This article from the Toastmasters web site is appropriate for most speaking and presenting situations, not just impromptu speeches. The bullet points of the performance-related issues:
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Greet the audience.
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Don’t say anything that lowers the audience’s expectations.
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Buy yourself time, but be careful not to overdo it.
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The more alive and original you are, the better your performance will be.
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Sell your idea to the audience.
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Practice!
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The audience is in the same boat as you.
The last tip is especially helpful to remember in the classroom environment.
In case you’re wondering, Table Topics is a Toastmasters exercise that occurs at every meeting. Members give off-the-cuff impromptu speeches on a particular topic.
