Reports/Work

[Destroyer2000]

What are some of the worst projects you have ever had to do for school? Earlier this year, I had to do a Greek/Spartan diary. Now I have to do a diary about someone from Manchester, England during the industrial revolution. What is the worst you have ever had to do?

[EireWolf]

In a 3D Design class, I had to make a weight-bearing chair entirely out of newspaper and glue. It was the most tedious, inane art project ever... and it was in college. I don't know what the prof was thinkin'. Maybe: "Hmmm... How can I keep them busy for weeks without really accomplishing anything of lasting value? I've got it! Mwahahahahaaaaa!"

[livewire]

I had to write a seven page aesthtics statement about myself as a writer detailing who my influences are and how those influences affected my work as well as what things I have been working on in my writing and what I intend to continue to work on without turning the statement into a critique.
It was so hard...

[CreatureArt]

In a 3D Design class, I had to make a weight-bearing chair entirely out of newspaper and glue. It was the most tedious, inane art project ever... and it was in college. I don't know what the prof was thinkin'. Maybe: "Hmmm... How can I keep them busy for weeks without really accomplishing anything of lasting value? I've got it! Mwahahahahaaaaa!"

I'm sure that counts as 'cruel and unusual'. It actually had to bear someone's weight?! The best I could have done is stuck a piece of opened newspaper on the ground with a chair drawn on it and tell someone to sit on it. It would bear their weight, at least...

The worst project I did last year was making a documentary for media studies. Not the project itself but just the amount of things that went wrong. I hate groupwork. I work well, but there often seems to be one person doing the work and someone else goofing off who both get the same mark. [/rant]

Otherwise, the worst project was disecting a cow's eye in my first science class in High School. (I guess junior high in US standards, perhaps...) One guy decided to freak out the girls by cutting of some cold, slimy meat and holding it with his fingers inside his mouth. One of the other guys jostled his elbow. Doesn't take too much imagination to figure out what happened next... ^^

Otherwise, most of my projects have been good. I find it doesn't tend to be the projects themselves, but just what happens while DOING the project, that tends to make them good or bad for me.

Still love that impossible weight bearing chair, EireWolf. Did you manage to do it?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

In a 3D Design class, I had to make a weight-bearing chair entirely out of newspaper and glue. It was the most tedious, inane art project ever... and it was in college. I don't know what the prof was thinkin'. Maybe: "Hmmm... How can I keep them busy for weeks without really accomplishing anything of lasting value? I've got it! Mwahahahahaaaaa!"

How did that go?

[Lynx]

i had to make a magazine from the 20s, complete with articles, an editorial, advertisements, the works. the whole thing was 50+ pages when it was done!

[EireWolf]

I'm sure that counts as 'cruel and unusual'. It actually had to bear someone's weight?!

Yes, it had to bear my weight for as long as it took for the prof to snap a photo.

I hate groupwork. I work well, but there often seems to be one person doing the work and someone else goofing off who both get the same mark.

Seriously! I have always hated group projects, for that very reason. *does not play well with others*

Otherwise, the worst project was disecting a cow's eye in my first science class in High School. (I guess junior high in US standards, perhaps...) One guy decided to freak out the girls by cutting of some cold, slimy meat and holding it with his fingers inside his mouth. One of the other guys jostled his elbow. Doesn't take too much imagination to figure out what happened next... ^^

I think I would have merrily laughed my head off at the bonehead.

Still love that impossible weight bearing chair, EireWolf. Did you manage to do it?

Oh yes... After weeks and weeks of mind-numbing work. (Paint a thin coat of diluted Elmer's Glue onto a sheet of newspaper... spread another sheet of newspaper over it... repeat until the whole mess is at least 1/2 inch thick. Let dry for several days, then cut with a bandsaw into the shape of a seat, back, and arms. Paint more glue onto more newspaper, and carefully roll it onto itself. Repeat with more sheets and glue until you have a cylindrical rod over an inch thick. Consider using it as a bludgeon on the teacher in a fit of frustrated rage, then realize that jail is not a pleasant place. Use it instead as a chair leg. Repeat process for three more chair legs and decorative elements. Assemble, and spray with metallic paint.)

Darn... I don't think I ever took a picture of it! It came out looking pretty good, but I was so irritated by the whole project that I didn't really want to look at it anymore.

[CreatureArt]

I will blame it on you if my Mother thinks I'm nuts for laughing so hard at a computer screen!

