Finally came up with a system for classroom essays

[The Comrade]

except that's not an effective way of doing it at all because it puts the length above the content.

[eric]

[NAB]

[The Comrade]

[NAB]

[eric]

[Charai]

Nah, length limits are always good. Of course they encourage you to write fluff, that's the point. A huge part of life is learning to write about bullshit, filling in the blanks when there is nothing to legitimately put there. Essays that require puffery just prepare you for this fact of life. Also, it's effective guidance. I've had numerous essays with length requirements and I began bullshitting two fill pages and in the process discovered other more nuanced issues that needed to be included. Sometimes I realize that my scope is entirely to broad or narrow based on the length requirement.

[eric]

Of course you would encourage stupidity

[eric]

Very relevant. It's a completely uninspiring topic. Idk the scope of the class, I assume American history? Why not ask them to just write what they think about how some of the most influential presidents affected America? Or, why not offer them a few different topics? Give them the illusion of choice. Ask them what they would do if they were president, and why? You don't think you could get some of these kids to write about what they would do if they were president? Then go over the stuff in class and have a discussion, ask other kids if it would be constitutional, can the president do this? Etc....

and if some students write 3-5 sentences, have a one on one with them let them decide a topic about presidents that they will re-write for you.

You got to get these mother f**k to think. Not research boring historical facts. I love history, but I've never enjoyed writing history that the teacher told me to go look up and write about. Who the hell cares if Abe Lincoln was born in Illinois and did XYZ while he was president?

How about what impact did those events have? Or what is something the student thinks about Abe Lincoln? Or what would the student do if they were president, and would that be constitutional?

[Professor]