Record a poetic performance for your peers and upload it to YouTube.com. In the performance you will recite original poems specifically related to democracy or democratic experience or practice, including protest poetry or song. The poetry may be of any poetic form or free verse, including song, rap, or slam poetry. The poetry should include concrete, sensuous imagery and poetic devices, such as simile, metaphor, allusion, meter, rhyme, or similar. You may recite one longer poem or several short poems. The poems may meditate on a particular scene, image, or feeling or describe a narrative. You may supplement your poetry with brief introductory comments where appropriate. Remember that poetry recitation is often slower than persuasive speaking because poetry requires time for audiences to comprehend.
Your recitation should be around 2 or 3 minutes. Please try to avoid performances longer than 5 minutes. You will be graded according to your recitation organization, your use of imagery and poetic devices, your performance, and your typed original poems.
Rubric
Criteria Exceeds (✓+) Meets (✓) Approaches (✓–) Not Included (0)
Recitation
Organization
50 points
Each poem is on the topic of democracy, democratic experience or practice. Comments are appropriate and enhance understanding. The recitation is an appropriate length of time. Each poem is on the topic of democracy. Comments are too lengthy or inappropriate. The recitation is an inappropriate length of time. Poems are not about democracy. The recitation is an inappropriate length of time.
Imagery
and Poetic Devices
75 points Each poem includes both concrete sensuous imagery and poetic devices with no or very few abstractions. Each poem includes either concrete sensuous imagery or poetic devices with few abstractions. Each poem includes either concrete sensuous imagery or poetic devices but with many abstractions. Lacks imagery and poetic devices.
Performance
75 points Direct and varied eye contact with the audience; vocal pacing, volume, projection, posture, and gesture enhances understanding. Direct eye contact with the audience; vocal pacing, volume, projection, posture, and gesture do not impede understanding. Focuses on poems without making eye contact; vocal pacing, volume, projection, posture, and gesture impedes understanding. Does not make eye contact; vocal pacing, volume, projection, posture, and gesture renders talk unintelligible.
Poems
50 points
Typed out original love poetry is readable and clearly printed on the page with titles as appropriate.
Original poems are illegible or unintelligible. Lacks original poems.
Excellent poetry recitations that generally exceed receive an A, good recitations that generally meet receive a B, satisfactory recitations that generally approach receive a C. Recitations that generally lack important criteria receive an F.