Your Assignment (By Yourself Or in Pairs)

Slam Poetry

Chicago's own Marc Kelly Smith is often credited with creating slam poetry. He began "slamming" his poetry at the Green Mill Tavern in 1987, frustrated at the stuffiness of academic poetry written for the page. His solution? To be the opposite.

This desire to be different helped to give slam its current characteristics. Established poetic forms are not required, slang is encouraged, and topics may be controversial or mundane. The fact that slam poetry is performed gives it a source of life. Even if a poem isn't perfect, it's much more engaging to see a performer who alternates between yells and whispers, waves his or her arms around, carries the emotional weight of the poem from head to toe.

Your Assignment (by yourself or in pairs)

1. Topic. Choose a topic you are passionate about. The poem seems more genuine if written about something you actually care about.

2. Approach. Your tone and attitude toward the topic makes a difference. Are you angry? Conversational? Nostalgic? It helps to consider a slam poem as not a poem read aloud, but a fusion of 50% poem, 50% dynamic stage performance.

3. Free-write. If you have any idea at all, write it down. It may not make it to the final poem, but it could lead you to other ideas.

4. Description. Feel free to use literary devices such as metaphor and simile. One of the most effective tools is imagery. If you can get the reader/audience to picture what you are talking about, they'll be with you even more. Use sound elements like rhythm and rhyme.

5. Be yourself. The most important one. People aren't stupid; they can see through you if you are being fake. Just take the time to write a 2- or 3-minute poem that means something to you. If it means something to you, it will most likely touch someone else. Choose one of three camps that you can relate to: the funny, the emotionally powerful, or the funny-and-emotionally-powerful.

Some characteristics of slam poems:

·  always memorized

·  often use comical exaggerations, unconventional angles, surprise twists, and big emotions like love, heartbreak, or outrage

·  They also may have parts where there are voices to imitate or places to move around.

Performance date is: ______.

Have fun!