Eliezer Calzada Jr. Ms. Zimmerman I-Search Performance Task Period 4

NARRATIVE INTRODUCTION I. I’ve chosen this area of study because I am really interested in the poetry scene. The fact that poetry and rap have a lot in common is a big plus. I want to know what time did poetry and slam poetry started. This topic means a lot to my person because music and being creative is what poetry gave me. I can’t live with out music and writing poetry that’s why this topic interests me the most. Poetry is my way of expressing deep thoughts or I might just write for the fun of it. Poetry gives me freedom in the world, unique words that come from the heart. Poetry is like pencil to paper, instruments to music, white to light, black to darkness, it’s what I do when I’m happy, mad, sad, confused, in love. Poetry lets me express myself.

THE SEARCH II. The first thing I did was go to “Google” there I search for slam poetry it gave me millions of links I click on the Poets.org link it had an article of a brief introduction to slam poetry. After I went back and went on with my search. This process is very new it’s the first time I’ve done a process; is that enough explanation? If not well this process is new to me also because the whole I- Search is new so pretty much all that goes with it is pretty new to me. The most challenging is that there weren’t many links to really explain the real “Slam Poetry” I’m looking for. The research’s easy part was when I sat down on the seat were the computer was honestly!

THE LEARNING III. In the search I learned about the competitions of slam poetry one of the champions is Beau Sia. Sia began performing at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, eventually earning himself a place on the 1996 Nuyorican National Poetry Slam team.“There is no force acting against loneliness or hearts. At least, not in the realm of physics. Fortunately physics does not include love. But chemistry does.” That’s what slam poetry should be like. That’s from one of Beau Sia poems. He’s showing what he’s feeling, to me he’s showing he’s lonely or how a lonely person thinks. Something surprised me when I was learning about poetry English poetry started around the 7th century. One of the greatest very renowned renaissance men is Leonardo Di Vinci. He did paintings, and much more other things. He also did poetry. “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” I really like this quote because it doesn’t just give a lesson but it shows that we could be anyone and accomplish anything. Poetry is interpreted in so many ways. That’s something else I learned.

THE LEARNING A lot of slam poets don’t necessarily rhyme. Poetry is not just rhythm and rhymes its more feelings and express. On “Google.com” the definition of poetry says “Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style.” It also says “A quality of beauty and intensity of emotion regarded as characteristic of poems.” Slam poetry was said to be “one of the most vital and energetic movements in poetry during the 1990s,” on poets.org In 1985 a construction worker and poet named Marc Smith started a poetry reading series at a Chicago jazz club, the Get Me High Lounge. In 1986 Smith approached Dave Jemilo, the owner of the Green Mill with a plan to host a weekly poetry cabaret on the club's slow Sunday nights. Jemilo welcomed him, and on July 25, the Uptown Poetry Slam was born.

RESEARCH SKILLS