eDay Lessons
American Literature and
Composition 11
eDay Lessons
Analysis of Humorous Writing
Standards
Reading Informational Text
RI.11-12.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly
as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters
uncertain.
RI.11-12.3 Analyze a complex set of ideas or sequence of events and explain how specific individuals,
ideas, or events interact and develop over the course of the text.
RI.11-12.5 Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his or her exposition
or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.
Writing
W.11-12.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
W.11-12.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and
research.
W.11-12.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and
shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and
audiences.
Language
L.11-12.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when
writing or speaking.
L.11-12.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and
spelling when writing.
L.11-12.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word
meanings.
Expectations for Learning
Demonstrate knowledge of figurative language used in humorous writing.
Provide an analysis of the humor in the drawings of James Thurber.
Provide an analysis of the cause-and-effect essay.
Materials:
Paper, pen, pencil
“The Night the Ghost Got In” by James Thurber located in Prentice Hall’s Literature: The
American Experience 2010 on pages 860-864.
Graphic organizers provided in this packet
Task
In this 3-part assignment, you will demonstrate your knowledge of humorous writing in terms of figurative
language, the drawings of James Thurber, and the cause-and-effect essay “The Night the Ghost Got In.”
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Columbus City Schools
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eDay Lessons
Analysis of Humorous Writing
Day One: Figurative Language
Read James Thurber’s “The Night the Ghost Got In.” You may find it in your textbook on pages 860-864.
Then demonstrate your knowledge of figurative language often used in humorous writing by identifying an
example of hyperbole, understatement, idiom, and dialect used in Thurber’s essay. You may use the
graphic organizer provided to chart your examples.
Element of Humor
Hyperbole
Example
Understatement
Idiom
Dialect
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Columbus City Schools
Page 3 of 7
eDay Lessons
Analysis of Humorous Writing
Day Two: Critical Viewing of the Drawings of James Thurber
Analyze the humor in Thurber’s drawings that accompany the text “The Night the Ghost Got In.” The
drawings are located on pages 860, 862, and 863. How do the drawings complement the essay’s
humor?
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Columbus City Schools
Page 4 of 7
eDay Lessons
Analysis of Humorous Writing
Day Three: The Cause-and-Effect Essay
“The Night the Ghost Got In” is a cause-and-effect essay. On the graphic organizer provided on page 6
of this packet, identify 3 examples of cause-and-effect used in Thurber’s writing. Then write a short
analysis of how the cause-and-effect organizational pattern contributes to humorous writing.
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Columbus City Schools
Page 5 of 7
eDay Lessons
Analysis of Humorous Writing
Prewriting: Graphic Organizer
Cause-and-Effect Essay: “The Night the Ghost Got In” by James Thurber
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Columbus City Schools
Page 6 of 7
eDay Lessons
Analysis of Humorous Writing
Write a short analysis of how the cause-and-effect organizational pattern contributes to humorous writing.
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Columbus City Schools
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