Vocabulary Word:
Accolade (n):
An expression of
approval; an award
Impromptu Topic #1
Convince us to
vote for you as
President of
the USA.
Vocabulary Word:
Acrimony (n):
Bitter, sharp
hostility, especially
in speech
Impromptu Topic #2
Explain three
uses for a
pencil besides
for writing.
Vocabulary Word:
Angst (n):
A feeling of anxiety
or apprehension
Impromptu Topic #3
Explain which
letter of the
alphabet is the
best and why.
Vocabulary Word:
Boondoggle (n):
An unnecessary or
wasteful activity
Impromptu Topic #4
If I could only
eat three foods
forever…
Vocabulary Word:
Bravado (n):
A show of bravery
or defiance intended
to impress
Impromptu Topic #5
The animal that
is closest to my
personality is…
Vocabulary Word:
Brusque (n):
Abrupt and curt in
manner or speech;
rudely blunt
Impromptu Topic #8
You are an ant.
Convince an
anteater not to
eat you.
Vocabulary Word:
Cabalistic
(adj):
Having a secret or
hidden meaning
Impromptu Topic #6
Convince us
that homework
is bad for your
health.
Vocabulary Word:
Capricious(adj)
Impulsive and
unpredictable
Impromptu Topic #7
3 foods I’ll
never eat…
Vocabulary Word:
Carte blanche
(noun)
Unrestricted,
unconditional authority
Impromptu Topic #6
The top three
jobs I want…
Vocabulary Word:
Catch-22 (noun)
A set of contradictory
rules that make it
impossible to attain a
desired outcome
Vocabulary Enrichment:
Catch-22 was invented by
Joseph Heller in his 1955 novel,
Catch-22, which takes place in
Italy during WWII. When the
main character, a pilot, asks if it
is possible to be grounded for
insanity, here is the answer:
Vocabulary Enrichment:
“There was only one catch and that was Catch22, which specified that a concern for one’s own
safety in the face of dangers that were real and
immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr
was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to
do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no
longer be crazy and would have to fly more
missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions
and sane if he didn’t, but if he was sane he had to
fly them.”
Impromptu Topic #11
You are a
salesperson
trying to sell us
the shoes you
have on.
Vocabulary Word:
Caustic
(adj):
Critical or sarcastic;
cutting
Impromptu Topic #15
If you could only
wear one outfit of
clothes for the rest
of your life, what
would you wear?
Impromptu Topic #13
You are a mad
scientist. Tell us
about your latest
invention.
Vocabulary Word:
Disheveled
(adj):
Marked by disorder;
untidy
Impromptu Topic #9
If you could choose
three other people
to be stranded on a
desert island with,
who would they be
and why?
Vocabulary Word:
Ennui (noun):
Listlessness and
boredom resulting
from lack of interest
Impromptu Topic #20
If I could design a
high school
building, it would
have…
Vocabulary Word:
Esoteric (adj):
Intended for or
understood by only a
restricted number of
people.
Impromptu Topic #18
If I had a
million dollars
to give
away…
Vocabulary Word:
Fastidious (adj):
Displaying meticulous
attention to detail
Impromptu Topic #21
If you could have
dinner with any
three people,
dead or alive…
Vocabulary Word:
Faus Pas (noun):
A social blunder
Impromptu Topic #22
If I could travel
through time to
two
places/times…
Vocabulary Word:
Freudian Slip
(noun):
A verbal mistake thought to
reveal an unconscious belief,
thought, or emotion
Impromptu Topic #24
If I could be a
certain age
forever…
Vocabulary Word:
Glib (adj):
Performed with a natural,
offhand ease
Impromptu Topic #25
The worst
chores to do
at home
are…
Vocabulary Word:
Heresy (noun):
An opinion or teaching in
conflict with established
beliefs and opinions
Impromptu Topic #27
Make up a three-sentence
story using the following
items/people:
1. Cabbage
2. A pencil
3. Brad Pitt
Vocabulary Word:
Idyllic (adj):
Tranquil, carefree, or
picturesque
Impromptu Topic #19
If dogs ruled
the world, what
three things
would change?
