Writing assignments are gym tasks that build critical thinking skills through the practice of writing itself, not work tasks that produce useful output.
Bruce Schneier explains that his writing assignments are designed as mental exercise (gym tasks) to build students' critical thinking skills, not as productive output (work tasks). Without this practice, he warns, those skills atrophy — and employers are already noticing the decline.
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Bruce Schneier: The writing assignments I give my students are gym tasks, not work tasks. I ask them to write policy memos not because the world needs more policy memos. I assign them because the very act of writing, which includes thinking and outlining and drafting and editing, making and criticizing and revising arguments, will help develop the critical thinking skills they will need in their future careers. And without this constant mental exercise, those skills will atrophy. Employers are already noticing.