Special Skills of the Spoken Word Artist:
Alliteration, Assonance, Sensory Detail, and Simile
A Youth Spoken Word Assignment by Mr. Gentry For Grade 11-12 English Class
Students, are you ready to embark on a passionate and poetic journey to produce power in words? Are you ready to make writing relevant and lay down some serious spoken skills? This isn't a webquest for the weak of heart. This is a renaissance for the hardworking student willing to hone their craft and learn valuable skills that can and will be tested in whichever career path you choose to take.
This is about learning to self-regulate (motivate yourself and teach yourself new concepts) and self-express (take what you've learned and create something with meaning). Throughout this webquest you will learn about youth spoken word, research some of the tools of the trade, show your understanding through expressive creation of your own spoken word piece, and then communicate with your peers to produce feedback and constructive criticism.
So are you ready to take part in the poetry revolution? Then take a few minutes to watch the video below, get a refresher or a first taste of spoken word, and then click the "task" button beneath the header to jump to the next page. Excelsior!
Introduction:
The video to the right of this text (produced by YouthSpeaks.org) is just one example of how you can make a difference through the power of spoken word.
Listen carefully - not only to what the speakers are saying but the rhythm of their words. Do you notice uses of assonance, alliteration, sensory details, and simile?
Do they make the topic more potent? Easier to listen to? Do the words stick with you more than they would a simple reading without these techniques?