2008 Speech Prompt Lancaster Starfish English Language Arts Writing, Grade 7

Mrs. Kreuser sponsors a contest titled “Messages from the Heart” promoting positive aspects of middle school life. Write a speech communicating a “Message from your Heart” that will promote positive thoughts, words, and/or actions among your student body. Speeches will be presented in language arts classes on the Starfish team. The core winners will share their speech on-line and/or in the cafeteria. The overall winner will read his/her speech over the intercom during the morning announcements.

Write a speech for the student body of MCMS in which you promote positive thoughts, words, and/or actions to enhance adolescent life at MCMS.

As you write your speech for the student body of MCMS, remember to

□ Focus on your message from the heart that could promote positive thoughts, words, and/or actions to enhance adolescent life at MCMS.

□ Choose words that are well suited to the purpose, audience, and context of your speech.

□ Organize your speech so that your ideas progress logically.

□ Include relevant details the develop your speech

□ Edit your speech for standard grammar and language usage.

Use the blank sheet of paper given to you by your teacher to plan your speech. Anything you write on the blank sheet will not be scored. You must write the final copy of your speech on pages 3 and 4 of your test booklet.

Write the final copy of your speech on pages 3 and 4 of your test booklet.

Message from My Heart Speech

By: Hannah F.

“But I can’t!” replies a student in my classroom. We, the students that attend Morehead City Middle School, don’t always show the “can do” attitudes we should, but hey, who does? Let’s face it, we all experience bad days where things just don’t go our way. Those times it remains imperative to shine our brightest and strive to conquer the school day with a positive attitude!

“Think before you act.” “Hmmmm”, a simple phrase we often forget. Bobby woke up on the wrong side of the bed. He didn’t do his homework, was late to school, and got a zero on his Science quiz. Clara on the other hand, earned a 95 on her Science quiz and so experiences a great day. That is, until, on the way to Math, Bobby bumps right into Clara and says, “Watch it, loser!” and storms off. Clara runs into the bathroom and cries causing her to be late for class. Now her Math teacher exhumes upset. Bobby failed to show the “can do” positive attitude and now two people suffer, not just him.

Negativity spreads like a virus. The negative students pass it on to people. This “illness” must be stopped in our school. We, the students, must act positive, think positively, and speak positively. If a lot of things seem wrong at a certain time, instead of whining to yourself, “why me?”, try asking yourself “what can I learn from this experience?”. In other words, think positively. Instead of yelling at a classmate, as shown in the example above, try apologizing and proceed with your day. In other words, act and speak positively.

All in all, keeping a positive attitude benefits our school. If every student contributes, you will see improvements right before your own eyes. Always remember. When you take the T off of “I can’t”, it becomes “I can”.

-Thank you.