Page 116 - SpringBoard_ELA_CA_Smapler_Flipbook

aCTIVITy 4.2
continued
Do Tell—But Do It Right
32 There are also known techniques for telling jokes well.
• Keep it short—Don’t include any details that are not necessary to bring you to the punch line. In the genie joke, there was no need to specify it was a tropical island or to name the castaways. The quicker you tell a joke, the funnier it will be.
• Be specific—Some comedians swear that a joke is funnier if you say “Aquafresh” instead of “toothpaste.” The attention to detail makes the story seem more real.
• Keep a straight face—Deliver the joke deadpan, or without emotion. That way, any strangeness in the joke will seem even stranger because the person telling it doesn’t seem to notice.
• Don’t laugh at your own joke—Let your audience decide whether it is funny or foolish—or both.
33 Theories and techniques aside, much about humor remains a mystery. According
to Hiestand, Carson many times said, “I don’t understand what makes comedy a sure thing. There’s no 100-percent surefire formula.” Meanwhile, for most of us, laughter is never a problem. It does not need to be solved, just enjoyed.
Second Read
• Reread the essay to answer these text-dependent questions.
• Write any additional questions you have about the text in your Reader/Writer Notebook.
1. Key Ideas and Details: Why does laughter seem to qualify as a biological function? What might be the biological function of laughter?
In paragraphs 6 and 7, the author explains that all people laugh, and some animals do too. The function of laughter might be to form a connection. RI.8.3
my Notes
acTIVITY 4.2 continued
5 SECOND READ: During the second reading, students will be returning to the text to answer the text-dependent comprehension questions. You may choose to have students reread and work on the questions in a variety of ways:
• independently
• in pairs
• in small groups
• together as a class
6 Have students answer the text- dependent questions. If they have difficulty, scaffold the questions by rephrasing them or breaking them down into smaller parts. See the Scaffolding the Text-Dependent Questions boxes for suggestions.
6. Key Ideas and Details (RI.8.3) There
are four techniques for telling jokes well as
M 9781457304644_TCB_LAe_SxE_pL8l_aUi4n.ineddd25i5n paragraph 32. How do the first two
techniques relate to narrative writing? Read paragraph 32. Why might excessive details hamper effective narrative writing? When would specific details be important?
Unit 4 • The Challenge of Comedy 255
7. Knowledge and Ideas (RI.8.8) What is the author’s argument in this essay? Cite specific evidence from the text in your response. 15/04/15 1:47 AM Read paragraphs 1 and 2. Who is affected by laughter? How does each section compare and contrast what makes people laugh?
Unit 4 • The Challenge of Comedy 255
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.