5-5:10pm: Has anyone laughed lately? At a certain point, don’t you just have to laugh? And notice, this is a QUESTION. Not a judgment or statement.
5:10-5:30pm: Let’s talk about humor in Composition. How is humor part of composition? How can humor be literature? What is the value to humor? Has anyone heard of David Sedaris? If so, what do you know?
5:30-5:50pm: Analyzing humor, comedy, anything that makes us laugh. What does it do to the writing? Just make it entertaining, or something else?
5:50-6pm: Finding funny in everything…. Can it be done?
6-6:20pm: Humor in our lives, in our families, in some of the dumb stuff we do…. What do you think? Me, I have to laugh at myself when I f/ck up, otherwise it poisons my mood and vibe.
6:20-6:40: David Sedaris…. Someone who writes differently. In a diary then to a formal essay. He teaches us not just about comedy, but about writing an essay. To enjoy the liberated writing in a diary or journal first, then organize. To make writing yours!
6:40-6:50: Close…. What do you have in your notes/on tonight’s page?
ASSIGNMENT: 1, Research David Sedaris. 2, type and EMAIL ME a 2-page reaction to your findings on Sedaris…. What do you think of him? What is he like? What sources did you find useful? (HINT: Watch his videos on YouTube, to start!). 3, write out your goals for this semester, not just for this class but all-encompassing, and write how you plan to satisfy them. Be prepared to discuss next meeting.
Also, I will be starting my Zoom office hours next week, by appointment. Stay tuned!
#professormikey 
I like sarcasm and ironic humor
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I haven’t heard about David Sedaris but I read the reviews about his book and I’m super excited to read about it now
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He’s awesome Nina!!!
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same I read the back of the book that we’re going to read from him and that really got me interested in reading a bit of it
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What is you full name?????????????????
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Hey sorry I was held up so i’m responding to both prompts here: I saw some friends yesterday and it is impossible not to laugh when we hangout. Part of the reason I love them. I have sometimes thought about what exactly humor and comedy and laughing is. Or more how to define it and it’s one of the harder things for me to define as its one of the most purest responses/emotions. I think you can add almost any type of humor to writing just depends on what your righting and the mood or set of the writing you’ve created.
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Thanks for coming! Well said!
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Garin, you’re in the 7pm class. Please attend then.
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Just with composition in general humor is a very easy thing to find whether it be in the creator making fun of themselves or an entire concept, it lets a topic be less serious. Humor is a very valuable asset to literature and can really be what saves an interest in a particular book. Its usually incorporated to lighten the mood of a passage or in an already cheerful setting to emphasize what a good time the character is having. The value of humor is priceless when you think about being that its use is understood universally. Besides the books we’ve been assigned to get I do not know much about David Sedaris and would like to know more about him.
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Same, I don’t know who Sedaris is but I’m assuming he has comedy in his writing. But the question is ; what type of comedy
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You’ll see…
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Being able to identify someone’s humor is not easy especially in writing but i like sarcasm
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You’ll love Sedaris then.
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I think humor comes from the unexpected happening. When you’re expecting something to happen a certain way and its dramatically different, it feels like you’re being kept on your toes and living in the moment.
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@Paloma agreee!!!
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Humor in composition is a way to break the ice with your reader. With humor you can make people feel more comfortable around you. The person feels connect with you somehow
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Very true!!! Sedaris makes us comfortable in uncomfortable situations!
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He does! Ive been trying to figure out how to word it and that’s exactly it
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Can be tough…
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I agree. Humor is such a small way to connect with people to make things easier and flow better.
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Comedy can/should always be added to writing (just as in real life) even if its just simple wit. Always creates a more interesting story/description/statement.
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Personally, humor in writing would make me more interested in the reading. I’d wanna know what jokes the author has in store
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I don’t know who David Sedaris is but now I am very interested to read his books
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He’s very approachable, but very direct.
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I think humor makes writing more lively, relatable, and BELIEVABLE!! You???
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For sure, we find jokes funny because we can relate to /understand them
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YESSSS! Even with the biology point of view. When you laugh our bodies produce ”happiness” hormones that can bring good memories or can create new good memories.
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In writing I believe it makes it entertaining and like I said in my previous post help them interact with the author. Helps them feel what the author is feeling.
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Is there something like too much comedy/humor in writing ?
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Sure…. Humor needs balance, as Sedaris will show you!
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Too much humor or a bad balance could be those tv shows that do corny jokes any chance they get. Which makes it less relatable and more annoying.
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Yes. I hate that shit.
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I heard about David Sedaris a couple years ago from a friend. This friend had recently come out and was excited about an openly gay author with a sense of humor similar to their own. Their humor being quite dry and a little dark lol
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Dark yes, but you’ll see he’s quite strong as well!
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I love this idea from David Sadaris where he believes that comedy has no weight without some sort of sorrow. He wants balance in his composition, understanding that to keep the value of something you need to take it away and bring the complete opposite of it. Beautiful.
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This was beautifully worded, thank you for sharing 🙂
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Agreed.
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When I have my Zoom office hours next week, don’t be surprised if I ask you to tell me a joke, or funny story!!!
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i’ll keep your word for it
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Please do!
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I better do some good research on funny jokes. I don’t have any good ones! Zoom office hours, they will be mandatory, correct?
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More or less…
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Personally it is difficult for me to use humor in my writing, but verbally everyday I it comes easy. In many of the novels I have read I have noticed that normally there isn’t much humor but it could also be the genre I’m reading.
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Yes trying to find humor in everything can be done. Even when I’m having a bad day I laugh at my bad luck because what else can you do.
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should I should just leave now and join the 7 pm class at relatively the same time then?
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Please.
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okay thanks.
