Humor writing in speeches

Adapted for Speech & Debate

When do people laugh

When they are surprisedAt the misfortune of othersAt shared experienceAt the absurd or the ridiculous

Publications’ use of humor

Some publications specialize in humorSome use it along with other contentSome use humor as spot featuresSome as a regular item in columns

Some humor writers

Dave Barry, Calvin Trillin, Garrison Keillor, Ian Frazier, Alice Kahn, Patrick McManus, Roy Blount Jr., Al Franken, Art Buchwald, James Lileks

Where do they write

Miami Herald, New Yorker, Time, The Nation, Arizona Republic, The Atlantic Monthly, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, Lose Angeles Times, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Stand-up comedians/ celebs

Tim Allen, David Letterman, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Cathy Guisewite, Matt Groening, Scott Adams

Humor writer’s ability

To form images and word pictures, Surprise or unexpected finish or resolution of the storyBuild up to the end by taking a small step at a time to tell the storyAllow momentum to growCombination of jokes, break punch line

Four elements needed

A funny openingColorful narrationColorful charactersA concise plot

What good humor avoids

Do not want off-color or sexist humorDo not want taking mean-spirited shots at othersDo not want ethnic jokes

Tips for good writing

Idea should be covered by a single themeDevelop the characters in the speechList the bits of humor - the jokesStart writing and rewriting frequently

How humor writers make humor work

ExaggerationUnderstatementSurpriseLife’s little problems

How humor columnists make humor work

Humor in the newsConstructing a comic realityAttractive beginnings and endingsPuns and word play

Humor writing techniques

Satire and parody: Ridicule a subject’s vices, excesses, abuses, follies, stupidities. One should always be considerate of social power imbalances before taking on another’s culture for humor.

Humor writing techniques

Exaggeration: Overemphasize, enlarge, distort, to make a point. Must have a reason for overstatement. Must know when to stop. (“Doing research” = flipping TV channels)

Humor writing techniques

Contrast: Incongruity. Show unreasonable & unsuitable situations. Something expected and routine becomes unexpected/ non-routine. (Planned holiday becomes a mess)

Humor writing technique

Understatement: Works to create emphasis and reaction on the part of the reader. An intentional, softer comment will draw attention when it is contrasted with the expected. (95 degree temperature: “A little warm outside”)

Humor writing techniques

Asides: Short messages in parentheses or other form to communicate on a quasi-private level. Used in acting or footnotes. Often seen in comedy when comedians present a situation in reality, and then comment on it.

Humor writing techniques

Irony: Employs contradictions through writing tone and subject. Focuses on the direct opposite of what is usual or expected. Outcome of story is different from what is expected by readers. Distance between what happened and what should have happened or what is said and what is intended.

Humor writing techniques

Puns: Play on words to provide double meaning. Unless it’s original, this doesn’t work well.

Humor writing techniques

Logic and Consistency: Correct reasoning through induction or deduction. Crazy behavior and absurd conduct makes much of American humor. But humor must maintain internal logic. Continue absurd premise. Don’t change focus in middle of story