Instructor

Vickers, Zachary

Course Description

In this course, students will gain a broad understanding of the ways humor writing is created: through voice, character, the art of punchlines, the importance of timing, and more. Through targeted readings, discussions and writing exercises, students will analyze a range of humor writing to identify and practice the techniques that are inherent in humor writing. Students will also explore humor writing across a breadth of medium and media, including prose, radio, and the screen. Final projects will consist of developing further one of the course writing exercise in the medium/media of the students’ choice and interest, which will then be workshopped. The final outcome of the course will range, depending on the media/medium of choice, including scenes for a short story, novel, or essay; scenes for a sitcom or film comedy; a humor article for web; or a radio play; among many other possibilities.

Textbook

All reading materials will be provided by the professor as links and .PDFs. For specific readings, please see the course outline at the end of the syllabus.