The Academy

The twist

The gap between where the setup points and where the punchline goes.

1. Lesson 1The assumption you plantYou will identify the one assumption your setup plants and break it with a punchline that replaces it.
2. Lesson 2Two meanings, one sentenceYou will build a setup that carries two readings and test that the second one actually holds.
3. Lesson 3The pattern you breakBuild a two-item pattern, then break it on the third beat to spike Surprise.
4. Lesson 4When the let-down is the jokeDeliver a punchline smaller than the setup promises and let the deflation be the surprise.