Are essays the answer?

MadSteezin

MadSteezin

Active member
My teacher recently strayed from the norm of writing an essay on a topic after reading a book in class. Instead we have to create a playlist by finding 5 songs that relate to things in the book and annotate the lyrics from one song. I think this leaves room for creativity and such rather than the classic essay. Why aren't more assignments like this?

Anyways, my question is do you think that essays are always the answer to evaluating your critical thinking and understanding of a book or such?
 
Damn, I heard of teachers doing stuff like this before. I absolutely hate essays and feel they are a complete waste since you never really do something like that in "the real world". Why cant you just simple right a review, or critique of the book or subject your covering, but that idea is tight and a good teacher who wants to connect with their students will find new and exciting ways to complete assignments.
 
there are many many professions where essay/report style writing is a pretty pivotal role of the career.
 
I don't think they are THE definitive answer. However, proper essay writing is a skill I think everyone should be equipped with.
 
everyone hates essays. doesn't mean they aren't fabulous tools for learning and analyzing. they happen to suck but they also test your knowledge and writing capabilities really well and they're an important skill. too bad, eh?
 
essays arent the only answer, but the level of most high school graduates writing these days is PATHETIC. so i can see why they have kids write mre.
 
some of the stuff i read on the internet is hilarious but super well writen at the same time. i wish teachers taught as that
 
I hate doing essays in my class because my teacher pretty much tells us what to write, so there is no creative freedom. It'll be like, your opening paragraph must include this, that, etc. Then your first body paragraph must include 3 specific examples of how so-and-so displays whatever the fuck we're talking about. The only thing we pretty much get to do is write it and change the words.
 
I wish historians could synthesis playlists and shit...that would make my job a hell of a lot more simple.
 
You can still be creative with an essay, and it is the best way to demonstrate your understanding of the material at the same time.
 
I feel that essays are the best way of demonstrating knowledge on most subjects in most circumstances.

Those of you that say there is a lack of creativity when it comes to essays, and that teachers tell you what to write- you are still in the learning stages of writing. You will have all the freedom in the writing world once you enter college.
 
though some shouldn't. im frightened by the level of writing demonstrated by many freshmen, and even sophomores in college.
 
Oh yeah I know it will be way better when I get to college, but it's frustrating knowing that I have the abilities to write an original piece of work using my own thinking and understanding, whilst being held-back by the incompetence of my peers.
 
Oh yeah I know it will be way better when I get to college, but it's frustrating knowing that I have the abilities to write an original piece of work using my own thinking and understanding, whilst being held-back by the incompetence of my peers.
 
haha this is true. I just read some stuff and go "how did you even make it into college?"

I'm not talking about a lack of evidence and things of that nature. I'm talking just awful sentence structure, punctuation, etc. Things they should have learned in middle and high school.
 
dude, I'm an editor for UVM's history review and you wouldn't believe the shit we got for submissions this semester...it was excruciating reading some of these things. Elementary school quality, so awful.
 
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