Create your own slam poetry
Write your own slam poem about a topic important to you using what you have learned about poetry and figurative language throughout this unit.
You must write at least 15 lines.
While we want these poems to be passionate, honest, and personal, we do not want to be hurtful. You may not include a personal attack on another individual or group; no shots at a peer you don’t like. You may criticize a social problem or injustice without naming names.Also, many spoken word poems out there today tend towards the vulgar and the profane. If you choose to use any profanity in your poem, make sure you can defend it as a necessary word choice.
*Extra credit to the student who creates a video of the slam poem and posts it on YouTube.
Criteria / Level 4 / Level 3 / Level 2 / Level 1Content / Entire poem shows reflection andexpression of a particular theme.
Supportive ideas are relevant & original throughout.
Poem gives real insight into thewriter's character and point ofview. / Poem shows some evidence of theauthor's reflections on a particulartheme.
Supportive ideas are mostly relevant& original.
Parts of the poem might be off-topic but most of the poemexpresses some depth and insight. / Poem is basic and shows very
little reflection on a theme.
Supportive ideas are mostly
irrelevant & unoriginal.
The poet's feelings are not
revealed. / Theme is unclear.
Supportive ideas are missing or
unclear.
Structure / All lines and stanzas are carefullychosen to reinforce rhythm.
The poem is organized in a waythat naturally lends itself tospoken word. / Most Lines and stanzas are carefullychosen to reinforce rhythm.
The poem is organized in a way thatlends itself to the spoken word. / Lines and stanzas do not
effectively reinforce rhythm.
Most of the poem is ineffectively
organized. / The organization of the lines or
stanzas is not apparent.
Language / Utilizes numerous effective poeticdevices or figurative language.
Uses vivid, detailed images andrich, imaginative language. / Utilizes more than one effectivepoetic devices or figurativelanguage.
Uses images and imaginative
language. / Utilizes a poetic device and
figurative language.
Uses some images.
Language is mundane. / Utilizes either a poetic device or
figurative language.
Uses everyday language with no
images.
Voice / Excellent use of pitch, pacing and intonation.
Voice is loud and clear.
Fluent and coherent delivery. / Good use of pitch, pacing andintonation.
Voice is mostly clear and audible. / Some use of pitch, pacing and
intonation.
Voice is sometimes clear and
audible. / Little use of voice qualities to
enhance performance.
Voice is too quiet to be heard.
Body Language / Excellent use of facial expression,
gestures and body language.
Body language adds meaning. / Good use of facial expression,
gestures and body language toenhance poem. / Some use of facial expression,
gestures and body language to
enhance poem. / Minimal use of body language to
enhance poem.