ShmoopTube
Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.
Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos
Language Arts Videos 84 videos
ELA Drills, Beginner: Point of View. Is the statement in the video true or false?
Whales are great, but when we asked them to tell us a little bit about themselves, all they said was, “Weeeeeeoooooooohhhhhhhh.” So we’re goi...
ELA Drills, Beginner: Meanings 1. Use context clues from the text to find the answer.
ELA 3: What's a Poetry Slam? 54 Views
Share It!
Description:
Before you write a poem in class and slam it down on your teacher's desk while yelling "Poetry slam!", you might want to watch this video. We'll teach you what a poetry slam really is. And keep you from upsetting your teacher.
Transcript
- 00:04
[Dino and Coop singing]
- 00:12
When you hear the word “slam” you probably think of slam dunks, or grand slams! [Basketball player and baseball player]
- 00:16
And, if you say the word "slam" a lot, it starts to sound pretty funny…
- 00:19
"slam slam slam slam slam slam slam slam"
- 00:23
…Ahem.
Full Transcript
- 00:24
But there's another “slam” you're probably not thinking of... [Girl thinking]
- 00:27
Denny's Grand Slam! [Pancakes appear]
- 00:28
…No?
- 00:29
Hm.
- 00:30
Maybe we're just hungry.
- 00:31
Apparently we're supposed to be talking about poetry slams. [Dino pointing at a blackboard]
- 00:33
And no, that's not when you slam dunk onto a basket while reciting the lines to Edgar
- 00:37
Allan Poe's The Raven. [Basketball player slam dunking]
- 00:39
Nevermore! Slam.
- 00:41
A poetry slam is an opportunity for poets to share poems with one another as well an [Guy on stage reciting his poem]
- 00:45
audience – and that's exactly what you'll be doing!
- 00:48
And yes.
- 00:48
It has to be out loud.
- 00:50
No cool power point presentations allowed.
- 00:53
Whether it's a Langston Hughes poem, a Walt Whitman poem, or a poem you've written on [Pictures of Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman]
- 00:57
your own, a poetry slam is your chance to show off your ability to pace yourself and
- 01:01
read with expression.
- 01:02
Once you've chosen the poem you plan on reciting, there's a few key steps to follow to really [Girl holding a poem looking happy]
- 01:06
get to know that poem inside out.
- 01:09
First, you have to analyze the poem in order to understand each and every word and what [Coop pointing at a blackboard]
- 01:12
they all mean.
- 01:13
After that, you'll want to figure out how you should pace the poem for maximum enjoyment, [The poem runs away from a guy]
- 01:17
as well as how you want to express yourself throughout.
- 01:20
Once that's all sorted out, the next step is to practice, practice, practice – both [Dino pointing at a blackboard]
- 01:24
by yourself and in a small group with others.
- 01:26
Once you've done all of that, you'll be super prepared for your big moment – performing
- 01:30
it at the slam.
- 01:31
If it sounds like a lot of work, don't stress.
- 01:33
Poetry slams are pretty much always a whole lot of fun – so get excited.
- 01:37
Just not too excited that you forget which “slam” we're talking about and go around [Guy slams a plate of pancakes through a basketball hoop]
- 01:40
slam dunking your Grand Slam into things.
Related Videos
ELA Drills, Beginner: Point of View. Is the statement in the video true or false?
ELA Drills, Beginner: Textual Analysis 1. The purpose of the instruction manual was...what?
ELA Drills, Beginner: Point of View 3. Which sentence in the passage best shows the narrator's point of view on the topic of Chelsea Simpson?
We wanted to make a video about sedentary rocks, but we couldn't get lazy uncle Rocky off the couch. Oh well. We'll teach you about sedimentary roc...
Today we're bringing you the opposite of Jurassic Park—how living things become fossils. Okay okay, it might not be quite as fun...but hey, at le...