Which would you prefer?

[OneBadMother]

Which would you prefer: an assignment where the rules are clearly defined but the topic open-ended, or an assignment where the topic is clear-cut and the rules not at all?

I would prefer the former myself. With the latter there are clearly expectations, they're just not being told to you. I find that pretense at free-form exasperating. :P

[Rei]

I like to know what I'm expected to do. Then I can choose the topic in accordance to the expectations.

[qwerty]

It's weird. I have a professor who creates open ended assignments, he's a really smart and inspirational guy, and with any luck I'll be studying under him next year.

The only think I don't like about those assignments is I have a pretty strong hunch that he uses the ideas generated as topics for his own research. So when I write something for him I always add my own touch or lock in a certain technique that he doesn't have much background on so when he wants to expand on in I'm called in for it.

But yeah apart from the use of other peoples ideas. As I say he's a hugely inspirational guy, he has pushed me more than anyone else at the university with the catch line "lets see who can change the world first". The open ended questions also let me use my own ideas rather than having to follow the crummier techniques that other subjects teach.

[Firelie]

I prefer having an open-ended topic with clearly defined rules. I like being given the ability to take the project wherever it goes rather than having to rattle around in a constrained topic that I may or may not care about.

[Raven Queen]

An open ended topic with defined rules, so I can do something I'm actually interested in. What kind of assignment did you have in mind?

[Tarrick]

I can work in either, as I can exploit either. ;) I prefer to choose the topic though.

[mind_wander]

I liked opened-ended given tasked. So far, my current professor liked given clear-cut assignments. Oh boy!

[StJimmy]

i would rather choose the topic, but bullshitting my way through something given to me isn't a big deal. i generally tend to write at least two to three times more than what i actually submit.

[aelan]

the first one (clearly defined rules, open-ended topic). I like to know exacly what is expected of me.

[OneBadMother]

Now that's interesting. Pretty much everyone who's responded prefers an open-ended topic with clearly defined rules. I wonder if it's an INT thing?

No more specific than what was stated, Raven Queen, though I meant school or work assignment. Can't think of any other place you'd have such assignments.

[TruorTupnm]

Um, whoops, because I would prefer the latter. Seems easier. No matter what topic it is, if I get to make the rules, I could just make up something that I've done several times before, barely having to think about it. But then, it would depend on what kind of class it is. If it's something that I won't have fun with, I'd go with the former and choose something that nobody else would have thought of. Extra points for getting the teacher to think in a different direction.

[rwyatt365]

Um, whoops, because I would prefer the latter. *Seems easier. *No matter what topic it is, if I get to make the rules, I could just make up something that I've done several times before, barely having to think about it. *But then, it would depend on what kind of class it is. *If it's something that I won't have fun with, I'd go with the former and choose something that nobody else would have thought of. *Extra points for getting the teacher to think in a different direction.
I would prefer this as well (where the rules aren't defined). That way I can devise the "environment" to suit my desires. If I can manipulate the rules then I can bend the topic in whatever direction I choose (because I control the vertical, and I control the horizontal; bwahahahaha)!

[thegnat]

usually I like open ended topic and closed rules because I know what's expected of me BUT it depends on what the rules are. However I can usually do well with a topic I love in a structure I hate. It evens things out. Of course I don't mean hate literally but for example purposes...And some structures really annoy me.

Sometimes I would like to define the rules and research something I hate. I can BS good enough. Then I can do some structure I like. And not have to BS some poster/paper combination while I'm studying for an orgo final and orgo lab presentation and orgo exam in the same week....*cough* spanish linguistics last year *cough*

Open ended topic + Open ended rules scares the shit outta me. I have to research and find a good topic and then research and find the best way to express it. Oy. That's never good for me. Sure I like it but it's what the prof will like too. And I have to do a lot of background. Make it all neat and spiffy.

[orange]

I prefer to know whats expected, that way I have what is wanted as sthe finnished product. topic matters not.

[imoutofhere]

Which would you prefer: an assignment where the rules are clearly defined but the topic open-ended, or an assignment where the topic is clear-cut and the rules not at all?

I would prefer the former myself. With the latter there are clearly expectations, they're just not being told to you. I find that pretense at free-form exasperating. :P

"an assignment where the rules are clearly defined but the topic open-ended " Hm...

"an assignment where the topic is clear-cut and the rules not at all"

...

The latter. The former is too restricting, and any rules not expressed can't be legally brought up at a later date. If they didn't tell you the rules, then there are none. There is no "buts" about it, they couldn't just come out of nowhere with rules out the top of their head.

[orange]

...any rules not expressed can't be legally brought up at a later date. If they didn't tell you the rules, then there are none. There is no "buts" about it, they couldn't just come out of nowhere with rules out the top of their head.

I would agree with that personally, but most likely the person giving the asignment wont see it that way. recently in my PLC (programmable logic controller) class myself and some others got a point taken off our tests for saying that the done bit of the timer is true when the preset=accumulated. The guy teaching it wanted accumulated=preset. THEY ARE THE SAME THING. but ya just gotta love his defence of it...... "I like it the other way"..... "the accumulated counts up to the preset not the other way."

obviously my answer was correct but apparently not correct the way he wanted it. 1 point isnt worth fighting over tho.