150+ Impromptu Public Speaking Topics And Speech Ideas For Public Speakers

Are you going to participate in an impromptu speech? Public speaking is an art and a good skill to master that can help you gain confidence. While practicing speech is a good way to go about honing skills, participating in an impromptu speech is pretty much tricky. In addition to having less time to talk, you may have no idea what the topic is about in this type of speech.

While it may sound daunting, you need not worry about it much. This article will provide you with some pointers on how to perform an impromptu speech and a list of popular speech topics, so you know what to expect.

What Is An Impromptu Speech?

Simply put, it is a spontaneous speech wherein a speaker speaks without any prior preparations. In other words, a speaker will be given a topic on the spot, and they have to speak about it immediately. This type of speech tests a speaker’s ability to think and communicate their ideas in a short span of time.

An impromptu speech is short and is common in debates, speaking competitions, and other contests. Although the speaker will not be given time to make notes or plan their speech, usually, you’ll have around 1 – 3 minutes to collect their thoughts about the given topic. The speaker must typically speak for 5-7 minutes. However, the duration may vary depending on the competition and the topic. 

For instance, some competitions will just give 1 minute for preparation, while others may give 3 minutes. As mentioned above, this is one of the best ways to gauge one’s public speaking skills.

Short Tips For Picking Good Impromptu Speech Topics

Here are some tips that can help you select a good impromptu speech topic:

Choose a well-known topic: Never select a topic that you don’t know about or have no knowledge about. Instead, pick something that you are familiar with.

Customize the given topic: Whatever topic you get, customize it to match the current situation or trends so that you have enough information to speak about. 

Improve value: When speaking about a topic, share your knowledge and personal experience about the topic that helps the listener understand the topic better.

Make it relatable: Conclude the speech with recent references, such as the latest events or happenings that people can relate to.

Good Impromptu Speech Topics For Students

1. Do you agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder?
2. Why is inner beauty important?
3. Why being wise is considered better than being intelligent?
4. Do plants feel? Explain.
5. The role of art in life and learning.
6. My three favorite birds.
7. Children must not be given smartphones.
8. My favorite book and the lessons I learned from it.
9. Why social media can be a negative influence on children’s minds?
10. What makes the seas best?

Speech And Debate Impromptu Topics

1. Explain the role of CCTV for security purposes.
2. Importance of voting and elections. 
3. Teenagers and smoking: Why do they smoke?
4. Do you think self-driving cars are safe?
5. Climate change and global warming: What are its consequences?
6. Why must you have good grades?
7. The role of technology in shaping the world today.
8. Social media and its negative effects on teenagers.
9. Is remote learning a viable long-term alternative to in-person education?
10. Is it ever ethical to break the law to make a political statement?

Persuasive Impromptu Speech Topics

1. Why everyone should adopt a plant-based diet.
2. Plastic bags should be banned in all stores.
3. Why every student should learn a second language.
4. Social media is harmful to our mental health.
5. Recycling should be mandatory for everyone.
6. Why renewable energy is the key to our future.
7. Why we need to invest in space exploration.
8. Every person should learn basic coding skills.
9. Why standardized tests are not an accurate measure of intelligence.
10. Why we should all prioritize mental health and self-care.

Funny Impromptu Speech Topics

1. What are some worst fashion trends of all time?
2. Explain the joys and struggles of being a couch potato.
3. What are the benefits of being a procrastinator?
4. What are the most ridiculous conspiracy theories that you have ever heard?
5. Name one of the most absurd laws that is still on the books.
6. List the worst pick-up lines that are ever used.
7. How to survive a zombie apocalypse.
8. The funniest jokes you’ve ever heard.
9. Best ways to annoy your siblings.
10. The weirdest things you’ve ever eaten.

Excellent Impromptu Public Speaking Topics

1. Are social media platforms responsible for the content their users post?
2. Should athletes be required to use their platforms to advocate for social justice?
3. Should businesses be required to disclose the environmental impact of their products?
4. Should there be limits on the number of terms elected officials can serve?
5. Is it ethical for companies to use data mining to target advertising to individuals?
6. Should the government have the power to regulate the content of advertisements?
7. Should college athletes be paid for their participation in sports?
8. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
9. What is the most important quality for a leader to possess?
10. Should social media platforms have the right to censor content?
11. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
12. Should college education be free for everyone?
13. What is the biggest challenge facing our society today?
14. Is it better to be loved or respected?
15. Should people be allowed to own exotic animals as pets?
16. What is the most important lesson you have learned in life so far?
17. Should governments be allowed to regulate the use of personal data by tech companies?
18. Why self-love matters?
19. Should every person have a goal in their life?
20. Intelligence vs. wisdom: Which is better?

Creative & Informative Impromptu Speech Topics

1. Tattoos: Their history and cultural significance.
2. The art and science of baking the perfect cake.
3. List out some benefits of mindfulness meditation for mental health.
4. Discuss the impact of social media on our communication and relationships.
5. What is the science behind lucid dreaming, and how to achieve it?
6. The history and cultural significance of street art.
7. What are the benefits and challenges of being a minimalist?
8. The history and cultural significance of drag performance.
9. List out some of the benefits of practicing yoga for physical and mental health.
10. The art and science of mixology: how to make the perfect cocktail.
11. Folk music: History and cultural significance.
12. What are the benefits and challenges of living off the grid?
13. The science behind sleep and the best ways to improve your sleep habits.
14. The history and cultural significance of stand-up comedy.
15. The benefits and challenges of practicing sustainable living.

Entertaining Impromptu Speech Topics

1. How to survive a day in the life of a cartoon character.
2. The ridiculous things people have done for love.
3. The funniest misheard song lyrics of all time.
4. How to survive a zombie apocalypse using only household items.
5. The most absurd excuses people have used to get out of work/school.
6. The most hilarious memes of all time.
7. How to fake your way through a conversation about a topic you know nothing about.
8. The funniest moments in television and movie history.
9. How to make any boring task fun and enjoyable.
10. The funniest pranks you’ve ever pulled (or had pulled on you).

Good Extempore Topics For Students

1. What are the consequences of social media on our lifestyle? 
2. Discuss the benefits and challenges of online learning.
3. Why mental health and self-care is important for students?
4. The history and cultural significance of hip-hop music.
5. What is the science behind climate change and its effects on our planet?
6. What are the benefits and challenges of studying abroad?
7. The history and cultural significance of the Olympics.
8. Discuss the impact of technology on our daily lives.
9. The benefits and challenges of pursuing a career in the arts.
10. The impact of COVID-19 on education and society as a whole.

Great 2-Minute Speech Topics

1. Should vaccinations be mandatory for all children?
2. Importance of setting goals and working towards them.
3. Benefits of a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise.
4. What is the impact of climate change on our planet, and what can we do to help?
5. What is the power of positive thinking and the impact it can have on our lives?
6. What are the benefits of traveling and experiencing new cultures?
7. Importance of giving back to our communities through volunteering.
8. The impact of social media on our lives and how we can use it responsibly.
9. Discuss the benefits of pursuing a hobby or passion outside of work/school.
10. The importance of effective communication in all areas of life.

Conclusion

Although impromptu speech can catch you unprepared, it is not something that is impossible to crack. By following the guidelines given in this post and browsing through the list of speech topics, you can get a rough idea of what you can expect. Just go through the topics and see how you can prepare for them and practice accordingly.