Spring 2023
COLWRIT R4B 012 - SEM 012
Reading, Composition, and Research
What's So Funny?
John Levine
Class #:21322
Units: 4
Instruction Mode:
In-Person Instruction
Offered through
College Writing Programs
Current Enrollment
Total Open Seats:
1
Enrolled: 16
Waitlisted: 0
Capacity: 17
Waitlist Max: 0
No Reserved Seats
Hours & Workload
1.5 hours of student-instructor coverage of course materials per week, 1.5 hours of instructor presentation of course materials per week, and 9 hours of outside work hours per week.
Other classes by John Levine
Course Catalog Description
A lecture/seminar satisfying the second half of the Reading & Composition requirement, R4B offers structured and sustained practice in the processes used in reading, critical analysis, and writing. Students engage with thematically-related materials from a range of genres and media. In response, they craft short pieces leading to longer expository and/or argumentative essays. Students develop a research question, draft a research essay, gather, evaluate, and synthesize information from various sources. Elements of the research process--a proposal, an annotated bibliography, an abstract, a works cited list, etc.--are submitted with the final report in a research portfolio. Students write a minimum of 32 pages of prose.
Class Description
What makes something amusing? Is humor subjective? Is it culture-specific, generation-specific, time-and-day specific? What does Dave Chapelle’s humor have in common with Shakespeare’s comedies? And what about memes? How is today’s standup different from the standup comedy of the past? Why do we laugh? The course will consider these and other questions as we look at how humor functions in literature. We’ll read and discuss various theories about jokes, and you’ll develop your own research project to determine just what’s so funny.
Book List: Ha! The Science of When We Laugh and Why (Scott Weems), Lysistrata (adapted by Ellen McLaughlin),The Craft of Research (Wayne C. Booth, et al.), Films, videos, podcasts TBA
Class Notes
Enrollment is restricted to students who have satisfied the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement. This course satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement.
Rules & Requirements
Requisites
- Previously passed an R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Previously passed an articulated R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Score a 4 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature and Composition. Score a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition. Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English.
Repeat Rules
Course is not repeatable for credit.
Requirements class fulfills
Second half of the Reading and Composition Requirement
Reserved Seats
Current Enrollment
No Reserved Seats
Textbooks & Materials
See class syllabus or https://calstudentstore.berkeley.edu/textbooks for the most current information.
Guide to Open, Free, & Affordable Course Materials