Rationale

Lizmarie Delacruz   

Department of English, The City College of New York   

Writing for the Social Sciences (ENGL 2100)   

 Professor Crystal Rodwell

May 13, 2025

My decision to turn my literature review into slam poetry was based on wanting to connect emotionally with my audience. With my essay being so information-dense, a poem was a great way to soften that information into a more digestible manner. It was also a way for me to use my creative skills in writing and present my work in a form I haven’t touched on in a while. My topic is about women’s fashion, specifically Chinese foot binding, corset-wearing, and the historical shaming that forced women to wear only skirts. Although my peers and I have not gone through any of these events, I used poetry to convey how women at this time must have felt going through these oppressive practices. Through repeated questioning in my poem on “what it is to be a woman,” I aimed to engage my audience, foster curiosity, and display my knowledge. 

Making my piece a poem allowed me to use rhythm and metaphors to emphasize my points in a way that a simple conversation would not be able to. I wanted them to know about these practices and feel the impact these restrictions had on women during this time. Choosing this format also allowed me to become a performer and tell my findings like a story exchange. Picking a poem to translate my essay allowed me to manipulate how I wanted my audience to feel just by my tone alone. The way my writing fluctuated and the words used also helped, but because this was slam poetry, my biggest tool will be my delivery. The mixture of a poem, pictures, and a Q&A will ultimately make a more inviting space where people will learn about women’s fashion and feel how they were affected.