Slam: Performance Poetry Lives on

&Euphoria

Name:___________________ Date:_______

1.)your adjective• Def: belonging to you • Ex.) Your boots are like mine.• Ex.) I need you to turn in your

homework.• Ex.) I like your smile! • Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

• 3.)

2.)you’re contraction• Def: you are• If you are having trouble remembering when to

use you’re, replace the word with “you are”. If it makes sense use the contraction “you’re”. If it doesn't, then use “your”.

• Ex.) You’re in my art class. • Ex.) I hope you’re going to work on your

vocabulary sentences tonight. • Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

• 3.)

3.)recitation noun• Def: speaking a poem or other text aloud in

front of other people • Context: “Zang’s recitation is a mix of rant,

rhetoric, and stand-up comedy, with dashes or hip-hop and rap.”

• Ex. 1.) Jermiah delivered a recitation of his newest poem in front of the class.

• 2.) Ms. Morse gave a recitation on the U.S. constitution during history class.

• Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

4.)expression noun• Def: a way to get thoughts or feelings across to

another person• Context: “As the founders of the literary

organization Youth Speaks put it, slam is a form of expression.”

• Ex.) The art of expression is the ability to communicate in a creative way.

• Ex.) Poetry is one form of creative expression.• Ex.) Tupac’s rap music and poetry are his

expressions about what he has experienced in life. • Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

5.) transcend (-s, -ing, -ed) verb• Def: to rise above or go beyond• Context: “a generation reciting struggles and

successes on open microphones…transcending traditional stereotypes by speaking their truths…”

• Ex.) Art is something that transcends the limits of language.

• Ex.) The love Romeo had for Juliet transcended the hatred their families had for one another.

• Ex.) Hip-hop music is transcending urban cities and reaching every corner of the world.

• Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

6.)structure noun• Def: the way something is set up • Context: “The structure of the traditional

slam is spoken-word performance of three minutes plus a ten-second grace period”

• Ex.) My poem has a structure that includes verses and rhyme.

• Ex.) The structure of your school day includes 6 periods of classes, one break, and a 40 minute lunch.

• Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

7.)emphasis noun• Def: a special focus or importance • Context: “The emphasis on performance soon led

to the energetic brand of poetry know as slam.”• Ex.) Ms. Morse puts a lot of emphasis on how her

students’ behavior should reflect grace and beauty.

• Ex.) The emphasis on essay writing in class helps all students get ready for the High School Exit Exam.

• Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

8.) compose (-s, -ed, -ing) verb• Def: to write a poem or song • Context: “Composed around the eighth century

B.C.E., this epic poem was most likely the combination of several oral stories about the journey of Odysseus.”

• Ex.) Ms. Morse ask her students to compose a poem about overcoming adversity in their lives.

• Ex.) Darren is working on composing his first rap song.

• Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

9.) unique adjective

• Def: special, unusual • Context: “Like today’s slam artists, the Beats

came to be known for their unique performance styles.”

• Ex.) Lady Gaga has a unique fashion sense. • Ex.) The house shaped like a guitar is unique. • Ex.) Marie Antoinette had a variety of unique

hair styles. • Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

10.)coordinate (-s, -ed, -ing)verb

• Def: to organize, to be in charge of something• Context: “He coordinates the Austin National

Slams, of Austin, Texas.”• Ex.) Celia and Yaquelin were in charge of

coordinating the upcoming school dance.• Ex.) Hunter and Rian volunteered to coordinate

the upcoming canned food drive for needy families in the community.

• Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.0

11.)improvisation noun• Def: something done without pre-planning

• Context: “In a slam there’s always an element of improvisation.”

• Ex.) When I forgot to prepare a speech for class, improvisation was my only option.

• Ex.) Rap war artists and participations that have to come up with lyrics at a moments notice are great at improvisation.

• Ex.) Good stand-up comedians have to practice their improvisation.

• Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

12.) phenomenon noun• Def: something extraordinary and impressive that

everyone gets excited about.• Context: “The poetry slam is a rapidly growing

phenomenon…”• Ex.) The new music video is a real phenomenon;

people everywhere are watching it.• ex.) Many people think that Tupac is a rap

phenomenon. • ex.) The meteor shower was a phenomenon that

had everyone in awe of its beauty.• Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

13.) there (adverb)

• Def: that place or position• Ex.) The book is over there on the table.• Ex.) Jamie went to New York yesterday. She is

there now. • Ex.) Ms. Morse likes to visit Boston. She once

lived there. • Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

• 3.)

14.) their (pronoun)• Def: belonging to them• 1.) Their beautiful house is on Bancroft Street. • 2.) Someone left their book on the table and

I’m going to return it to them.• 3.) Their dancing inspires me to take lessons,

so I enrolled in classes today. • Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

• 3.)

15.) they’re contraction• Def: a contraction of “they are”• Ex.) They’re tired of writing essays, so they are going

to take a break. • Ex.) They’re going to the mall to shop and have

dinner. • Ex.) Edith and Luisa decided to put their differences

aside; they’re going to best of friends forever! • Your sentences:• 1.)

• 2.)

• 3.)