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Word UP! 2010
Rules

Location: Arrington Auditorium, Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place Date: Sunday February 28, 2010 3:00 p.m.

This contest is open to students enrolled in high school (grades 9-12) in Jefferson County. The participants in the WORD UP! student poetry slam will be the winners of the contests held at their schools. Each school is responsible for holding its own contest and selecting a winner and a runner-up. Depending on the number of schools that sign on to participate, we may ask each school to send the top winner OR the winner and runner-up to the February 28th contest.

  • The deadline for schools to sign on to participate is December 10, 2009. Please designate a contact person for the contest and e-mail that person’s name, school, phone number, and e-mail address to Haruyo Miyagawa (hm@bham.lib.al.us).
  • The deadline for schools to submit the names of the winners of the school contests is February 12, 2010. Please submit a registration form for each contestant to Haruyo Miyagawa.
  • The poem must be the contestant’s own creation and use one of the following themes as the inspiration:
    1. The power of imagination
    2.  The power of friendship
    3. The power of persuasion

These are major themes in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, the selected title for next year’s state-wide Big Read. Your poem does not have to relate directly to this book, however.

  • The performance must be appropriate for all ages. No profanity allowed.
  • Contestants need to arrive at the Birmingham Public Library by 2:15 p.m. on the day of the contest.
  • Each poet will have three minutes to perform. Time yourself! You will be penalized if you go over three minutes.
  • Contestants are not allowed to read the poems or to have a copy of the poems with them during the performance.
  • Artists may rap the poem(s).
  • No instruments or props may be used.
  • No costumes are allowed.
  • Only individual/solo performances will be allowed. No groups or duos.
  • A panel of three judges will select the winners. Contestants will be judged on content and performance.