*does not play well with others*

I wish schools didn't actually mark people for group activities.
Wow, I wish you had a photo of it, too. It sounds like a lot of work.... but I am very, very impressed that you pulled it off.... and that you had such an iron will that you didn't pick it up in a fit of rage-induced strength and use it to pin the teacher to the ground before covering him in sheets of newpaper, glue and metallic paint....

...I'm sure that deep down most teachers have similar psycopathic urges from time to time...

Anyone else run into other bad school projects?

[EireWolf]

...I'm sure that deep down most teachers have similar psycopathic urges from time to time...

No doubt... I've had the same urges toward a few of my fellow students from time to time, especially the ones who are obviously only in the art class for "an easy A." HA!

[Warrior4Christ]

Interesting chair story, Eirewolf.

Not the project itself but just the amount of things that went wrong. I hate groupwork. I work well, but there often seems to be one person doing the work and someone else goofing off who both get the same mark. [/rant]

In first year of uni, we had to do a team project thing, and we were told from the beginning that we would submit a (secret) peer assessment and give a rating of how much effort each group member put in. This magically caused everyone to pitch in and do their fair share!
Despite that, I didn't like the project very much. We had to write a report about proposed changes we would make to the city of Adelaide, to make it 'greener'. It was more civil engineering oriented, and our group was made up of electrical/computer systems engineers and chemical engineers.

[freerock1]

I saw my share of bad projects in college, but my senior capstone project in college was probably the worst in terms of work volume. I actually had to take 2 different capstone classes, because I took the first with the understanding that likely it would be approved for the credit I needed. It wasn't.

[soul alive]

I think the worst was a powerpoint project for health class in middle school. Group project. *stabs* My group consisted of two or three other girls sitting around and myself doing all the work. And when it came time to present, one girl had been gone for several days, with vital parts of the project stuck in her locker, so we couldn't finish the project. The teacher refused to unlock her locker for us, and gave us a bad grade because we hadn't finished.

After that, I refused to do any group work unless absolutely manditory. I was one of the top students in my class, and everyone was always trying to mooch off of me, and since I hated that, I flat out refused and did stuff by myself. Even if it was more work, because if I messed up, it was all my fault, and not someone else who wasn't doing their job because they thought I should.

If you can't guess, I wasn't a big fan of group projects

In college, worst project. Hrm. Building a bridge out of only newspaper and scotch tape, only able to use 2" of paper. Grade based upon design and length. Being a wet-behind the ears freshman still angry about bad past group projects, I worked on my own, and ended up doing a horrible job because I just didn't have enough time and resources. *sigh* Just can't win.

[CreatureArt]

especially the ones who are obviously only in the art class for "an easy A." HA!

Masterful use of the boot emoticon there.

I feel you, SoulA. In the classes I'm good at I've been mooched off too. Its horrible when you go to a lot of effort and others score a good grade without doing much at all.
To be honest, though - I find that easier than when I'm in a situation where I'm the only one who CAN do the project. That happened in editing a group documentary last year. I could use the software but my fellow groupies had a bit of difficulty so I had to do 90% of the editing myself. Had to skip a few classes and even then get an extension. When you're doing all the work because others are lazy, at least you have someone to blame all the work you're doing on.

[Mithrandir]

To clarify, that's silly chair the wolf made held the weight of me, AND her sitting in my lap. It was REALLY strong. I give all the credit to her dedication - not to the limited engineering support I gave.

[Bunny]

In a 3D Design class, I had to make a weight-bearing chair entirely out of newspaper and glue. It was the most tedious, inane art project ever... and it was in college. I don't know what the prof was thinkin'. Maybe: "Hmmm... How can I keep them busy for weeks without really accomplishing anything of lasting value? I've got it! Mwahahahahaaaaa!"

Hm. I think I would have simply covered a chair in newspaper and presented it, mostly out of spite but also out of self-respect.

The most ridiculous project I've ever had the misfortune to be assigned was from my AP biology class last semester.
Our task was to find 30 insects of at least 10 different orders, capture them, freeze them, position them via hairspray and numerous pins in some attractive way on a foam board, and label them by family and genus on precisely sized and organized index cards.
It was all going pretty well for me but I had 2 orders that consisted of only one insect so, as you can guess, if anything happened to one of those very crucial insects, my grade would drop by a whole letter. As luck would have it, while I was very, VERY cautiously pinning an exceedingly fragile little critter called a lacewing, the whole thing fell apart on me and I lost that entire order.
The rest was ugly. I'd been under a whole lot of stress that week and seeing that bug practically dissintegrate sent me into an emotional breakdown where, right in front of my mother, I started crying like a 2 yr. old who's lost her pacifier and in one surprisingly eloquent and passionate rant, I managed to declare that I was dropping out of high school, raiding the school (and especially the science dept.) for valuables and using the loot to work my way up the Cuban political ladder until I could usurp Fidel and become the new dictator.
But fortunately for Cuba, a friend of my brother had heard that I was need of bugs and brought me an entirely new insect for my collection that just happened to be a new order as well.
Providence is sweet.

