Ohio University College of Business Communication Standards

Impromptu
Types of Oral Presentations
In an impromptu presentation, you would speak without preparation, develop content, and
choose words as you are speaking. In a business setting, this does not necessarily mean that
you have no prior knowledge of the topic. Knowing your subject matter is the best way to
prepare for impromptu situations. For example, at a meeting your Vice President asks you
to bring the group “up to speed” on the new inventory system being implemented by your
department. Your response to his or her query is, in essence, an impromptu presentation
developed at the moment but based on (hopefully!) familiar information.
In some circumstances, you may be asked to give an opinion or respond to an idea that you
have not considered before. Try to draw on prior experiences or similar situations to
formulate a response. Organizing your thoughts into a logical sequence and responding in a
clear and confident manner enhance your credibility and make you appear thoughtful and
knowledgeable.
For College of Business presentations, speaking from notes is not permitted unless otherwise
specified by your instructor.
Extemporaneous
For extemporaneous presentations, you have some preparation time. Many business
presentations will fall into this category. Typically, the presenter will speak from an outline
of pre-determined main points and with a planned introduction, but without scripting each
word to be spoken. With some practice, presenters often find that extemporaneous
presentations are more natural and conversational than scripted presentations.
For College of Business presentations, speaking from notes is not permitted unless otherwise
specified by your instructor.
Scripted
In a scripted presentation, the speech is planned and each word is written out in manuscript
form. A scripted presentation may be appropriate for formal presentations or for highly
detailed/technical information. Although use of a full manuscript may increase precision, a
downside is that presenters usually sound as though they are reading to, rather than talking
with, their audiences.
Developing an Effective Oral Presentation
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