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Comedy in writing can help the author convey a tone or message through a joke or a funny situation. Generally in writing its used as a haha moment however some authors use comedy as a way to convey a point.
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Humor can persuade someone, bring down an intense situation, and just make someone’s day. Humor isn’t just for giggle and laugh . I seen humor first hand save someone life ( no joke) so humor can be used in other ways then to make some laugh
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Yes!! There is persuasion in humor!!
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I think humour is very useful in educating people about various problems our various sections of society go through most comedians use this in their stand up.
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True!
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doing a little research his newest book “Lets explore diabetes,” and how popular it got. Crazy that I never heard of it until now!
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Again, humor in writing makes readers more hooked on what the author has to say. Whether it’s relating to the writing or just getting a good laugh off it
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Watching some videos of David Sedaris. He’s pretty funny!
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Good job, Victor! Love the initiative!!
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i agree i think it allows the audience to relate and become more interested in the author
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This! It almost feels like the author becomes your friend because you understand their humor and it makes you laugh, which is something you look for in a friend
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I believe i had a teacher who mentioned him briefly in one of my classes. We didn’t talk much about him, unfortunately.
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That is unfortunate. Your teacher could have made their lessons more engaging..
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I’ve never heard of him until now but I’m excited to learn more about him.
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Me too.
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Have you ever tried writing humor? Like a creative essay or story that’s meant to make people laugh?
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Naturally I’m pretty sarcastic. So I think when people read my writing they take it as humor
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I have never written anything with humor but that will definitely be the next thing I will try to do on my journal
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Give it a shot!
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I haven’t really done that
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I like to make myself laugh with my own writing. I think if your writing makes you smile it’s worth sharing cause you might bring other’s joy which is really awesome
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Good!
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Adding humor to writing adds complexities because it can change the tone of a situation. The tone is significantly affect when there is homr involved. It can lighten the situation, darken it, or change it completely.
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It definitely has an impact!
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When I read something that is funny.. it gives me the urge to binge read the whole thing lol!
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My man. RESPECT.
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I think humor adds another level of connection to the writing. Whether the plot is something you find relatable or not, if a piece can make you laugh then it’ll have you hooked. At least for me personally. Or it can make something a little easier to stomach. The first example that comes to mind is any parenting book written with humor. They could be talking about the nitty gritty realities of having a “three-nager” and I could be busting up laughing. Doesn’t make the topic anymore enjoyable to experience, but it certainly helps to lighten the mood.
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Connection, YES!!!!
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I don’t right with very much humor, but I love to read comedic compositions.
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*write …. lol … All good. 🙂
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A note for your notes, tonight….. Weaponizing humor. Using it to fight your own moods, or depression or anxiety… Try it!!
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I couldn’t imagine trying to get through an entire book completely devoid of any sense of comedy. Some people prefer to remain more serious and prefer books like that but for the average person humor makes writing more relatable and enjoyable.
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Seriously… I agree.
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All other English classes I’ve take have been more argumentative writing where I felt I was more pushed to stay within boundaries which humor does not cross.
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Structure is good. But humor is magic.
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That’s like the only writing they had us do all High school!
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Me too man. And it f/cking sucked.
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It’s really sad how high school is structured in a way where you’re not able to express yourself or choose what you want to study. My first year of college has been awesome thus far all my teachers have been so much better.
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Good to hear!
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A note for your notes….. Everything in your writing can be strengthened, to empower the connection to your readers.
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There is always room for improvement. If we continue to work on things, it can only get better
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Comedy in writing isn’t just entertaining it’s more than that. For me comedy is engaging.
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Yes, and it can educate!
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Humour also make us more effective in our work because it distracts our mind from goal more focus on journey toward that goal.
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Comedy in writing once made me feel like i’d definitely be friends with the author in real life
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Nice! That’s a good feeling!
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A note for your notes…. Make funny remarks throughout your day. About as much as you can. Today, I ordered a veggie burrito, take out the spinach and add more mushrooms. I love mushrooms that are sauteed. This burrito was horrible Too many mushrooms, too sauteed-y… just dumb.. Should have kept that goddamn spinach.
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I love mushrooms in my meat and non meat burritos but you can definitively over do it making the same mistake more than once.
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WHAT. IS. YOUR. FULL. NAME.????????????????
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Tuan Quoc Dao I think I sent you something saying I go by Tony
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Thanks.
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Never thought about humor composition like this. Thanks guys
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Thank YOU!
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The closest I’ve come to writing humor was trying to write jokes for a stand-up. I realized how hard it was to write good jokes that still flow and connect and have meaning/tell a story. Basically I didn’t understand the composition of stand up jokes and how to really put them together.
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It’s quite challenging, yes.
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What is the best balance of non structure(humor), and structure(argumentative). I think this is harder than its seeming(not that Im not up for the challenge), and that how much work it takes to really get a great piece of work.
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Of course it’s hard. And in terms of creative writing, who’s to say…. But the essays we write will be not so much argumentative as they are reactions.
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I think that it depends on how you see the situation and if it can be made humorous. I try to learn from my grandfather who loves to his sense of humor and spreads his humor with the ones people he meets.
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I like this question.. “Finding funny in everything…. Can it be done?”
I think you can find humor in EVERYTHING!!!
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I do too, but sometimes it’s tough.
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I think this generation typically finds humor in EVERYTHING. We do it sort of as a copping strategy to keep a smile on our face and the negativities out of our minds
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Humor can be found anywhere in anything even things that generally are frowned upon to joke about like 9/11 and the holocaust. People will find a way to satire almost if not everything it comes across.
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Sometimes it can be tricky though…
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I believe that you can’t really find humor in everything there’s just some stuff you don’t joke about like a dead relative or something very serious . You pick and choose your battles
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