Joke writing

Uncover the workings of the classic one-liner, practise joke writing and find out what makes a good joke tick. Learn how to hone and refine one-liners and develop your own joke writing skills for stand up, comedy writing and pleasure.

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Key course information

Date
02/10/11

Day(s)
Sun

Duration
1 week

Time
12:30 - 18:00

Fees
Full fee: £45^NC

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
HW223

Availability
This course has finished

^NC: No concessionary fees available as there is no government funding for this course.

This course has finished

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Still got questions?
humanities@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 7492 2652

Course outline

What is the course about?

Discover how jokes work - and write and hone your own jokes. We will uncover the devices and techniques that lie behind the classic one-liner and other jokes found in stand up comedy. There will be games and exercises in class to stimulate joke writing. And we will look at how to get the best out of a joke, by looking closely at clarity, wording, structure and more. This course is for you whether you're writing jokes for stand up or pleasure - or are simply intrigued to learn more about this art.

What topics will we cover?

We’ll begin with the classic one-liner, looking at examples from the likes of Jack Dee and Jimmy Carr. We will uncover the mechanics of the classic one-liner and will look at key attributes of good joke writing. We will then go on to write our own jokes in pairs and small groups, responding to exercises set. These will then be honed and refined to maximise their effect and illustrate fundamental joke writing techniques. Along the way, we will read jokes, tell jokes and watch stand up comedians tell jokes on video.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

- identify the classic joke structure
- begin writing jokes in that style
- describe a range of comic devices that lie behind jokes
- identify strategies for maximising the effect of a joke.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

All levels. Some writing and reading will be done in the session.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Talks, discussion, pair work, group exercises and games, plus watching and listening to illustrative clips. No work outside of class.

The Tutor
Chris Head is a director, writer and tutor of comedy. He has run comedy workshops for the BBC and Channel 4, and his comedy teaching has been featured in the press and on television. He has directed and script-edited twelve comedy shows for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, co-writing several of them. He has also directed many shows in London, including at Soho Theatre, and has directed a show for the Melbourne Comedy Festival. He has also written comedy sketches for TV and radio. The Guardian described him as “the ideal person to nurture new talent”. www.chris-head.com

City lit reserves the right to change course tutors or venues from those advertised in this outline. In line with our refund policy we are unable to grant a refund on the grounds of a change of tutor/venue.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

No compulsory purchases. Students may like to buy books, scripts, videos or recordings to further explore in their own time. Guidance will be given on worthwhile purchases for those interested.

Do I need to have an interview before I can enrol?

No.

What feedback will I get?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made. Feedback will be given on work produced during the course by fellow students and the tutor. Exercises will be completed in class that will illustrate the students' increasing insight into the material being examined.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?

Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?

You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 213 of the 11/12 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Stand-up comedy workshops, the Comedy Innovators course and other comedy courses including Sketch Comedy in the Drama Programme, plus other comedy writing workshops in the Humanities programme.

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Information and Advice Shop, open Monday to Friday 12:00 – 19:00 during term time, and Monday to Friday 12:00 – 17:00 out of term time. See the course guide for term dates and further details.

Who can I contact for further information?

Tel: 020 7492 2652

humanities@citylit.ac.uk

Advice times:

During term-time Monday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30

Non term-time Monday 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30.

To enrol on a course, call 020 7831 7831.