Vocabulary Word:
Junket (noun):
A trip taken by an official at
public expense
Impromptu Topic #19
What are three
things that the
man/woman of your
dreams could do to
win your heart?
Vocabulary Word:
Kitsch (noun):
Art or other objects
appealing to popular taste,
usually gaudy or overly
sentimental
Vocabulary Word:
Litany (noun):
A repetitive recital or list
Impromptu Topic #24
Three things
that I’d change
if I ruled the
world are…
Vocabulary Word:
Lurid (adj):
Vivid description or explicit
details meant to shock
Vocabulary Word:
Machiavellian (adj):
Characterized by cunning
and deceit
Impromptu Topic #26
Some situations
in which lying is
morally justified
are…
Vocabulary Word:
Machismo (adj):
A strong sense of
masculinity; aggressiveness,
domination of women
Impromptu Topic #23
What I’ve
learned from
cartoons…
Vocabulary Word:
Malaise (n):
A vague feeling of bodily
discomfort; depression;
unease
Vocabulary Word:
Moribund (adj):
Approaching death; about to
die
•
•
•
•
Reminders for Demonstration Speeches:
Audience members need to participate,
but also not overwhelm the presenter
with chatter and enthusiasm
Remember that you should have a
beginning, middle and end of the speech
and should address all three.
Look at your rubric sometime before you
present so you know exactly what you are
supposed to do! (or not do!)
BE PREPARED!!!
Vocabulary Word:
Malinger (v):
To fake illness in order to
avoid work or duty
Impromptu Topic #26
If you were an
animal, what
would you be?
Why?
Impromptu Topic #27
If I were
invisible for a
day, I would…
Vocabulary Word:
Mantra (n):
A word or phrase expressed
repeatedly to motivate
Impromptu Topic #30
Defend a position:
Homeschooling is/is
not beneficial for
children.
Vocabulary Enrichment:
In Hindusim and Buddhism, a mantra is a
sacred verbal formula recited, often
repeatedly, as a part of prayer, meditation,
or incantation. A mantra can be an
invocation of a god, a magic spell, a
portion of scripture, or even a single
syllable, like OM, that is believed to have
mystical properties.
Vocabulary Word:
Maudlin (adj):
Excessively sentimental
Impromptu Topic #27
Name your top
three favorite
classes in high
school (besides
this one!).
Vocabulary Word:
Misnomer (n):
A name wrongly or
unsuitably applied to a
person or an object
Impromptu Topic #30
Think of a subject/event about
which you are passionate and
could rant about without much
preparation. Write the topic
down and be prepared to rant.
Impromptu Topic #27
A law should
be made
that….
Impromptu Topic #29
Defend a position:
Teachers
should/should not
give grades
Vocabulary Word:
Narcissist (n):
One who is excessively
preoccupied with oneself
Vocabulary Enrichment:
Narcissus was a beautiful young man, the
son of a nymph and a river-god. He had
many admirers but spurned them all, so he
was cursed for his hardheartedness. He
fell in love with his own reflection in a pool
of water, even trying to kiss it and talked to
his reflection. Eventually, he pined away
and died of his unfulfilled love. When the
nymphs came to give him a proper funeral,
they found the narcissus flower nodding
over the pool in place of his body.
Impromptu Topic #30
Defend a position:
The assassination of a
dictator by the American
government can/cannot
be justified.
Vocabulary Word:
Ogle (v):
To stare at something,
especially in a desirous or
impertinent manner
Vocabulary Word:
Ostentatious (adj):
Characterized by showiness
meant to impress others;
pretentious in display
Impromptu Topic #30
Think of a subject/event
about which you are
passionate and could rant
about without much
preparation.
Vocabulary Word:
Ostracize (v):
To exclude or banish from a
group
Impromptu Topic #17
Convince our principal
to give students their
birthdays off of
school.