HAND IN YOUR JOURNAL.

Today, you need…• the handout• a writing utensil• put away all portable electronic

devices

Spoken Word

WHAT IS IT?• Poetry intended to be performed—not read• Topics: social change or those of personal

importance

FAST FACT! Sometimes, spoken word poetry is (incorrectly)

termed “slam poetry.”• Why does this happen?• Since a poetry “slam” is a spoken word

competition, the terms are often confused.

Disclaimer

The poems

"Oreo" by Tucker Bryant and

"To JK Rowling from Cho Chang" by Rachel Rostad

utilize an expletive which the poets employ to convey exceptionally strong feelings/emotions.

If this will offend you, you are more than willing to step outside and rejoin us after the poem’s performance for our

discussion.

“Shake the Dust”

• During this performance, listen for answers to the following:• What is the topic of this spoken word poem?• What does the speaker want? How do you know?

• Consider quick writing about one of the following:• What is the message of this poem? Why is that

message significant?• What line of this poem resonates with you the

most?

written and performed by Anis Mojgani

“Pride”

• During this performance, listen for answers to the following:• What is the topic of this spoken word poem?• What does the speaker want? How do you know?

• Consider quick writing about one of the following:• What is the message of this poem? Why is that message

significant?• What line of this poem resonates with you the most?• Critical Literary Theory• Consider this text through the lens of gender studies; what

greater understandings can you now access?• Post-colonial?

written and performed by Sibel Sayiner & Violet Trachtenberg

“Shrinking Women”

• During this performance, listen for answers to the following:• What is the topic of this spoken word poem?• What does the speaker want? How do you know?

• Consider quick writing about one of the following:• What is the message of this poem? Why is that

message significant?• What line of this poem resonates with you the most?• Critical Literary Theory• Consider this text through the lens of gender studies;

what greater understandings can you now access?

written and performed by Lily Meyer

“If I should have a daughter”

• During this performance, listen for answers to the following:• What is the topic of this spoken word poem?• What does the speaker want? How do you know?

• Consider quick writing about one of the following:• What is the message of this poem? Why is that

message significant?• What line of this poem resonates with you the most?• Critical Literary Theory• Consider this text through the lens of gender studies;

what greater understandings can you now access?

written and performed by Sarah Kay

“Oreo”

• During this performance, listen for answers to the following:• What is the topic of this spoken word poem?• What does the speaker want? How do you know?

• Consider quick writing about one of the following:• What is the message of this poem? Why is that

message significant?• What line of this poem resonates with you the most?• Critical Literary Theory• Consider this text through the lens of critical race theory;

what greater understandings can you now access?

written and performed by Tucker Bryant

“Names”

• During this performance, listen for answers to the following:• What is the topic of this spoken word poem?• What does the speaker want? How do you know?

• Consider quick writing about one of the following:• What is the message of this poem? Why is that

message significant?• What line of this poem resonates with you the most?• Critical Literary Theory• Consider this text through the lens of critical race theory;

what greater understandings can you now access?

written and performed by Rachel Rostad

“High School Training Ground”

• During this performance, listen for answers to the following:• What is the topic of this spoken word poem?• What does the speaker want? How do you know?

• Consider quick writing about one of the following:• What is the message of this poem? Why is that

message significant?• What line of this poem resonates with you the most?• Critical Literary Theory• Consider this text through the lens of Marxist theory; what

greater understandings can you now access?

written and performed by Malcolm London

"An Open Letter to Stanford University"

• During this performance, listen for answers to the following:• What is the topic of this spoken word poem?• What does the speaker want? How do you know?

• Consider quick writing about one of the following:• What is the message of this poem? Why is that message

significant?• What line of this poem resonates with you the most?• Critical Literary Theory• Consider this text through the lens of Marxist theory; what

greater understandings can you now access?• What happens when you use the lens of critical race theory?

written and performed by Tucker Bryant

“To JK Rowling from Cho Chang”

• During this performance, listen for answers to the following:• What is the topic of this spoken word poem?• What does the speaker want? How do you know?

• Consider quick writing about one of the following:• What is the message of this poem? Why is that message

significant?• What line of this poem resonates with you the most?• Critical Literary Theory• Consider this text through the lens of critical race theory;

what greater understandings can you now access?• What happens when you use the lens of gender studies?

written and performed by Rachel Rostad