Sixth Graders Present Persuasive Speeches

Students choose a topic of personal significance and write a two-minute speech focusing on three specific areas of persuasion. They are required to collect and analyze evidence to develop their points and complete several drafts of their speech, ensuring that they follow a thesis statement to its natural conclusion. When the writing process is completed, students shift attention to the presentation process, learning how movement, body language, gesticulation and tone contribute to a successful public address. At the culminating event, students present their speeches in an auditorium, in front of a large audience of students, faculty, parents, siblings and grandparents.

 

Mr. Randolph’s students now look forward to lending moral support to their peers in Mr. Henry’s, Mrs. Gardiner’s and Ms. Kelly’s classes who will present in the upcoming weeks and months.

 

Members of Mr. Randolph’s class and the topics of their speeches included:

 

Brett - High school and middle school days should start later

Andrew - Support the democracy movement in Hong Kong

Freya - Women’s pants need pockets

Liam - NCAA athletes should be paid
Sam - Support hearing-impaired people

Simeran - Women athletes deserve the same pay as men
Caitlyn - The need for clean drinking water around the world

Larson - NHL players should be allowed to play in the Olympics

William - The dangers of plastic in our seas

Jack - The lifetime value of sports

Charlotte - How wearing camouflage shows disrespect to our veterans

Finn - Why people should buy fully electric cars

Hilary - The scourge of Friedreich’s Ataxia

Graham - The dangers of vaping

Juliet - High school and middle school days should start later

Consuelo - The US should take in more Syrian refugees