[K. Ayato]

Psychology research papers. I had to do 2 of them during my college years. That and 5 essays related to 5 articles on people who were already dead.

[soul alive]

I feel you, SoulA. In the classes I'm good at I've been mooched off too. Its horrible when you go to a lot of effort and others score a good grade without doing much at all.
To be honest, though - I find that easier than when I'm in a situation where I'm the only one who CAN do the project. That happened in editing a group documentary last year. I could use the software but my fellow groupies had a bit of difficulty so I had to do 90% of the editing myself. Had to skip a few classes and even then get an extension. When you're doing all the work because others are lazy, at least you have someone to blame all the work you're doing on.

Yeah, that's pretty horrible too. Lazy people and moochers need to be flogged with wet noodles.

[Soukoru]

Sometimes its math for me. Ever go on a test and put down something for an answer like e.g. 12? And then you get it wrong cause it was supposed to be 12.785?

[CreatureArt]

Ooo don't get me started on math, Soukoru. I failed 6 form (2nd to last year of High School in NZ schooling system) Mathematics due to an incredibly brain-killing class that put me off maths for life. @_@ Or when you fail a question simply because you're wrong by a thousandth?

Lazy people and moochers need to be flogged with wet noodles.

Now that sounds like a plan.

I've never done a psycology paper but I commiserate with you, K.Ayato.

Gah - I've had some sad biology projects/assignments too, Bunny, but they don't compare with that. I'm glad your brother managed to come up with another insect!!

To clarify, that's silly chair the wolf made held the weight of me, AND her sitting in my lap. It was REALLY strong. I give all the credit to her dedication - not to the limited engineering support I gave.

It held BOTH of you?! @_@ Whoa. I've got to agree that it shows some incredible dedication. I hope she was able to keep the chair (though perhaps she would have had more fun burning it...)

[Doubleshadow]

No doubt... I've had the same urges toward a few of my fellow students from time to time, especially the ones who are obviously only in the art class for "an easy A." HA!

Bwahaha! At my university anyone who wants to take an art class except for possibly art appreciation must have the approval of the head of the department. They saw the slackers coming.

To clarify, that's silly chair the wolf made held the weight of me, AND her sitting in my lap. It was REALLY strong. I give all the credit to her dedication - not to the limited engineering support I gave.

That is insane. I'm impressed by your dedication to doing your work well, EireWolf. So, did you blow up the chair with enough bottlerockets to make it look like Chinese New Year after you were done?

I don't remember that many harrowing assignments, so I've either not had them or blocked them out. The paper I had to do on intertextuality in the Aeneid was pretty bad. The paper on the siginificance and symbolism of Penelope's various entrance scenes in The Odyssey wasn't fun either. Do people really do these kinds of things for a living? Some scholars just have enough to fill their days. This semester is going to have more papers due to vie for the title of most heinous. No the least of which will be the ten page write up for my research in chemistry and the paper on the results of the interbreeding of the Drosophila I'm doing for genetics. This could get ugly.

[EireWolf]

I hope she was able to keep the chair (though perhaps she would have had more fun burning it...)

I did keep it for a while in my garage, but when we moved I had the pleasure of kicking it and beating it against the concrete floor until it stopped twitching.

[Mithrandir]

Don't you mean until you stopped twitching...?

[Soukoru]

Ooo don't get me started on math, Soukoru. I failed 6 form (2nd to last year of High School in NZ schooling system) Mathematics due to an incredibly brain-killing class that put me off maths for life. @_@ Or when you fail a question simply because you're wrong by a thousandth?

Gotta love that, CreatureArt. I had that happen to me I don't know how many times. I somehow messed up my equation a beginning of a problem and was actually off by a thousandth too. That blew my mind. @.@

Math is my strong point for me though. I just hate all the technicalities that go with it all. (What ever happened to the days of simple addition?)

[FadedOne]

What are some of the worst projects you have ever had to do for school?

all of them.

