Poetry Slam

Poetry Slam Structure

Although the structure of a poetry slam can vary by competition and venue, there is a generally accepted structure to the competition. The poetry slam structure is versatile and can be adjusted to meet the demands of the specific contest.

Typically, each performer is given three minutes to perform an originally written poem they created. The poems are often politically or socially charged, but there are also slams and performances that gear their subject towards traditional poetic topics such as love and death. A good poetry slam incorporates audience interaction, with members sometimes cheering, laughing, reacting to, and interacting with the performers. There is an overall atmosphere of acceptance where the creative process is valued and respected, and performers are appreciated.

Rules in Slam Poetry

Rules vary for each poetry slam and are typically explicitly stated for performers before they participate. In general, each participant is given a set amount of time, usually three minutes, in which to deliver their original piece of poetry to the audience while on a stage. The poets sharing their work may not use props, costumes, or musical instruments to supplement their production. The poem and the delivery must stand alone.

A total of five judges are present in the audience who rate each poetry performance on a scale of one to ten. These judges can be picked ahead of time, but they are often merely audience members who volunteered for the job. The highest and lowest scores are dropped and the three remaining scores are added together to produce the performer's overall score. The score will range from 0-30, and the performer with the highest average score wins the slam. ²

Performance poetry during poetry slams is not accompanied by music and is typically timed. Pexels.

Poetry Slam Traits

Poetry slams welcome a variety of poems and do not adhere to a specific structure of poetry. However, there are some typical characteristics of slam poetry, the poems performed for poetry slams.

Slam poetry is a genre that is written with the specific intention of performance. Diction in slam poems is chosen for its meaning, but also for the way it sounds phonetically when spoken. Rhyme schemes, alliteration, and meter, traits found in traditional poetry, are often utilized in slam poems because of their musicality. However, slam poetry is unique because it is an intensely personal medium that places value on the individual experience and puts raw emotion on display. Performers recite, but also fill their language with emotions that can't be communicated in written form. When performed, slam poems frequently use a variety of different volumes where the poet or speaker moves from a whisper to a yell, using pacing to speed up the verbiage or pauses for dramatic effect.

Slam poetry can also be a collaborative display where two or more speakers perform together, work off of one another, practice a call-and-response exercise, or even speak simultaneously to create a more dynamic and immersed atmosphere. While there are elements of traditional poetic features, as mentioned above, spoken word poetry tends to favor daily vernacular and even uses slang and idiomatic phrases to connect with audience members.

Poetry slam contestants receiving their scores. Flickr.

Although the performance and performer are at the center of the experience, being an audience member during poetry slams is a dynamic and inclusive experience. Members are invited, and expected to, interact with the performer, respond verbally to what they are saying, and have an open and honest reaction to the performance. Slam poetry is often gritty, an expression of emotional experience, life's pains, and daily struggles. It joins people through commonality and expresses the beauty in the raw and unfiltered human experience while shedding light on the wrongs in society.

Slam poetry performed at poetry slams also tend to focus on political and social issues. Although not a requirement, these pieces are laden with social commentary as the poets use the public platform to address social issues of race, violence, gender, class, discrimination, war, and religion. Slam poems are intended to provoke the audience and elicit an emotional and verbal reaction such as jeering, cheering, and tearing. Although poets can't use props or music to enhance the performance, they are regularly encouraged to act, using bodily movement, hand gestures, and facial expressions to enhance their performance and add value to the words. This style, often referred to as "slam voice," describes the way slam poetry is delivered vocally. Typical characteristics of slam voice are:

• vocal intensity
• mournful tone
• stilted language
• pacing with extra pauses for dramatic effect
• crescendos

Poetry Slam Examples

The following examples illustrate key traits of slam poetry.

Here, Mali uses common poetic techniques such as repetition for emphasis but also incorporates more conversational language and pacing to relate to the audience and help in delivery. In addition, there are clear vocal cues for physical movement: for example, when he says, "if you've got this / then you follow this," he would point to his head and then his heart, respectively, during performances.

Image of a traditional classroom. Flickr.

In this excerpt, Wakefield uses pauses, such as the one after "She" in line 13 to emphasize topics. He uses references to common convenience store items, such as the rolling sausages on the heater and pre-packaged pastries. Irregular contractions which mimic dialect and daily conversation such as "on'm" and "get'er" in line 14 add an element of authenticity and rawness to the words.

The inside of a convenience store. Flickr.

Another powerful example of the strength behind slam poetry is "The Hill We Climb" (2021), written by American activist and poet Amanda Gorman (1998 - present) and recited by her at President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021. Her performance of the spoken-word poem garnered national attention and gained her international recognition for her message of resilience.

Some other examples of slam poetry include:

• "Mama" (2015) by Emi Mahmoud
• "Hair" (2020) by Elizabeth Acevedo
• "What Kind of Asian Are You" (2017) by Alex Dang
• "Adrenaline Rush" (2015) by Rudy Francisco
• "Pretty" (2002) by Katie Makkai

Difference Between Poetry and Slam Poetry

The primary difference between traditional forms of poetry and slam poetry is that slam poetry is performance poetry written with the specific intent of being delivered live to an audience. As society shifts into the age of technology, the value of certain types of poetic verse and literature changes as well. A memorized poem, like slam poetry, represents a shift within a culture that was primarily expressed in print. Poetry performed is a merging of the written and print economies of communication, showing an emphasis on orality.⁴

While previous forms of poetry were understood to be absorbed from the page and in print, the modes of communication are developing and the literature that represents society is consequently evolving. Still as cerebral as before, but more accessible, performance poetry is representative of the current culture and values.

Some tips to consider when learning how to write slam poetry include creating an original piece that represents or expresses an important issue. Slam poetry is intensely personal and relatable. In addition, consider the actual delivery of the poem and the sounds each word makes. Although spelling and message are essential, slam poetry focuses a lot on the sound of words because it is verbally expressed and delivered to a live audience rather than being read from a printed source.

Certain words are emphasized through strategic pauses, whispers, and various intonations. Timing is critical, as most poetry slams limit performances to three minutes each. Pacing is a crucial aspect of presentation when working on performance poetry. Connecting with the audience is another feature to be considered when creating a piece. Practicing eye contact, scanning audience members, and body language are all primary ways to communicate a message when performing spoken-word poetry.

1. Hoffman, Tyler. "Treacherous Laughter: The Poetry Slam, Slam Poetry, and the Politics of Resistance." Studies in American Humor. 2001.

2. Somers-Willett, Susan B. A. "Slam Poetry and the Cultural Politics of Performing Identity." The Journal of the Midwest Modern Language Association. Spring 2005. 3.

3. Chaser, Mike. "Orality, Literacy, and the Memorized Poem." Poetry. Vol. 205. January 2015.

4. Ong, Walter. Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word. Routledge. 2002.