Preface: What is this Book?

This book was designed for use with Composition II courses at Tulsa Community College. Composition II builds students’ communication and writing skills by developing methods for conducting research, reading college-level texts, and synthesizing information in written composition. In order to achieve the Course Learning Outcomes of Composition II, this book focuses on the subject of humor, providing students with a theme about which they can write and research throughout a semester.

What is Funny? is designed to be used as both a Composition handbook and a general reader in the subject of Humor Studies. The book is organized around questions that can help students to relate to and begin thinking deeply about the material presented. Part I “Writing About Humor: What Makes You Laugh?” provides general reviews of college composition basics and the subject of humor. This section also contains sample essays writing about humor and developing analysis through use of sources.

Part II “Understanding Humor: Why do we Laugh?” provides a selection of philosophical writings on the subject of humor and laughter that can be used to help develop a better sense of what other thinkers have said on this subject. Part III “Thinking Deeply About Humor: Why Does Laughing Matter?” picks up more contemporary thinking and writing about humor with summaries and citations for further reading related to race, gender, and the ethics of humor. Finally, Part IV “Researching Humor: So What IS Humor?” provides some instruction regarding general college research and suggestions for further research into this subject.