Enrichment · Passion Projects

Thirty seconds to think.
Two minutes to talk.

Draw a prompt, glance at the structure on the card, and start the timer: a short countdown to prepare, then the time to speak. Practice this often enough and speaking off the cuff stops feeling like falling.

Deal some prompts What you get

$5one-time · every device you sign in on

Buy · $5

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Passion projects kit, $39 for 49 items.

Deal a set of speaking prompts

The worked example is made up: a speech club warm-up and a family practice at the dinner table. Saved on this device only.

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What you get

Enrichment · Passion Projects$5

What you finish with: A set of 3, 6 or 9 speaking prompts for one level, each with a structure that fits its kind, with a prepare-then-speak timer, starred and used prompts and notes.
Who it is for: Students from grade 4 up practicing for class, debate or speech clubs and interviews; teachers and coaches running warm-ups; families practicing at home; adults.
Format: Browser prompt builder with saved sets and a two-phase timer. Prints the prompts to cut out or as a list; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access: $5 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the tool opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Passion projects kit ($39) and the Enrichment Suite pass ($119), and 1 more bundle. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives: The Passion Projects space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support: Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

Choose the speaker’s level and the kinds of prompt.
Open the first prompt in the present view and choose the timer length.
Use the preparing time to write three words on a note card, one for each part of the structure.
Speak until the timer ends, even if you repeat yourself; finish with a clear last line.
Mark the prompt used and note what to work on next time.

Deal some prompts

Why a structure and a timer

Drawn for this page. A short structure gives a speaker somewhere to go next, which is most of what makes impromptu speaking less frightening.

Nerves are normal

Feeling nervous before speaking is one of the most common fears people report. Research on public speaking anxiety finds that practice and preparation, including repeated short speeches, are among the things that help.

A structure is a map

Most impromptu speakers who freeze have not run out of ideas; they have run out of places to go. Point, reason, example, point gives an opinion speech four stops, and the other kinds have their own.

Short, frequent rounds

Six one-minute speeches teach more than one six-minute speech. Keep the stakes low, rotate who speaks and note one thing to improve each time.

Sources

Bodie, G. D. (2010). A racing heart, rattling knees, and ruminative thoughts: Defining, explaining, and treating public speaking anxiety. Communication Education, 59(1), 70 to 105.
National Communication Association: Learning outcomes in communication, speaking in a variety of contexts (natcom.org).
Lucas, S. E. The Art of Public Speaking. McGraw-Hill. Impromptu speaking and organizing a speech with a few main points.
Common Core State Standards, Speaking and Listening, Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas (SL.4 to SL.6) (corestandards.org).

Prompts were written for this page; the example sets are made up. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.

Thirty seconds to think.Two minutes to talk.