Did this actually happen?

Question

My science teacher said that a college teacher gave students this exam and they had to write like a long essay or something and he only gave them one question : What is Courage?

And one of the students wrote " This is" and handed it into the teacher? And what college was it at if its true.

Answer 1

I heard something like that once, only I heard that the question on the exam was "Why?" and the student wrote "Because." I don't know if it really happened though.

Answer 2

its a urban myth for teachers I heard it when I was in school and my daughter told me teachers told her it too so it is just a myth

Answer 3

I think it might have happened at some time, but I've heard a million different versions of it from different people (all saying their friend or a friend of a friend handed in the essay). I think it might be more of a myth (I've also seen it on snopes.com under "unverifiable").

Answer 4

Anything is possible, but I have seen no documented proof that a professor asked a single quesiton and got away with it with the school he/she taught at.  It is not the norm, but it "could" have happened.  

There is one where the bonus question worth an A+ if you got it right was "What is the name of the cleaning lady that takes care of this hall?", and it was to show how everyone is important, has a purpose in life.  I have also heard the one about the student placing his paper in the middle of a stack....believe that was not only a joke, but perhaps even a skit on a show I watched once.  

In fact, that is probably where your science teacher got this from, it was probably a scene in a movie.

Answer 5

urban myth.

Here is another variation that is common.

essay test in a large lecture hall, professor calls time, turn them in to this stack on my desk, one student continues working, professor says - last call! turn it in~, student continues working. professor - irate - "if you want credit you have 30 seconds to get me that paper!~ student ignores him. when student finally walks up to the prof - the professor stops him saying he wont accept it, warned him numerous times etc.

student.... "do you have any idea who I am?"

Professor: "no and quite franky I dont..."

wherupon the student shoves his essay in the middle of the stack of essays and walks off.

Answer 6

Any student could have done it... it could've been me.