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Year 9

An introduction to slam poetry

I can understand what slam poetry is and use this knowledge to explore the conventions of a slam poem.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 9

An introduction to slam poetry

I can understand what slam poetry is and use this knowledge to explore the conventions of a slam poem.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Slam poetry can be considered different to more conventional, written forms of poetry.
  2. Slam poetry is created to be performed out loud and responds to audience feedback.
  3. Slam poetry uses poetic devices such as onomatopoeia, alliteration and repetition to engage the audience.
  4. Harry Baker is an example of a slam poet.
  5. The poem 'Where The Wild Things Are' conforms to the conventions of slam poetry.

Keywords

  • Convention - the established techniques, forms, and styles that poets commonly use to convey meaning and emotion

  • Conventional - describes something that is usual, traditional or widely accepted in a particular context

  • Preconceptions - ideas or opinions formed in advance about something, often based on assumptions rather than facts

  • Colloquial - informal language or expressions that are commonly used in everyday conversation rather than in formal writing or speech

Common misconception

Slam poetry doesn't have any rules or conventions, so anything goes. It's just speaking to an audience.

While slam poetry encourages creativity and self-expression, it does follow certain conventions, like using sound techniques, imagery and themes. These conventions help poets effectively communicate their messages and engage the audience.

You may wish to share a video of Harry Baker performing a poem of his, so pupils can engage with the performance element of the slam poetry genre.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the poem 'Where The Wild Things Are' by Harry Baker, from the 2014 Burning Eye edition of 'The Sunshine Kid' (not provided).

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word can be used to describe the groups of lines found in a poem?
paragraphs
chapters
Correct answer: stanzas
lines
Q2.
Slam poetry was invented in the 1980s, which century is this?
Correct Answer: twentieth, 20th
Q3.
Which answer best describes the use of rhythm in poetry?
the number of words in a line
the theme of the poem
the length of the poem
Correct answer: the pattern of beats or sounds in a line
Q4.
Is the answer true or false? Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of words close together in a sentence or phrase.
Correct Answer: true
Q5.
What is a theme in a poem?
the title of the poem
Correct answer: the main idea or message the poet conveys
the number of lines in the poem
the rhyme scheme used
Q6.
Which statement best describes 'rhyme' in poetry?
the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words
the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line
Correct answer: involves the correspondence of sounds between words, usually at the end of lines
use of vivid imagery

6 Questions

Q1.
What is slam poetry primarily designed for?
writing in books
Correct answer: performing in front of an audience
quiet reading
singing to music
Q2.
Is the answer true or false? Slam poets can change their poem in response to audience reactions.
Correct Answer: True
Q3.
Which word can be described as: 'informal language or expressions that are commonly used in everyday conversation rather than in formal writing or speech.'?
Correct answer: colloquial
conventional
imagery
Q4.
Which of the following answers do not give the best explanation of the poem 'Where The Wild Things Are' by Harry Baker?
The poem celebrates difference and challenge.
Correct answer: The poem describes monsters.
Correct answer: The poem gives advice as to how to become a wild thing.
Q5.
Which of the following is an example of colloquial language?
magnificently
thus
Correct answer: wanna
subsequently
Q6.
"Paper people perched on prizes" is an example of ...
repetition
rhyme
onomatopoeia
Correct answer: alliteration