Throwback Thursday – Class Assignments

Maggie, at From Cave Walls, and Lauren, at LSS Attitude of Gratitude, alternate hosting Throwback Thursday. The idea of the prompt is for them to give us a topic and for us to write a post in which we share our own memories or experiences about the given topic.

This week’s prompt is: Class Assignments We have talked about report cards and homework and other school related activities. Today I want to focus on specific assignments and what you remember about them.

1. What do you remember as the most interesting required reading assignment you had?

No question, Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember. The minute by minute account of the sinking of the Titanic. I was always fascinated with the story.

What class was it for? It was for a Senior elective class called “Survey of Non-Fiction.

2. Were you required to write a book report or were you required to give an oral presentation? We did many book reports, but non for that particular class.

3. What did you consider the worst book or article you were required to read?

Silas Marner by George Eliot.

What made it the worst? It was probably the most boring thing I have ever read. The entire class felt the same way. I remember the teacher, Mr. Young, even stopped a discussion because no one was really listening to him. He basically told us, “I know this book sucks, but we all have to get through this together…”

4. Were you ever required to debate other classmates?

In high school, no. College, yes.

If so, what class was it for? Business communications in college.

Do you remember any of the subjects and your ‘side’ of the debate? I am almost positive the topic was Universal Health Care. What side? I don’t recall.

5. Were you ever required to do a science project or enter school science fair? No

6. Did you have a Home Economics class or a Wood/Metal Shop class?

In Junior High, I was both wood and metal shop

What types of things did you make?

Wood shop – key rack, candle holder. Metal shop – metal box, shoe horn.

7. Did you frequent the library?

Only when needed.

Was it for class work or for pleasure?

Class work.

What book that you read for pleasure had the most impact on you?

Most reading I did in school was because I had to.

8. What was your most creative class? Band? Chorus? Art? Drama? Writing?

Band, for sure! I wish I had been in choir and art class. I can’t draw to save my life. I never did drama, because I never thought I could stand in front of people and “act.” The only real writing I did was for assignments.

What standout creative project do you remember most? In band, we had a group of us that went to Solo and Ensemble festival. I only remember doing this one time. It was a lot of work, but a great experience.

9.  Were you required to write a term paper or an end of year report in any of your classes?

Not in high school. If I did, I don’t remember. In college, I wrote a TON of papers – some of them I have adapted and used as blogs here.

10. Bonus Question: Did your teachers ever offer extra credit assignments ?

Some of them did.

Did you do them to help improve your grade? 

If my grades were bad, I took advantage of those extra credit assignments. Many times, I wished for extra credit assignments because my grades were in the toilet!