X-18
Comedy Writing:
Comedy and Humor
In Literature and Life,
Part Two
Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade
Using the styles of comedy in literature and spoken form, practice and hone your comedy writing skills with hands-on writing projects -- to become a better writer today…
Your Course Description
Become a great writer as you expand beyond the traditional writing course. Get hands-on writing practice using comedy as a springboard for perfecting your writing skills. In an interesting yet challenging way, this course takes the forms, methods, and genres of comedy learned in Part 1 to help you become a better writer. Continue to explore comedy in literature, short forms, sketches, stand up, satire, and more in this enjoyable and practical course for all writing students. Learn how comedy and humor can enrich all academic and creative writing. If you want to extend your writing.
Your Course Outline
Class 1: In the steps of Literary Humorists: Analyzing and practicing in the form and style of literary giants (Mark Twain, Dave Barry, and more); learning how the writer uses his/her particular talents and skills to make people laugh; choosing one famous person and writing a humorous story for silent reading in his/her style (quiz, reading/examples, assignment rough draft is turned in).
Class 2: Feedback on Assignment 1 Rough Drafts; analyzing the characteristics, styles, and tips for improving your own writing
Class 3: Final Draft of Assignment 1 Due; presenting our writing/humorous work in-class
Class 4: In the steps of the Writers of Spoken Comedy (sketches and standup): analyzing and practicing in the form and style; learning how to write for an audience who will be listening/for a “live” performance (quiz, reading/examples, assignment is a rough draft).
Class 5: Feedback on Assignment 2 Rough Drafts; analyzing the characteristics, styles, and tips for improving your own writing
Class 6: Final Draft of Assignment 2 Due; presenting our writing/humorous work in-class
Class 7: Writing for Public Speaking and Personal Communications: We will write a speech that could be delivered in a “live” setting (awards, after-dinner speeches, commencement addresses, business presentations, business pitches, and more); learning how to verbally present what’s written with pacing, body language, pitch/tone/inflection, and more.
Class 8: Editing and Finalizing your Work; final presentations!
Your Course Details
Total Number of Classes: Eight (8)
Prerequisites: Comedy Writing: Comedy and Humor in Literature and Life, Part One (HS X-17);
Take the prerequisite courses LIVE or in Unlimited Access recording.
Required Materials:
Document Creation
All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.
Suggested Credit: One (1) full semester of Comedy Writing, Creative Writing, or English.
How this course fits with your other High School Writing Excellence courses...
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACADEMIC WRITING | |||
| X-5 Punctuation/Grammar II | COLL-1 Mastering College Essay Writing | ||
| ADVANCED FICTION WRITING & LITERARY FORM | |||
| X-9 Hero's Journey, Part 1 | X-10 Hero's Journey, Part 2 | ||
| X-11 Screenwriting, Part 1 | X-12 Screenwriting, Part 2 | ||
| 11-6 Authoring a Book, Part 1 | 11-8 Authoring a Book, Part 2 | ||
| 11-7 Writing the Short Story | X-19 SF/Fantasy Short Story | ||
| X-15 Fiction Writing Workshop | X-16 Screenwriting Workshop | ||
| CREATIVE WRITING: EXPRESSIVE & POETIC FORMS | |||
| X-17 Comedy Writing, Part 1 | X-18 Comedy Writing, Part 2 | ||
| X-13 Intro to Poetry | X-14 Poetry: Joining the Great Tradition | ||
| BUSINESS WRITING | |||
| 11-9 Pro Business Writing Essentials | 11-10 Foundations of Journalism | ||
** The X-17 and X-18 courses can be taken separately or together. To get the most out of both courses, create a full year of High School Writing with Parts 1 and 2 together.
Your Instructor
LIVE, INTERACTIVE COURSES
This course is offered LIVE with instructor Kevin O´Brien in the Fall of 2020. Sign up for the LIVE course here.
One Sign Up Option
1. LIVE, INTERACTIVE COURSE
Students attend a LIVE class in a virtual classroom on a specific day, at a specific time. After class (during the week), the student independently completes the coursework and weekly quizzes; the quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. Your instructor gives feedback on assignments and grades student work; the instructor is available for communication outside of class via email, to help answer questions. Homework time outside of class is estimated to be one to three hours per week, depending on your student’s skills.
2. UNLIMITED ACCESS RECORDED COURSE
This course will be offered in Unlimited Access recordings in the Summer of 2021.
Specific Course FAQs
Is this course required?
This course is a Writing Excellence course and is an “above and beyond” course from the FOUNDATIONS-DEVELOPMENT-ADVANCED series of 9-12th grade courses. It can also be considered a WRITING DEVELOPMENT course.
Who should take the Comedy Writing courses?
Particularly if your student wants to be in a highly-engaging, high-interest course — to get excited about writing — then this may be a perfect fit, to increase your student’s writing skills with enjoyment. For those looking to combine writing, literature, and history — this is a perfect course. This course is also perfect for the student who wants to pursue any part of the creative storytelling or performance arts industry (book/novel writing, television and film writing, speech writing, and journalistic article writing).
Can I take another writing course at the same time?
Yes! Many students take two separate writing courses during a semester. In particular, the Comedy Writing courses can be taken at the same time as any of the high school Foundations courses (9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 9-4), Development courses (10-1, 10-2 and 11-Series courses), and Advanced Writing courses (12-1 and 12-2).
Is this course considered an English, Writing, or Literature Analysis course?
This course is considered an advanced English and Writing course with Literature Analysis components.
