The Poetry Slam

According to Poetry Slam, inc., a poetry slam is a competitive event in which poets perform their work
and are judged by members of the audience. Slam is designed for the audience to react vocally and
openly to all aspects of the show, including the poets performance, the judges scores, and the hosts
banter. Youll find a diverse range of work within slam, including heartfelt love poetry, searing social
commentary, uproarious comic routines, and bittersweet personal confessional pieces. Poets are free to
do work in any style, on any subject.

FYI! The History of The Slam:

In 1984, construction worker and poet Marc Smith started a poetry reading at a Chicago jazz
club, looking for a way to breathe life into the open-mic format. The series, and its emphasis on
performance, laid the groundwork for the brand of poetry that would eventually be exhibited in Slam.
In 1986, Smith approached Dave Jermilo, the owner of the Green Mill (a Chicago Jazz club and
former haunt of Al Capone), with a plan to host a weekly poetry competition on Sunday nights. Jermilo
welcomed him, and the Uptown Poetry Slam was born on July 25 of that year. Smith drew on baseball
and bridge terminology for the name, and instituted the basic features of the competition, including
judges chosen from the audience and cash prizes for the winners. The Green Mill evolved into a Mecca
for performance poets, and the Uptown Poetry Slam continues to run every Sunday night.

Thanks, www.poetryslam.com!

So, what does this mean for you?

We will transform our classroom into The Beatnik Caf on the 6th and 7th of February, and host our own
Poetry Slam for two nights only! Get over that stage-fright, and develop your own swag, because
you will be judged by a jury of your peers and prizes will be awarded to the winner(s)! We will work
together to make sure that your presentation is the best that you are capable of giving by your
presentation date!!

What makes the Slam a winner?

1. Time The presentation is 2-3 minutes (no more, no less!)
2. Impact The presentation is intriguing and interesting. It keeps the audience captivated!
3. Creativity Obvious effort was put into coming up with something original and meaningful.
4. Passion, Passion, Passion The poet conveys their message in such a way that moves the audience
instantly regardless of the topic; the poet makes us feel it.

What makes the Poem a winner?

1. Imagery The poet makes use of all 5 senses to portray their meaning.
2. Impact The poem itself (the written words) invoke catharsis (we care, even if we normally wouldnt).
3. Figurative Language Metaphors, similes and other intriguing figurative language is used
4. Diction Word choice was thoughtful, and was applied with meaning to move the poem
 The Poetry Slam

Performer: ______________________________ Date: ___________________ Pd: _______

Name of Piece (Topic): __________________________________________________________

Please attach a hard copy of your piece to this sheet.

Performance

_____/10 Time: Is the presentation between 2 and 3 minutes?

_____/10 Impact: Is the presentation intriguing and interesting? Does the audience seem
captivated?

_____/15 Voice Quality: Does the performer engage us with their voice and utilize
dynamics to keep us engaged?

_____/15 Preparation: While the performer may use a cheat sheet, have they clearly put
in effort as far as practicing and preparing themselves for this moment?

_____/50 SubTotal

Written Work

_____/15 Imagery: Does the poet display an understanding of how imagery works? Do
they make a credible effort to envelope the reader in the
sights/sounds/tastes/smells/feelings of the topic?

_____/10 Impact: Does the poet develop catharsis (a.k.a. do I care?)? Is there a resonating
message in the poem?

_____/15 Figurative Language: Does the poet make use of figurative language? When it is
used, does the poet display an understanding of how to use it? Does it add
significant meaning to the poem?

_____/10 Diction: Does the poet have a varied word selection? Does there appear to be a
purpose to the use of given words versus another potential synonym?

_____/50 SubTotal

GRAND TOTAL: _______ / 100