For Immediate Release

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Melrose Middle School Students to Speak at State House

MELROSE — Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Principal Brent Conway is pleased to announce that 17 seventh grade students have been selected to deliver persuasive speeches at the State House tomorrow as part of their English Language Arts curriculum.

Students will speak at the State House on June 8 at 4 p.m. to present comprehensive writing and research projects, which tackled the fundamental elements of persuasion.

“This is a great honor for our students to showcase their work,” Principal Conway said. “I commend all seventh grade students for their dedication and diligence to this project.”

As part of the seventh grade persuasive writing project at MVMMS, seventh grade English teacher Adam Azia sent a letter to members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, state senators, Melrose School Committee members and the Board of Aldermen, asking them to participate.

The elected officials were prompted to answer one of two questions: “Have you ever believed one way on an issue, and after you have listened to persuasive information changed your mind?” Or, “when you have been uncertain about a particular issue, how do you cull through the inconsequential information to determine what is important? What persuades you?”

After receiving their responses, students began a research project on a topic of their choosing, which concluded with a persuasive speech. Topics had to be debatable, provocative and provoke thought. Throughout the process, the seventh grade class learned about the value of perspective by exploring a subject using multiple sources, crafting and revising a body of work, and performing their finished product in front of their peers.

To recognize their hard work and accomplishments throughout the project, the following students have been invited to deliver their persuasive speeches at the State House:

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