Joke Writing : The Ultimate Free Guide to Joke Structures

Joke Writing : The Ultimate Free Guide to Joke Structures

Joke Structures : How To Write Stand-Up Comedy Jokes

Joke Structure, also know as “joke formats” or “joke types” is a way for comedians to prepare a setup and punchline to create a comedic conflict . A “Joke Formula” is a schematic joke-writing scheme for build these structure .

Types of Jokes Covered In Faster & Funnier :

  1. Broken Assumption Jokes
  2. Exaggeration Gag
  3. Misplaced Sincerity Jokes
  4. Contradiction Joke
  5. Pattern of Three ( List Jokes )
  6. Puns
  7. Meta-Jokes
  8. Leave out Punchlines
  9. Specificity Jokes
  10. Callback Lines
  11. Self-Depreciation Jokes

If you ever watch yourself asking “ Should I use a Rule Of Three joke here ? ” … then you ’ re missing the point. Best event scenario , you will total out VERY mechanical and choppy . Still , if you realize how to create the comedic conflict then you ’ ll no longer get to concern about the structure of the material .

Joke structure live likely thealmost over-emphasizedpart of stand-up comedy . Today joke structures play a a lot smaller role than they do in early stand-up comedy . They still serve hold their place in stand-up comedy… just not in the spotlight .

How To Compose Broken Assumption Jokes

Free Joke Writing Lesson : Broken Assumption Jokes

Every time you talk you ’ re giving the listener information about thewho , what , where , when , why ,orhowof your story .

Some of this information beEXPLICIT, mean you actually say it . The repose isIMPLICIT, intend the listener put on it .

Require a mere conviction : “I went to the market memory .“

The sentence explicitly tells you WHO ( “ I ” ) and WHERE ( “ market shop ” ) , but not WHAT , WHEN , WHY , or HOW . So 2 while of information liveexplicit( write in green )

Next , you create assumptions : You know GROCERY STORE , so it ’ secIMPLIEDthat I want to buy food . You potential put on that I aim a car or walked as good . Today you get 4 while of information ( theassumptionare in red ) :

Why= “ needed to buy food ”How= “ probably drove his car ”

I call the pause from the assumption to the new interpretation “ shifts ” becausethe punchline shifts the original apprehension of the gag. The safety of the gag comes from the first interpretation . The punchline make a violation by changing one of the assumptions created . Conventional jokes nearly ever employ these “ pitch ” to make wit .

I gave my cat a bath the other day… they enjoy it . He pose thither , he enjoyed it , and it was fun for me too .

I gave my cat a bath the other day… they enjoy it . He pose there , he savor it , and it equal fun for me also .

As an audience member , hither ’ s what we EXPLICITLY know :

Where= “ the bathroom ”Why= “ the cat be dirty ” andHow= “ He set the cat in the tub ”

Today the punchline will break one of our assumptions .

I hold my cat a tub the other day… they enjoy it . He sit there , he enjoyed it , and it was fun for me also .The fur would puzzle to my tongue, but other than that… ( Steve Martin )

Setup/Punchline :He place the cat in the bathtubfive .He solve his cat

I pay my cat a bath the early day… they enjoy it . He sat thither , he enjoyed it , and it was fun for me too .The fur would bind to my tongue, but early than that… ( Steve Martin )

Setup/Punchline :He put the guy in the bathtubvs .He licked his guy

Hither ’ s an example from Bill Engvall . Notice what information you put on as you record through .

[ Golf ] So eventually , on about the fifteenth tee , I hit the drive of my life… And I watch this chunk hardly go and die and . . . form of hit this guy in the head . And I felt bad , but he overreacted , I thought . I signify , it wasn ’ t like a square hit ; it merely kind of glance off his head . Buthe go whippin ’ his car off the freeway, like “ hither we go ! ” Mr . Attitude ! ( Bill Engvall )

Setup/Punchline :A someone on a golf coursevs .A person drive on the highway

[ Golf ] So ultimately , on about the fifteenth tee , I hit the drive of my life… And I watch this chunk hardly live and get and . . . sort of hit this guy in the head . And I felt bad , but he overreacted , I thought . I signify , it wasn ’ t like a square hit ; it merely form of glance off his head . Buthe become whippin ’ his car off the freeway, like “ here we go ! ” Mr . Attitude ! ( Bill Engvall )

Setup/Punchline :A person on a golf linevs .A person push on the highway

This be a “Who-Shift. ” Engvall conceal the genuine identity of the guy he hit with the ball until he reveals that wasn ’ t in reality another golfer ( or assumption ) , but a driver . He didn ’ t talk about the when , nor serve we make assumptions about it . The when is entirely left out .

Leave Out Some Info

Notice thatWHENis often undefined . This be the most mutual slice of information to get out out because it commonly doesn ’ t meet a role in the account or joke . In my example , I say that I “ went ” to the shop , so you know it ’ s in the past… but that ’ s all . If the actual date/time doesn ’ t subject , either don ’ t mention it or use a short phrase like “ The early day ” or “ I once went to … ” Both Steve Martin and Bill Engvall skip the “ when ” in the lesson . They observe it very generic so that they can move on to more crucial information .

Recall that an hearing needs to go through 3 stages to understand a gag :structure , realization , and solution. During structure the listener picks out what they think will exist important information . By editing out the WHEN in our joke , the comedian reach it easier for the interview to calculate out what information will equal significant to the punchline .Do not give the audience also much infoor they will have to sort through tons of information to construct a joke .

Instance of Broken Assumption Joke Shifts

case :( WHO-SHIFT ): When you ’ re single all you see exist couples… but when you ’ re a portion of a pair , all you regard are hookers . ( Jim Gaffigan )

instance :( WHAT-SHIFT ): Cross rural area skiing is great if you exist in a little area . ( Stephen Wright )

EXAMPLE :( 2x WHAT-SHIFT ): “ She Get The Best Pussy ” ( Steve Martin )

case :( WHERE-SHIFT ): And I look out this chunk just go and go and . . . kind of hit this guy in the head . And I sense bad , but he overreacted , I recall . I mean , it wasn ’ t like a square hit ; it hardly form of glance off his head . But he goes whippin ’ his car off the freeway ( Bill Engval )

lesson :( WHEN-SHIFT ): [ while snow-skiing with his family ] I strike two trees and fell down a ditch . And that exist exactly walk from the club . ( Bill Engval )

EXAMPLE :( WHY-SHIFT ): I believe you should direct a woman on a pedestal – high enough so you can look up her dress . ( Steve Martin )

model :( HOW-SHIFT ): I pay my cat a bath the other day… they enjoy it . He sat thither , he enjoy it , if be fun for me . The fur would stick to to my tongue , but early than that… ( Steve Martin )

Summary : Broken Assumptions

  1. When you address , you are giving the listener bothEXPLICITandIMPLICITinformation about theWho , What , Where , When , Why ,andHowof your history .
  2. The hearing createsassumptionbased on theexplicit information. These assumptions are then disclose in the punchline .
  3. “ When ” live much result out of material or rapidly brushed aside with a remark like “ lately ” or “ awhile back ”

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Type of Jokes Covered In Faster & Funnier :

  1. Broken Assumption Jokes
  2. Exaggeration Joke
  3. Misplaced Sincerity Jokes
  4. Contradiction Joke
  5. Pattern of Three ( List Jokes )
  6. Puns
  7. Meta-Jokes
  8. Omit Punchlines
  9. Specificity Jokes
  10. Callback Business
  11. Self-Depreciation Jokes

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