Why I Assign Term Papers

Mostly., I am trying to teach them to write clearly and logically in the hope that it will affect their thinking when not writing.   But I often learn stuff that I did not know.

One very well-written paper (not a native speaker which is often an advantage) about the Lower Middle Ages (often inaccurately called the Dark Ages) traced the development of the horseshoe. The Romans had an iron and leather device called a hipposandal (from hippo, Greek for horse) that protected the hooves.  But now I cannot get out of my mind a hippopotamus wearing sandals, love beads, and tie-dyes!