Name Garrett Gee II Class
Lesson 24 Choice Board: Using Humor (10 points possible)
Today’s Goal
Learn to appropriately and effectively incorporate humor in your application essay.
PART 1: Analyzing a Student Model (3 points possible)
Directions: Reread the paragraphs from the student application essay “Dancing Together” by Dayann
D'almeida and answer the questions IN COMPLETE SENTENCES. 5 minutes
STUDENT MODEL
[1] I cannot dance.
[2] This is not something I often admit willingly; in fact, it is quite baffling to me how horribly incapable I am at
performing even the most basic movements on command. My grandmother often describes it as “a tragedy” as she is
forced to watch her grandchild absolutely butcher our country’s cultural dances, beautiful expressions of our unique
West African roots turned into poor facsimiles by my robotic movements.
QUESTIONS:
1. The author titled his essay "Dancing Together." What is ironic about his first line? 1 pt possible
The irony in the first line is that the author titles the essay "Dancing Together," which implies that he might be
good at dancing, but then he immediately admits that he cannot dance. This sets up a humorous contrast
between expectation and reality.
2. Highlight words and phrases that D'almeida uses to create a humorous, light-hearted tone. 1 pt possible
3. Which of his personal traits does D'almeida emphasize in the opening paragraphs? 1 pt possible
D'almeida emphasizes his self-awareness and humility. He openly admits his inability to dance and makes light
of it, showing that he doesn't take himself too seriously.
PART 2: Using Humor in Your Application Essay
Unit 1: Writing Your Story: Memoir and Application Essays 1
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(1 pt. possible)
Directions: Review the notes, then answer the question. 5 minutes
USING HUMOR IN YOUR APPLICATION ESSAY
Using humor is one way to strengthen your essay. When using humor in your writing, it is important to consider:
● Your topic:
○ Is it appropriate to take a humorous tone given the topic of my essay?
● Your audience:
○ What level of humor is appropriate for your given audience?
● Your message:
○ What point does the humorous comment emphasize?
○ Does that point contribute to the essay’s overall message?
Strategies to Incorporate Humor:
● Use humorous self-criticism:
○ e.g. “it is quite baffling to me how horribly incapable I am at performing even the most basic
movements on command.”
● Use hyperbole:
○ e.g. “ as she is forced to watch her grandchild absolutely butcher our country’s cultural dances”
● Use irony:
○ e.g. Dayann titled the essay “Dancing Together,” so one might expect him to be a good dancer, but he
opens the essay with “I cannot dance.”
1. Which strategy did you find most effective in the excerpt from “Dancing Together?” Why? 1 pt possible
The most effective strategy in this excerpt is humorous self-criticism. D'almeida humorously describes how terrible he
is at dancing, calling it a “tragedy” and comparing his movements to robots. This strategy not only creates humor but
also shows his ability to laugh at himself, which makes the story feel more relatable and engaging. It sets the tone for
a fun and light hearted essay.
Unit 1: Writing Your Story: Memoir and Application Essays 2
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PART 3: Planning to Revise (2 pts possible)
Directions: Answer the questions. Refer to your essay draft as needed. 5 minutes
1. Highlight one or more Strategies to Incorporate Humor from PART 2 that you want to try out in your
essay. 1 pt possible
2. Review your essay draft.
Where could you incorporate humor?
What point will the use of humor emphasize? 1 pt possible
I would like to try using humorous self-criticism in my essay. I think I can use humor to talk about some of the
challenges I've faced and how I’ve handled them, making light of how I sometimes overthink situations.
PART 4: Independent Revision (3 pts possible)
Directions: Revise your application essay to incorporate at least one example of humor. Underline this
new information in your revised application essay below. 10 minutes
When I was six years old, my dad introduced me to chess. What started as a fun way to bond soon became a challenge
that I couldn’t resist. My dad would patiently teach me the rules, and before long, I found myself beating him more
often than not. I was fascinated by the game’s strategy, and the idea that one wrong move could turn the tide of the
entire match kept me coming back for more.
By the time I reached elementary school, I joined the school’s chess club. I was eager to put my skills to the test, and at
my first tournament, something incredible happened. I went up against the teacher who ran the club, a chess coach
with years of experience. To my surprise, I beat him in just six moves. The entire room was stunned, and that moment
solidified my love for the game. It wasn’t just about winning; it was the thrill of outthinking an opponent, even
someone with more experience, and doing it so quickly.
To this day, I think my teacher is still recovering from that game. I can’t imagine how it felt to be beaten by a
fourth-grader with nothing but a “few months” of practice. Winning that game and taking first place in the
tournament was a huge moment for me. It made me realize that chess wasn’t just a hobby, I had a real talent for it.
But beyond winning, chess taught me important life lessons. It taught me how to think several steps ahead, how to
stay calm under pressure, and how to learn from both victories and losses. Beating my teacher in six moves made me
more confident in my abilities, but it also reminded me that success in chess, like in life, was about preparation, focus,
and strategy.
After the tournament, I didn’t stop there. I practiced even harder, learning new techniques and studying famous chess
games. I also started teaching some of my classmates, sharing what I’d learned. Helping others improve their chess
skills not only deepened my own understanding but also showed me how valuable it was to pass on what I knew.
Looking back, chess has been more than just a game to me. It’s shaped how I approach challenges in all areas of my
life, from school projects to personal goals. The skills I developed, problem-solving, patience, and persistence, are just
Unit 1: Writing Your Story: Memoir and Application Essays 3
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as important off the board as they are in the game itself.
PART 5: Check Your Work (1 point possible: answer and/or complete all 3
reflections below.) Directions: Use the box below to check your work. 5 minutes
Check Your Work
Unit 1: Writing Your Story: Memoir and Application Essays 4
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[ ] Highlight the EXAMPLES OF HUMOR in green.
Did you use one of the strategies to incorporate humor? Yes No I’m Not Sure
Does each humorous line emphasize an important point in your essay? Yes No I’m Not Sure
Go back and add any missing parts to your essay.
Unit 1: Writing Your Story: Memoir and Application Essays 5
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