[Kaligraphic]

I did keep it for a while in my garage, but when we moved I had the pleasure of kicking it and beating it against the concrete floor until it stopped twitching.

What did you put in it to make it twitch, mice or something? (wouldn't that (i.e. mice or other living creatures) have been against the specs of the assignment?) Or did you make it into a chair golem or something?



I usually ended up being the workhorse of group projects simply because I was the one who understood the material best. I had one five-person project for Accounting where one guy never did anything, another guy brought work that was full of exceedingly obvious factual errors, and nobody but me seemed to know what the instructor was even talking about. I ended up teaching the material to the other two members of the group, which made the project take a lot more time than it would have if I'd done it myself. If I hadn't taken the role of group leader, nothing would have been done on it. Oh, and this was with peer evaluations and made up a significant percentage of the grade.

That was one of the most screwed-up group projects I've been in. I've had harder assignments, but they were typically actually easier to get done because I didn't have to play instructor at the same time. Anyway, that's the project that really sticks out in my mind.

[CreatureArt]

I did keep it for a while in my garage, but when we moved I had the pleasure of kicking it and beating it against the concrete floor until it stopped twitching.

Don't you mean until you stopped twitching...?

Hahahhaha! (a simple 'lol' or : lol : just wouldn't cut it, I'm afraid). I love the tag-team humour! ^_^

I'm getting afraid.... very afraid.... after you two (EireWolf and DoubleShadow) have talked about your Uni assignments. I'm starting University/College this year... well, I'll tell you if I get any twitch-causing projects, heh. :crossfingers:

Math is my strong point for me though. I just hate all the technicalities that go with it all. (What ever happened to the days of simple addition?)

To be honest... I think I did enjoy maths at one time. Unfortunately I had bad class after bad class. In one, when I finished all the work assigned to me and started drawing or just otherwise stopped, I was assigned almost twice the original amount. In the other, I'd been doing slightly advanced mathematics without realising it for two years and found it incredibly mind-numbing before running into the class I mentioned before.

But still.... to be honest, I still kind of like numbers and number equations. They're fun, in a weird way.

That was one of the most screwed-up group projects I've been in. I've had harder assignments, but they were typically actually easier to get done because I didn't have to play instructor at the same time. Anyway, that's the project that really sticks out in my mind.

Argh being the workhorse is a real bummer. Having to teach others the material sounds even worse. -_-" Add to that the fact it was a FIVE person project making up so many marks and it sounds like a nightmare (complete with drawn-out falling scenes).

[Ingemar]

I have a seven page essay due. The topic is whether the views of Candide (the character) match those of Pierre Bayle or G.W. Leibniz (yes, the same Leibniz who gave us all that lovely Calculus notation).

EDIT: I was thinking of pulling an all-nighter tonight, but the thing is due in eight days.

[mechana2015]

I had a professor assign a group project today identifying the target market for and develop a year long media plan to cover the LA area... for the California lottery.

The sheet of questions was 3-4 pages.

We had an hour and a half.

It had to be typed and printed.

There was supposed to be a calander... and a graph. Also printed out.

It stunk.

[LorentzForce]

3 months of coding in one night. Easy coding, but something like few thousand lines of code within span of few hours isn't very nice.

I still passed.

[Longer story]

My group was given a programming assignment, like all other programming assignments. Naturally, it's not a hard assignment, but you can't do it unless you go to every single class and learn all the important bits. Anyway...

Since I wanted the whole project to get over with so I can do other important work (like other coding), I just did half of the the whole assignment when it was given to us. My share, done, as well as someone else's incase they dropped out.

The day before the due date, I was emailed the assignment and rest of code to me.

HORRIBLE! MY EYES HURT PAIN BAD NOOOOOO

And since that'll make us lose marks, I decided to finish it entirely that night. All the rest of it. I admit I was sort of being selfish trying to get my marks and not give anyone else a chance, but you know, I really don't want to fail a subject since that costs me a lot. Especially a subject that has same words as my degree name.

[EireWolf]

I'm getting afraid.... very afraid.... after you two (EireWolf and DoubleShadow) have talked about your Uni assignments. I'm starting University/College this year... well, I'll tell you if I get any twitch-causing projects, heh. :crossfingers:

Actually, I liked University a lot more than high school. It is unusual to be assigned busywork, which is one thing I hated about high school. At least University is challenging and mentally stimulating... until a sadistic art prof gets the brilliant idea of "newspaper chair."