San José State University
Department of Communication Studies
COMM 149X, Rhetoric and COMEDY, Fall 3026
Catalog Description
Understanding how rhetoric connects with comedy, and why it’s so effective, of revealing a message or truth that people can understand.
Course Description
In this class we will come to the understanding on how rhetoric connects with comedy, and why comedy is so effective at revealing a message that people can understand. Together as a class we will see different forms of comedy by different comedians, tv shows, films etc. By understanding comedy and the message that each story wants to convey, we understand how rhetoric works in comedy.
MY COURSE
We will discuss how rhetoric is used with comedy. Can both coexist? Can they work with each other? Can you take comedy and funny things seriously? Can we learn form comedy? All of these situations will be discussed. More importantly how will rhetoric be applied within the things we study.
Course Media
This class will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 pm -1:15pm in person. In person is the best place to get to know your professor and know your fellow students. Our class will be a community of different minds and from different walks of life. Get READY FOR DIVERSITY.
Succeeding in this Course
Participate! Participation is key in my class if you want to pass! Be open to discussion especially in your discussion groups. We will often have discussion groups discussing the different forms of comedy, on why its comedic and how it relates to rhetoric.
Course Learning Objectives for 149X
You will learn what is constitutes something as funny. What is comedy? Why do we laugh? How are these topics able to get our attention? How will they be received by different audiences? What techniques they use to incorporate their rhetoric? BE AWARE THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FUNNY TO YOU SO COME WITH AN OPEN MIND. Having an open mind will only allow yourself to put your shield down and have the ability to want to communicate with your class.
Course Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing this course, students will:
Course Learning Objective 1: Students will be able to understand and approach serious subjects in a comedic style and understand why comedians go about this form of rhetoric communications
Course Learning Objective 2: Students will understand the message and rhetoric communication that they are displaying within their comedy or what
Course Learning Objective 3: Students will be able to get a better understanding of different perspectives through the comedic lens. WE WILL BECOME BETTER COMMUNICATORS IF BECAUSE WE WILL GET TO UNDERSTAND OUR AUDIENCES BETTER.
Course Materials and Readings
NO BOOK! We will watch films that are all different styles of comedic films. We will also watch films by vote and some by my CHOOSING.
Classroom Protocol and Policies
NO CELL PHONES UNLESS I SAY TO USE. GIVE CONSENT ABOUT RECORDING SOMEONE. JUDGMENT FREE ZONE. UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME HUMOR AS YOU! Respect is Key. We are all adults and as adults we will show respect in this class room amongst our community.
Assignments
THIS CLASS IS CAKE. Well you still got to do work. You'll be assigned a one page reflection every Thursday. It will be due every tuesday at the end of class, you get an A for doing the assignment. I want a whole page; no one paragraphs. This assignment will allow you to review and reflect on what you have learned in class about comedy and rhetoric.
Groups
You will be in 3 different groups every 3 weeks. This will give you the ability to meet new people, and WORK ON YOUR COMMUNICATIONS. This will give you the ability to discuss what we have been working on in Class.
Grading policy and procedures
PARTICIPATION IS KEY. I need you to be attentive and discuss within your group mates. You will have assigned group members for different discussions and presentations. IT IS KEY TO YOUR GRADE TO BE PRESENT. “A” FOR EFFORT IS CRUCIAL IN THIS CLASS, It will give.
Participation 40%
Midterm 10%
Final 50%
FINAL
THE FINAL IS KEY. ITS WORTH 50 PERCENT OF YOUR GRADE. Show up and show effort you will get a C
Has to be between 10-20 minutes long
Introduce your subject, and have time for Q and As
Choose groups of 4 or 3
-Show up to one on one meetings with me and group
There are different forms of the final.
-Presentation style (teaching the class of comedy and rhetoric)
-Live action style( implanting the different forms of comedy, and implementing different forms of rhetoric within your live sketch).
-Film Style
Short films or trailer
(using comedic style)
This Final is meant to demonstrate and to show your ability of what you learned about comedy and rhetoric. Each style is unique and each style is effective in own way; its up to the student to go about his or her project in their own manner. ( TO GET AN “A” EXPLAIN WHY THE COMEDY THAT YOU PICKED IS EFFECTIVE AT PERSUADING YOUR AUDIENCE)