LESSON FOUR: Qualities of a Poetry Slam

                             

LESSON DESCRIPTION

Students discuss performance qualities of Slam and design competition judging criteria (scoring guide).

 

GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS

LS1         Listen for information and directions.

LS2         In discussion, respond to feedback and defend ideas.

CA2        Reading fiction.

CA5        comprehending the content and artistic aspects of oral and visual presentation.

§         Exchange information, questions and ideas while recognizing the perspectives of others

FA2        Knowledge of the principles and elements of different art forms.

 

LESSON MATERIALS

§         Sources of literature 

o        None

 

§         Supplies 

o        Paper/pencil

o        Overhead or chalkboard

o        Computer lab/internet access

 

§         Handouts provided

o        None

 

§         Words to Know

o        fiction

 

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 

Scoring guide drafts to assess student participation.

 

Idea

Having students design the scoring guide is key to the speaking and listening focus of this unit. A sample scoring guide has been omitted. Groups may be assigned specific criteria as opposed to all groups writing descriptors for all criteria.

 

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

  1. Model Slam (a poem of social commentary is suggested) or show a video or video stream from the internet.

 

Ideas

www.poetryslam.net

www.slampapi.com

www.e-poets.net/library/slam

www.slamnation.com

www.austinslam.com

www.livepoets.com

www.slamnews.com

 

  1. Discuss the qualities of Slam, competition guidelines and what would work best for your particular competition.

 

Questions

for

Students

 

What is a poetry slam?  (the competitive art of performance poetry)

What types of poetry are best for performance?  (answers may vary)

What are the qualities of a good performance?  (preparation, eye contact, clear speech, appropriate volume, effective pacing, expressive body language, meaningful facial expression, and expressive tone of voice)

 

  1. Brainstorm judging criteria and degrees of effectiveness for the competition, recording suggestions on the overhead or chalkboard

 

Strategy

Proposed criteria: fluency, volume, rate, verbal expression, facial expression, body language, eye contact, preparation, and material criteria of social commentary.

 

  1. Divide students into groups. Using the agreed on list of criteria, groups complete the descriptors of each criteria at each proficiency level.

 

  1. As students complete the scoring guide, they must record the name of the contributor of information on the guide.

 

  1. When groups finish, instruct them to try out the scoring guide by performing one of their favorite poems copied during Lesson Three in their small group.

 

  1. Collect the group scoring guide to compile for use in the Slam competition class judging scoring guide.

 

  1. Students make final decision about poem selection and indicate on the sign-up sheet.

 

Idea

Worksheet/table/grid for developing Slam competition class judging scoring guide should be a five-column table with four to nine rows depending on the number of judging criteria selected.

 

Idea

Class judging scoring guide must be ready to be distributed during the next lesson.

 

FAQ’s about Poetry Slam

http://www.poetryslam.com

 

  1. What is poetry slam?

Poetry slam is the competitive art of performance poetry, encouraging poets to focus on what they’re saying and how they’re saying it. Poets get three minutes onstage, no costumes or props are allowed. Selected member of the audience judge the poets on a scale of one to ten.

 

  1. When did Slam begin?

In the spring of 1981, the World Poetry Association sponsored it first “Poetry Bout” in Chicago. The uptown Poetry Slam was started in Chicago, July 1986 by Marc Smith, also known as Slam Papi.

 

  1. How widespread is Slam?

The first National Poetry Slam occurred in 1990. This year’s 14th annual National Poetry Slam was held in St. Louis, MO.

Performances occur from San Francisco to Boston, from Taos Poetry Circus in Taos, New Mexico to New York City. Most major cities in the United Sates, as well as a number of college towns and mid-sized cities, hold regular poetry slams.

 

Related performances venues:

HBO’s Def Poetry Jam

 

Goal of Slam

“The points are not the point; the point is poetry.” Allan Wolf. The goal of slam is to grown poetry’s audience.