<p><a href=“but%20they%20really%20shouldn’t%20whinge%20about%20writing%20the%20paper%20the%20length%20of%20what%20they%20did%20in%20high%20school”>quote=emeraldkity4</a>
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<p>It was my high school experience, not theirs. </p>
<p>What I found which shocked me was that most US high schools…even well-off suburban ones were structured in such a way that one could go through all 4 years with writing so little that 5-10 page papers seem “heavy”. There’s a reason why even students at the most elite universities need writing remediation/tutoring from what I’ve observed as an academic tutor and from friends who TA undergrad courses at elite universities…including a few Ivies. </p>
<p>Also, the history/politics departments at my LAC didn’t have separate “easier” courses for non-majors as far as I recall. All courses were for majors and non-majors…and everyone had the same workloads…which were usually more than 50 pages/week…even in the 100 level courses. </p>
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<p>Depends on the assignment…though IME…it isn’t only to prove one’s point…but also to show the Prof that one has a good grasp of the course material/research techniques and issues/sources covered/outside research in the semester and is able to synthesize it into a good research/expository essay of whatever required length and the corresponding degree of depth.</p>
<p>As for your experiences with the few humanities courses…I’m betting that if you tried what you did at any respectable LAC or LAC-like elite university…you’re much more likely to crash and burn with a NE*, C or B- level grade rather than an A. Saw that happen to several overconfident college classmates who thought they could put one over our Profs.</p>
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<li>That was our equivalent to an F</li>
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