Using humor for speechesJoshua Lee

Introductions Take a few minutes to introduce

someone to the class and include some humor.

Why should we use humor in a speech?

The humor should support the main message in your speech.

It is like the salt (or soy sauce) of your meal.

It’s a good way to start and/or end a speech.

MAPMaterial (What will you write?)Audience (Who will hear your

speech?)Performer (What is your

style?)

Audience

Performer (you) What is your personality like? What are some of your values and

beliefs?

Do practice speech

Recipe for Humor (THREES)T= Target (of your joke) papers for classH= Hostility (toward something, i.e. writing papers on boring topics)R= Realism (something true, i.e. I wrote a boring paper).E= Exaggeration (i.e. My classmates and teacher did not accept the paper because it was boring).E= Emotion- (This made me sad and I almost cried because…)S= Surprise- (Even the garbage can wouldn’t accept my paper.)

Eulogy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEE

_-BJF-cc

Formula for a joke Specific subject + attitude = comic’s

solution (joke) Your Korean family doesn’t like your

Chinese boyfriend. Asians can be so racist. Here is what you do, bring a black

boyfriend, then two weeks later, they will love your Chinese boyfriend.

(play video on formula for jokes)

Benign (safe) and violation (wrong) Dr. McGraw

Make a list of 5 things List why you love it. List why you hate it. Make a surprise twist at the end! Test! Test! Test!

Play champion speech

Make that humorous speech! Include humorous remarks in the

opening. Make just three key points, and conclude with a humorous ending. (show video on rule of three in

speeches)

References Helitzer, M., & Shatz, M. (2005). Comedy writing secrets: The best-selling

book on how to think funny, write funny, act funny, and get paid for it (2nd ed.). Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books.

Humor Research lab at the University of Colorado. (2015). Benign Violation Theory. Retrieved from http://leeds-faculty.colorado.edu/mcgrawp/Benign_Violation_Theory.html

Leo Burnett (agency). (2009). [Advertisement by Singaporean commercial for Rights and Freedom]. Retrieved from June 21, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEE_-BJF-cc

Murray, L. (2007). Stand-up comedy. London: Hodder Education.

Roy, J. (2013, Aug. 12). How To Use The Rule of Three in Your Speech (rule of 3). Retrieved https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdGdVVIstwc

Roy, J. (2013, Aug. 12). How Jokes Work (structure of a joke). Retrieved https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXel6mxCSpc

1. Audience2. Pacing3. Test

Answer to why humor maybe used in speeches… wedding toasts, eulogies, welcome

speeches, introductory speeches, and acceptance speeches as possible "special occasions" where they might be asked to speak.