Her incoherent response was ironic and many believe it made a strong statement about the sad state of the American education system. That may or may not be the case, but answering a question like that in that situation is a difficult task. Remember, we’re talking about a 17-year-old kid under a lot of pressure. A large audience, bright lights, TV cameras, and the fulfillment of her dream were all adding to the pressure.

If you’re ever in a high-pressure impromptu situation like that, take a few seconds before you respond to gather your thoughts. Don’t be afraid to pause during your response if you need to. If you can pause without a look of panic on your face, you will appear thoughtful and careful, and your audience will respect you for that.

Here are 3 ways to organize your impromptu speech:

The first pattern is called the PREP method. This pattern is your best choice when you only have a few seconds to prepare. Here are the steps:

* Position: State your position on the topic.
* Reason: State your reason for taking the position.
* Example: Provide an example that helps explain your reason.
* Position: Summarize and restate your position.

The second pattern for organizing your impromptu speeches is called the Point-Support-Conclusion method. It goes like this:

* Point: Provide your point of view, key idea, or objective.
* Support: Provide stories or examples that help prove your point.
* Conclusion: End by restating your point of view, key idea, or make your call to action.

The final pattern is called Past-Present-Future:

* Point: State your key point.
* Past: Discuss what happened in the past.
* Present: Discuss what is occurring today.
* Future: Tell your audience about what will or could happen in the future.
* Point: Summarize by restating your key point.

Yes, impromptu can be nerve-racking, but if you stay cool and take a few seconds to organize your thoughts, you’ll look like a pro. Remember that your response does not need to be a masterpiece. Your audience realizes that you are speaking off the cuff. A thoughtful, coherent, and brief response is what is expected.

If you are a student and want a better grade on your next speech, be sure to visit GradeMySpeech.com to have a former speech instructor grade your speech before you have to deliver it for real!