Originally shocked to hear that my English class this year would consist almost entirely of in-class assessments, I’ve come to appreciate the ways in which writing in forty-minute chunks will help me grow as a writer and a thinker.
Firstly, not writing essays at home allows me to spend more focused time with the readings for class, and I’ve found it much easier to be thoughtful in discussions when I’m not also trying to write my own essay. For me, in-class essays seem to be the clear answer in the midst of AI, digital distraction, and busy schedules.
I acknowledge that the stress of an in-class essay may be overwhelming for some. Writing at home allows us to be productive when we’re inspired, and to mull over ideas for days instead of minutes. However, given that in-class essays take a lot less homework time for preparation, the assessments can be made much more often, reducing the grade pressure on any individual day or piece of writing. The deeper thought seemingly missing from in-class essays can also appear in discussions.
Milton is a prep school, for college and for life. Once we’ve had the practice in pulling together neat introductions, writing with smooth mechanics, working with the basics of literature, I posit that it’s time to emphasize our thought itself rather than perfectly polished writing. Milton English should prepare us to think profoundly on our feet, as many of us will need to not only in college, but also in a broad range of careers.
Instead of waiting days for the “right” idea to magically strike, let’s learn how to think under a time constraint. The best ideas can come from a conversation or a stream-of-consciousness freewrite, and the pressure of finding the perfect idea for an at-home essay can hold us back from taking risks that might be more interesting.
Concerns about AI are at the forefront of my mind as I write this, and I think that in-class essays, on top of all they’ll do for our learning, have the incredible added bonus of assuring completely original work.
Though beauty cannot be rushed, maybe Milton students should figure out how to work with ideas that aren’t pretty.