Decolonising Academic Writing through Spoken Word Poetry

Activity

Reflective activities

Decolonising Academic Writing through Spoken Word Poetry

Jenna Goddard

Carolyn Ives

This is a great reflective activity to get students thinking about their writing.

Tech needed: Shared online space, Microphones

Synchronous

Accessibility: Auditory

Duration: Variable

Student preparation: None

Educator preparation: Moderate

ACTIVITY PURPOSE

The main purposes are to build community, build learner confidence in their writing, and encourage participants to integrate creative activities into their academic writing process.

USEFUL FOR

The activity is useful for learner engagement and participation, learner reflection and metacognition around their writing processes, and building classroom community. Plus, it’s fun!

PREPARATION

Set up of a shared anonymous learning tool, such as Jamboard.
Creation of writing prompts based on a course topic.
Creation of instructions for learners about how to engage in the activity and guidance as the activity may make them feel vulnerable, depending on the topic.

INSTRUCTIONS

Determine your topic and compose writing prompts to elicit learner responses.
Provide spoken word poetry sample(s) and set parameters for learner participation.
Provide direction/instructions for the activity and using the platform/tool.
For the activity, these are minimum time requirements:5 minutes for instructions and set-up;
2-5 minutes for individual and private responses to the prompts;
5 minutes for learners to transfer their responses to the tool/platform;
5 minutes for the group to organize responses;
10 minutes for the performance;
5 minutes for a reflective activity.

DURATION

This activity can be completed in as few as 30 minutes (see times outlined above), or it can take longer if you have more time to allocate to it.

ADAPTATIONS AND EXAMPLES

This activity can also be completed in a face-to-face classroom using a board (or flipchart paper) and post-it notes. It can be used for any topic.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

If the activity is completed online, access to an anonymous sharing platform (such as Jamboard or Padlet) would be helpful. Participants will also need microphones.

USEFUL RESOURCES

Chavez, F. R. (2021). The anti-racist writing workshop: How to decolonize the creative classroom.
Gillies, K. (2017). Intersectional poetry: Spoken poetry as a platform for feminist thought free from tone policing. Women’s Studies Journal 31 (1), 88 94.
hooks, b. (1994). Teaching to transgress: Education as the practice of freedom. New York: Routledge, 40 41.
Jones, K., & Curwood, J. S. (2020). Tell the story, speak the truth: Creating a third space through spoken word poetry. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 64 (3), 281 289.
Lisabeth, L. (2021). Strunk and White and whiteness. College Composition & Communication 73 (1), 80 102.
Moore, J., & Paris, D. (2021). Singing counter stories to imagine an otherwise. English Journal 110 (4), 21 25.
Williams, W. (2021). Amanda Gorman’s poetry shows why spoken word belongs in school. The Conversation.
Woodard, R., & Coppola, R. (2018). More than words: Student writers realizing possibilities through spoken word poetry. The English Journal 107 (3), 62 67.