Academic Writing

Prompt: Sir Ken Robinson successfully added fun and excitement to the daily life and curricula of primary and secondary schools in Britain and the U.S. He increased the amount of organized play, recess, learning through game-playing, and what we call “hands-on” learning (craft, culinary, and shop arts). He also bolstered school social life—parties, celebrations, and neighborhood and school cosponsored events. Not only did attendance increase, truancy decline, and parental involvement improve, but test scores on standardized tests rose at schools that instituted his programs and curricula. Fun increases learning. How could college be more fun? There are dozens of clubs, organizations, outings and events. For many schools, the resources of a nearby city are easily available at a discount, or the bucolic and pastoral setting of the college itself is appealing. Yet “She Can Play That Game Too” sounds fairly grim and joyless because of the overload of activities as resume builders. What would make college more pleasurable and satisfying? You have free rein. Do not hold back from radical, expensive, libertine, or harsh-to-be-kind ideas about making college more fun. One caution: that college costs are high, student debt is a national problem, and stress levels at college are unhealthy is well-known and a great deal has already been written on those subjects. Although you may discuss those things briefly, focus your essay on bringing more fun, good times, delightful experiences, and joy to college, not the forces working against those things. You might be more convincing taking inspiration from the fun side of Spring Breakers, the frat and sorority comedies Neighbors and Neighbors 2, Pitch Perfect or Pitch Perfect 2 than by proposing only serious ideas about good clean fun.