How do I prepare for Interpretat

You must be a news junkie. Extempers read, watch, and listen to the news regularly. They print news stories from the web or cut them from newspapers and magazines. They work with their team to trade information. Be sure, though, that you do not simply file this material. Read it, at least briefly. Be familiar with your files before walking into the prep room.

This is the room of a tournament where extempers receive their prompts and prepare their speeches. It is often the library of the school. This is a quiet environment where speakers keep their research, review it, and practice their speeches.

Buy a portable file bin. You can find these at any office supply store. One like this would work. Use the hanging files to organize your clippings by subject.

This is called "canning." Canning refers to writing portions of speeches that you re-use from speech to speech. Impromptu Speaking offers opportunity for "canning" much more than Extemporaneous Speaking. Good extempers do not pre-write, but they do follow outlines and use tricks that can repeat from speech to speech. Here is an outline that might work:

1. Begin with a brief reference to a current event.

2. State and answer the question.

3. Identify your two to three areas of analysis. These are the supporting reasons of your speech.

4. Deliver each supporting reason with cited research. Use transitions between each.

5. Conclude by re-stating the question.

Any, really. Some speakers begin their speech with stories, parables, or clichés totally unrelated to current events. They then weave these into the question. Some begin with jokes. Any trick which grabs attention, supports the thesis, and does not distract will work.

Unlike other speech events, extempers enter the room one at a time. The first speaker delivers to a room with only a judge. That speaker leaves. The second speaker enters and delivers to the judge. This process continues until each speaker has spoken. In this way, no speaker sees another's speech.

The National Forensics League provides a discussion area that can help. Go here to see that discussion. Also, check the resources page on the IE main page. If you find excellent web resources and think the team can benefit from them, send them to Coach Clarkson.