PoetrySlam.com offers the following definition of a poetry slam on its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page:
"Simply put, a poetry slam is the competitive art of performance poetry. It puts dual emphasis on writing and performance, encouraging poets to focus on what they're saying and how they're saying it. A poetry slam is an event in which poets perform their work and are judged by members of the audience.…"
How do you win a poetry slam?
Often, in a poetry slam, the audience participates by judging each performance on a scale of 1 to 10.
What are the rules for Jennings 5th Annual Poetry Contest and Poetry Slam?
Each entry must:
1. Be totally original. Only one entry per student. Choose your best work!
2. Be typed with name and grade level at the bottom of the page. (Come visit the LRC for help)
3. Include graphic or artwork. Poetry will be judged on originality, theme, content, graphics, neatness, and appropriateness. Names will be omitted from the poetry during judging.
4. Do not embarrass yourself or others by taking poetry from other sources and claiming it as your own. All poetry will be published and credited to the student poet - everyone will know if you plagiarized!
Ten selections will be chosen as finalists to be read during the Poetry Slam. All participants will be invited to attend the Poetry Slam and will receive a Certificate of Participation.
It is our hope that all student poets will participate in this program!
Helpful Links for further poetry slam information:
Example of student slams courtesy of: The 2006-07 Knicks season marked the fourth annual year of the New York Knicks Poetry Slam program. What began as an intimate gathering of just 20 students at a bookstore in Harlem during the 2003-04 season, Knicks Poetry Slam expanded to over 1,200 young poets and supporters at an open audition at the Garden this past December and brought over 500 people to the Theatre at Madison Square Garden for the Finals in January.
The New York Knicks Poetry Slam program utilizes the popularity of hip-hop and poetry to give young people a vehicle to express their thoughts, concerns, passions and dreams through the written and spoken word.
Learn more about the Poetry Slam on Go to www.MSG.com/poetryslam.jsp or www.NYKnicks.com
The New York Knicks Poetry Slam program utilizes the popularity of hip-hop and poetry to give young people a vehicle to express their thoughts, concerns, passions and dreams through the written and spoken word.
Learn more about the Poetry Slam on Go to www.MSG.com/poetryslam.jsp or www.NYKnicks.com
Example of student slams courtesy of :
Zora Howard performs Bi-Racial Hair at the 2006 Urban Word NYC Annual Teen Poetry Slam.
Check out www.urbanwordnyc.org for more info and to buy a copy of the full length dvd.
Panama Soweto performs at Eric ZORK Alan's in White Plains, New York monthly slam poetry series.Panama is a 2006 National Slam Champion from Denver, Colorado.
