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Isaiah needed help with some homework tonight. Or rather, Isaiah had homework to do this weekend, and he waited til tonight to do it. He had to write an essay -- an exercise that always flusters him -- and so he wanted my help.

Isaiah and I really couldn't be more different when it comes to school. I loved academics; I thrived doing it. Isaiah loathes school. He always has.

Isaiah's assignment was to write about his best and his worst experiences in school. What the hell sort of essay is that?! (Narrative, I guess...) Where's the analysis? The interpretation? The argument?

I often rail against his writing assignments, as I've taught college composition enough to see the problem when you fail to equip students with the skills to write good essays.

Of course, Isaiah's not really doing college preparatory work. He's in an alternative program, where hopefully he can at least get his diploma. So I guess I should relax my outcry against the "five paragraph special," as I like to call the form for most high school essays (Introduction- Idea 1 - Idea 2 - Idea 3 - Conclusion that rephrases Introduction).

As Isaiah and I worked through the assignment, it was interesting to hear him pick out a best and a worst moment. They weren't what I'd expected (worst moment: his 7th birthday when I brought ice cream cups as treats for his 2nd grade class and by the time he'd handed them all out, there were no more of the flavor he wanted. Devastating!!)

It's hard to watch Isaiah struggle with his writing, and I can't help but think that better topics -- something he can really sink some analytical teeth into -- would actually be easier than the inane topic he was assigned. Even if Isaiah and his school-mates aren't college-bound, there's no reason not to foster their critical thinking skills.

Audrey Watters


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Audrey Watters

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