Rant: Most unimaginative people at Douglas Crappy Schools

[danielwang]

Dilbert isn't a comic strip, it's a documentary.

This is the "district writing assessment" at Douglas Crappy School District (my HS district). It's worth a whole plod of our grade!

Explain the following:
Through our lives, we experience changes. Sometimes, we regard these [ Weak, should be "those" ? ] changes as positive or negative. Think of something in your life that has changed. In a well-developed [ Should have a comma? ] multi-paragraph essay, explain what the change was, when this change occured and how it has affected you [ Weak ].

Include a biblography in MLA format with 5 sources; no more than 2 sources may be Internet. I made this part up, but then...

Instructional Suggestion:
Review the elements of explanatory writing. Help students generate a list of possible (appropriate) "changes" (eg (SIC) the birth or death of a loved one, moving to a new home, getting a job for the first time, etc) (SIC)

Ridiculous.

It's supposed to be done in less than 24 hours and I still can't think of anything. Why didn't they pick something else, dammit? How about comparing Monopoly to the Capitalist economy, researching the decline of the feudal system, or the themes in Vision of Escaflowne (I'd love that). Even talking about the historical origins of perfume and how their use is similar to animal pheremones.

"Corporate Managament Cliches in 'Transformers Armada'"
"Symbolism in Dragonball Z"
"The Connection Between What You Eat And Crap Color"

Even that's better.

[downwithpants]

This is the kind of essay you need to write for college applications. Very vague and generalized ones where you have to make a big deal about some aspect about yourself that you could care less for. Involves a lot of BSing and fibbing ('I had a coming of age after such and such experience.')

[Savia]

"Corporate Managament Cliches in 'Transformers Armada'"
"Symbolism in Dragonball Z"
"The Connection Between What You Eat And Crap Color"

Those are the first actually humourous things I've seen you post, ever.