this technology varies widely based on circuit. This should take you 3-4 minutes per point.
As you research during your first 15 minutes, begin committing the prompting question, your supporting points, and key evidence to memory. Many extempers do this in a nearby open area, pacing or speaking aloud as they rehearse. Movement often helps with memorization, but be sure to leave enough time to run through your speech at least once.
Remember: it’s nearly impossible to memorize every word. Instead, rely on your prior knowledge and focus on the big ideas and causes that form the backbone of your speech. Depending on your tournament’s rules, you may be required to leave your prep pad in the prep room, submit it to the draw staff, or keep it, so double-check the policies of your league or district. Never bring your prep notes into the competition room.
In your final minute of prep, take a deep breath and a sip of water, set up your timer if needed, and walk into the room with confidence.
Part 5: Improving at Extemp
Getting a firm grasp on extemp is one thing, mastering it is entirely another. For long term success in extemp though, continuous improvement is critical. Luckily, learning how to target your weaknesses and build a practice routine can make doing so rather simple (even if it’ll never be easy).
Getting better at extemp starts with developing a practice routine. Oftentimes, extempers get trapped in cycles of going several weeks or months without practicing because they have no upcoming tournaments and then suddenly being overwhelmed by the amount of practice they have to do. Consistently practicing for the sake of practice throughout the season, rather than just when there’s an immediately upcoming tournament, not only allows you to build skills over time but prevents the burnout which can be caused by a stop and start approach.
The key to a good practice routine is a balance of maintainability and thoroughness. Essentially, you shouldn’t be practicing so much–say, always giving 3+ speeches a day–that you quickly burn out and are never able to develop skills. At the same time, it’s important that your practice is robust enough for you to notice and target weaknesses so you should probably be giving some level of speeches consistently.
Only you can determine what a realistic and rigorous practice routine means for you. Your regimen should depend on your school/extracurricular schedule, threshold for burnout, extemp goals (i.e., how much of a priority extemp is for you), and practice goals.
For some people, it’s realistic to give a full speech every day. For others, a mini-speech or outline in the mornings or evenings works best. For others still, it depends on the day.
Determining your practice priorities is crucial for guiding your routine. After all, it’s not worth your while to be spending hours a day doing delivery drills if your main areas for improvement are content related (and vice versa).
One of the best ways to determine what should be guiding your practice is to review old tournament results and take note of what types of feedback consistently comes up in your ballots. Giving practice speeches to friends, coaches, or family members can offer similar insights. And, of course, if you’re looking for an extra set of eyes on your speeches, the Extemper’s Bible Speech Review service is always a great option!
Once you determine your practice priorities, it’s best to incorporate some drills that target those areas specifically into your routine beyond just giving full speeches.
If your main weaknesses are content geared, dry-prepping (outlining without delivering) speeches, generating lists of points for different question types, and timed research drills can be great options to incorporate. On the flip side, if your main weaknesses are related to your delivery, doing start-stop drills (in which you stop and restart your speech each time you make a certain delivery error), re-delivering old speeches, and running tongue twisters are good starting points.
Regardless of what your particular weaknesses are, part of improvement for any extemper involves expanding your topic knowledge base. Carving out time to read/listen to news and news analyses on a regular basis is crucial to improving at extemp. Additionally, the more you read the more you’ll be able to identify which areas you’re underinformed on. Only then can you dig in in order to gain the knowledge necessary to succeed in any topic area.
As with your practice routine, there’s no one correct way to structure your news intake. That said, consistency is key–if you fall behind on global affairs it can be tough to catch back up with the desired depth. To stay informed, many extempers rely on daily news briefings, podcasts, and publications. If you’re looking for some reliable sources to integrate into your extemp routine, check out this article!
Yes, practice and progress are never linear. Even so, they make a big difference. It’s a lot easier to improve off of consistent efforts than sporadic ones. Once you combine a practice routine with a reading routine, you’re well on your way to not just grasping extemp but mastering it.
Part 6: A Novice Guide to Natcircs
No matter the mastery on extemp technique and content that you have, new tournaments can be daunting. As a result, we’ll be updating this page throughout the year with information about major upcoming national circuit tournaments.
UKSO (September 6-7, Online)
UK Season Opener is the first major tournament of the season, and the most competitive online opportunity of the first semester. At the date of publication, the tournament staff have not released procedures. That being said, University of Kentucky-run tournaments, like the UKTOC, are known for being sudden death (much like my patience during online tournaments). Unlike most major tournaments, they only have three preliminary rounds with a particularly tough break to semis the next morning. Topic areas are as follows:
Round 1: Eurasia
Round 2: Domestic Economy
Round 3: Latin America
Round 4: Domestic Energy & Environment
Round 5: United States Foreign Policy
Because this is a prestigious online tournament, there are a few key things to remember.
First, there’s a limited barrier to entry, which means that you will be facing a wide variety of skill sets and styles; judges from more states will have more diverse preferences, and national points race winners will be in the same rooms as novices who wouldn’t physically travel to other natcircs. This means that unlike tournaments that might lean heavily towards content (like the Barkley Forum) or delivery (like NCFL), you should prepare to give “median good” speeches.
