Grade my essay on Creativity!

Test Preparation
1

<p>Quote:
Given the importance of human creativity, one would think it should
have a high priority among
our concerns. But if we look at the reality, we see a different
picture. Basic scientific research is
minimized in favor of immediate practical applications. The arts are
increasingly seen as
dispensable luxuries. Yet as competition heats up around the globe,
exactly the opposite strategy
is needed.
Invention</p>

<p>Adapted from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Creativity: Flow and the
Psychology of Discovery and</p>

<p>Assignment: Is creativity needed more than ever in the world today?
Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on
this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken
from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.</p>

<hr>

<p>Note: I am posting this only because I disliked it very much and wanted to know how I could improve it.</p>

<pre><code>Creativity is needed more than ever in the world today. Through creativity solutions to difficult situations may appear. For example, the restorative Gacaca courts in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide provided justice through irregular means. Further, creativity utilized by problem solvers is needed in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Creativity in the context of justice-seeking after Rwanda provided the country with some peace. The perpetrators of the genocide were those of Hutu descent, a demographic which accounts for nearly 80% of the country’s population. Because the number of law breakers was so large, it would have been impossible to reach justice in a conventional manner. The regular method of justice was inappropriate and justice was needed quickly, so the use of Gacacas was thought up. Creative minds realized that an old idea could be used with a new purpose. The Gacaca was an old form of court in which the entire community was present to act as the jury while several elders acted as justices. Due to the speed and efficiency of the Gacacas, the problem was aided greatly. All it took was some out of the box thinking.

Similarly, this ‘out of the box thinking’ is needed badly in the middle east today. The situation between the Israeli government and the Palestinian people is reaching a boiling point. If things continue the way they are currently, war seems likely. Additionally, it appears that all methods of negotiations have been exhausted and the resolution will be dismal at best. However, only conventional methods of negotiations have been applied. If people are encouraged to utilize creativity in the context of problem solving, then a more peaceful resolution will come.

History has shown us, particularly in the Rwandan genocide, that when difficulties arise and conventionality fails, new and innovative ideas often solve the problem. The importance of innovation in peace-seeking is seemingly essential to the middle eastern conflict.
</code></pre>

<p>I'd like a grade from you as though you are an SAT grader.
BUT, I'd also like constructive feedback on where my essay failed and needs revamping</p>

<p>Thank you very much to all who took the time to read and respond!</p>

2

<p>bummmmmmpp</p>

3

<p>shameless bump</p>

4

<p>200 views and no replies? bump!</p>

5

<p>The mechanics are good but at 315 words it feels like there could have been another example here. </p>

<p>I like the Gacaca example- much different that the iphone and Facebook I am sure the readers are inundated with for this prompt. You do a good job showing how an intractable problem got addresses by re-purposing an existing form. </p>

<p>The Palestinian example is much weaker. In Gacaca you have a creative example to point to. In the Middle East you are just saying “well there ought to be a creative example because nothing else is working”. That is not convincing because you gave us nothing to evaluate so we reasonably feel more incentives in the current negotiations or an outside mediator are preferable. It would have been better to have a creative proposal even if you have to make it up. For instance: “Recently noted commentator Ali Jihad proposed that conflict could be resolved by adopting the timeshare model from the vacation industry. People could be cycled through the disputed territory on a revolving basis”. </p>

<p>Another thing you need to watch is supporting your thesis. Your thesis: “Creativity is needed more than ever in the world today.” You have a couple of examples where creativity would be helpful, but you never address why its needed more. There wasnt a need for large scale trials in Germany and Japan after WWII? There werent territorial conflicts all through history? You should have taken a shot at saying why the type problems that the world is left with now wont be amenable to traditional solutions. The conclusion would have been the place to do this. </p>

<p>I give you a high 4. If you add a third example and make use of your conclusion to tie things together you’d be a mid 5.</p>

6

<p>Great analysis and very helpful. Thank you very much for your thoughts</p>