Book Share “Summary Slam”
Name: _________________
Due Date: ______________
Learning targets:
1. I can summarize.
2. I can apply skills and strategies for the delivery of an effective oral presentation.
Directions: Provide a summary for your book share book. Include important details from the text.
Perform your summary for the class.
You must perform your summary slam style to earn a 4 and/or honors points.
Decide as a class what should be expected of the summary slam after reading and
watching some youtube.com examples. How do you want your class’s summary slam to
look and feel?
Summary Slam Rubric
Exceeds standard
Met standard
Below standard
Well Below standard
Honors
3
2
1
If you read your written
summary and all
guidelines listed in the
rubric you will earn a
If you summarize in
writing and/or miss a
couple guidelines of the
rubric you will earn a
A
D
If you summarize in
writing and/or miss a
several guidelines of the
rubric you will need to
redo your book share.
F
I used TAT + 4
I missed 1-2 parts of TAT + 4
I have four text based details
from the beginning, middle,
and end of the novel that
support the theme.
And/or
4
You summarized your book
using summary slam style,
and met all guidelines listed
in the rubric.
I used TAT + 4
I have four text based details
from the beginning, middle,
and end of the novel that
support the theme.
I read an Honors book.
I preformed my summary in
the slam style which means
my performance included all
of the following slam style
characteristics:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
I preformed my summary in
the slam style which means I
most of the slam style
characteristics.
I have less than four text
based details from the
beginning, middle, and end
of the novel that support
the theme.
I did not attempt to follow
TAT + 4
And/or
I have less than three text
based details that support
the theme.
And/or
And/or
I read a written summary.
I read a written summary.
Graphic Organizer
TAT:______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
+4
evidence
Beginning of the book or novel
evidence
evidence
Middle of the book or novel
evidence
Middle of book or novel
evidence
evidence
End of book or novel
evidence
evidence
Rough Draft
Summary Slam Style
Stanza 1 - Summary Sentences
Stanza 2 - Beginning and detail
Stanza 3 – Middle and detail
Stanza 4 – End and detail
Final draft – in pen
Links:
h t t p : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m/ w a t c h ? v = B Q b Q G n _ r q T w & f e a t u r e = r e l a t e d
h t t p : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m/ w a t c h ? v = r p W - x o C k R FE & N R = 1 & f e a t u r e = f v w p
h t t p : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m/ w a t c h ? v = k z y z G x W 5 x Q Y & f e a t u r e = r e l a t e d
h t t p : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m/ w a t c h ? v = m 8 D 6 k s m r j X E
h t t p : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m/ w a t c h ? v = D k f e FJ W 6 a J s
h t t p : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m/ w a t c h ? v = S s r f o 8 2 E o f E & N R = 1
SLAM ETIQUETTE
F R O M : H T T P : / / N PS 2 0 1 0 . C O M ( N A T I O N A L P O E T R Y S L A M )
Cell Phones
Evil - turn that sucker off or you’ll make a lot of folks angry. Even if you just have it on vibrate
and it goes off, don’t you dare answer it. If your phone goes off and/or you answer it, you will
likely be escorted out the door. This is terribly distracting for performing poets and audience
members alike.
Talking and moving during a poem
It is considered very improper and impolite to speak during a poem, unless it is a reaction to that
poem. It is also very bad form to get up during a poem. Slam poems last 3 minutes, you can wait.
Once the poem is over, you can get up. When you come back, wait until the next poem is
finished before sitting down again.
Noise/Audience reaction
Poetry Slam is all about the audience. The audience is encouraged to respond to every element of
the Slam - from the poetry to the score it receives. This is one of the things that makes Slam so
great. There’s nothing stuffy about it. This is high culture, a show, and a sport - all in one.
The audience may hiss, stomp, snap, clap, yell, buckle over in their chair and fall to the floor,
stand up and/or jump up and down. Whether these reactions are praising or blasting the poem,
it’s all ok - so long as it doesn’t blatantly affect the audience’s ability to hear and enjoy the
poem.
When a poet says a zinger of a line, you’ll know it. The crowd will gasp or give a huge collective
“Oooooo” or “OOOH!!!” or some similar response.
Swaying the judges
In the official emcee spiels across the country, one thing is fairly consistent. The emcee will say
something along the lines of. “Judges, stay consistent with your scores, do not be swayed by the
audience. Audience, sway the judges.” Basically, the louder an audience is in regards to a
particular poem (during or after) the higher its score will be. What can be more democratic than
that?
“So what!”
You may hear everyone in the room yell this at the same time. Why?
Poetry Slam was created by a Chicago construction worker named Marc Smith. He is a humble
and down to earth kinda guy. There are no rock stars in Slam. So in order to prevent the Slam
creator (and his name) from becoming too important, anytime someone says his name, everyone
around is supposed to say, “So what.” This is most often heard during the Emcee spiel at the
beginning of a Slam.
Approaching the poets?
Is it considered appropriate to talk to the poets? Yes, it is - so long as they have already
performed their poem that night.
If they haven’t performed, they will likely be nervous and focused. This is no time to ask for an
autograph or to buy a CD. (Actually, poets aren’t allowed to sell merch before a Slam)
If the poet has performed, and the bout is over, by all means, go speak to him/her. Poets love
this. Tell them how their poem moved you, ask to buy merch - most will have something to sell.
But, remember that Slam has no rock stars. Slam poets don’t often take too much praise well. It
is far better to approach a Slam poet as a friend, not as a fan.