Most importantly, and this is true for all online tournaments, make sure not to get lost in the sauce. Facetime your friends or spend time with your team between rounds to stay connected during an otherwise isolating experience. Try to leave your bedroom or competition room at least once. I’m a huge proponent of wearing competition shoes even when online to keep the competition feeling real. In draw, make sure to keep your mics off! And finally, learn from my freshman year mistakes and triple-check time zones before every round. Best of luck!
Yale Invitational (Sept. 19-21, New Haven, CT)
With the Yale tournament just around the corner, the Extemper’s Bible has gathered some advice and insights to help first-time competitors feel more prepared. A big thanks to Kajal Parmar for sharing her experiences, and best of luck to all the Extempers headed to Yale this September!
Tournament Logistics
Competitors can find a full schedule for the weekend, including location information, at this link https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MkVrM-HP-4qxna-K7E_Ffs9N_HjRQQqVoGzcKbZf7FE/edit?tab=t.0.
Topic areas are as follows:
R1 US Politics & Government
R2 South, Southeast, & East Asia
R3 US Economics
R4 Africa & Southwest Asia
OF Energy & Environment
QF The Americas & Europe
SF US Foreign Policy
F Hypotheticals
The Yale Invitational is one of the earliest major tournaments of the season, and because of its prestige, it draws a large, competitive entry pool, especially since Extemp is collapsed into a combined IX/DX category. The large scale of this event means rounds can be spread across different parts of campus or at affiliated locations, and logistics matter just as much as your speeches. When traveling from prep to your competition room, give yourself extra time: add at least two minutes to the time provided in Google Maps. Campus entrances and exits aren’t always where the map indicates, and on a busy weekend with unfamiliar hallways, it’s easy to run late.
Once the sun sets, it’s also important to stay safe while moving between buildings. Some campus areas are dimly lit, so try to walk with teammates or other competitors rather than going alone. It may feel awkward to ask at first, but you’ll be grateful for the extra safety, and you might make a new friend in the process.
Another small but useful tip for any large tournament: competition days are long. Make sure you bring snacks and a refillable water bottle (no, an energy drink doesn’t count as hydration). Prep can be draining, and you don’t want to burn through energy before outrounds. Portable chargers are also lifesavers: between drawing prep questions, checking schedules, and keeping in touch with teammates, your phone and laptop will likely be in constant use.
Competition Atmosphere
For many teams, Yale is the first major tournament of the year, so don’t be discouraged if it feels overwhelming. Treat the tournament as an opportunity for feedback rather than failure. Pay attention to ballots if you receive them, as they can be a great window into what worked and what didn’t. No matter what your final ranking is, you will be sure to leverage this professional feedback from the early season into the second semester.
Yale also tends to run slightly behind schedule at times because of the tournament’s size. Patience and flexibility go a long way, especially if this is your first experience at a larger tournament. Be in touch with your team’s coach and captain, and if you are either of those, then be sure to relay information so that everyone is in the loop for last-minute delays.
Food and Fun
Of course, a trip to Yale isn’t all about competition, you’ll want to take advantage of New Haven’s food scene. Mamoun’s Falafel Restaurant is perfect if you’re rushing between rounds and need something fast but filling. If you’re in the mood for something heartier, Ay! Arepa serves up delicious Latin fusion dishes that are well worth the walk. For comfort food with a modern twist, Junzi Kitchen is a favorite among campus students and competitors alike, offering customizable noodle bowls.
If your team has time, you might also want to grab a classic New Haven coal-fired, thin-crust pizza at Pepe’s or Sally’s, two legendary spots that locals swear by. It’s a fun way to bond with teammates after a long day of competition.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the Yale Invitational is a chance to experience what national circuit extemp is like, to challenge yourself against top competitors, and to explore a campus and city full of history and energy. Stay organized, give yourself plenty of time, and don’t forget to enjoy the experience both inside and outside of rounds.
Good luck and happy prepping!
Part 7: Additional Resources
So, you’ve made it through! If you’re still curious to learn more about how to succeed in extemp, check out a few of the resources below (plus this website!).
- A list of twenty free presentations that cover topic areas like the Middle East, US Politics, and China, plus specific extemp topics like substructure and the art of delivery. And, the Extemper’s Bible is re-releasing all of them this year with updated information so stay tuned!
- A definitive source list for extemp speaking, with over 100 sources you can look through. A few videos:
- A beginner breakdown of her national final round speech and an advanced breakdown of her national final round speech by Jackie Wei, the two time USX national champion.
- A speech by Peter Alisky, the 2022 NSDA USX champion
- A speech by Anthony Babu, the 2024 and 2025 NSDA IX champion
Parting Thoughts
Extemp speaking is a truly rewarding event that will make you a more analytical, persuasive, and confident speaker. Hopefully this guide helps you on the path toward extemp stardom and feel free to reach out with any questions! You can contact us on Instagram (@theextempersbible) or email (theextempersbible@gmail.com).