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* ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'': Spike was supposed to write a report on the Strategic Defense Initiative "Star Wars program," but he wasn't paying attention and turned in a report about ''Film/StarWars'' instead.
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-->'''Picard:''' Dr. Vassbinder gave an hour long dissertation on the ionization of warp nacelles before he realized that the topic was supposed to be psychology.\\

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-->'''Picard:''' Dr. Vassbinder gave an hour long dissertation on the ionization of warp nacelles before he realized that the topic was supposed to be psychology.\\be... ''psychology''.\\
'''Troi:''' ''(chuckles)''\\



'''Picard:''' There was no opportunity. There was no pause. He just kept talking in one long incredibly unbroken sentence, moving from topic to topic so that no one had a chance to interrupt. It was really quite hypnotic.

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'''Picard:''' There was no opportunity. There was no pause. ''(monotone)'' He just kept talking in one long incredibly unbroken sentence, moving from topic to topic so that no one had a chance to interrupt. It was really quite hypnotic.

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* In one of the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' novels, Marco is required to do a book report on ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and does so horribly that it was is obvious he didn't read the book.

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* In one of the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' novels, Marco is required to do a book report on ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and does so horribly that it was is obvious he didn't actually read the book.



* In Creator/KurtVonnegut's novel ''Literature/MotherNight'', the The American Nazi Lionel Jones was thrown out of dental school, because his examination papers all devolved into detailing how the teeth of Jews and black people "proved beyond question that both groups were degenerate."

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* In Creator/KurtVonnegut's novel ''Literature/MotherNight'', the The American Nazi Lionel Jones was thrown out of dental school, because his examination papers all devolved into detailing how the teeth of Jews and black people "proved beyond question that both groups were degenerate."


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[[folder:Urban Legends]]
* One urban legend describes a biology professor who always assigns the prompt "describe the earthworm" for the essay question on the midterm. But one year, he decides to change it to "describe the elephant". One of his students writes an essay that starts with a very basic description of an elephant that ends by saying its trunk resembles an earthworm... then goes on to describe an earthworm for the rest of its content.
[[/folder]]

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* In Creator/KurtVonnegut's novel ''Literature/MotherNight'', the The American Nazi Lionel Jones was thrown out of dental school, because his examination papers all devolved into detailing how the teeth of Jews and black people "proved beyond question that both groups were degenerate."



* In Creator/KurtVonnegut's novel ''Literature/MotherNight'', the The American Nazi Lionel Jones was thrown out of dental school, because his examination papers all devolved into detailing how the teeth of Jews and black people "proved beyond question that both groups were degenerate."
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* In Creator/KurtVonnegut's novel ''Literature/MotherNight'', the The American Nazi Lionel Jones was thrown out of dental school, because his examination papers all devolved into detailing how the teeth of Jews and black people "proved beyond question that both groups were degenerate."
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* In ''Film/{{Evolution}}'', Professor Kane is pleased to report everyone in his biology class got As on their research papers, only for the [[TheDitz Dekes Brothers]] to complain that they got C-:

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* In ''Film/{{Evolution}}'', Professor Kane is pleased to report everyone in his biology class got As on their research papers, only for the [[TheDitz Dekes Brothers]] Deke and Danny]] to complain that they got C-:
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* In ''Film/{{Evolution}}'', Professor Kane is pleased to report everyone in his biology class got As on their research papers, only for the [[TheDitz Dekes Brothers]] to complain that they got C-:
-->'''Prof. Kane''': Allow me to share something with the entire class. Last night as I was grading papers, I came across two gems both entitled "Cells are Bad" and both with just one paragraph which I unfortunately committed to memory: "Cells are bad. My uncle lives in a cell. It's ten foot by twelve and he has to read the same boring, old magazine everyday. The end." Although my standards are nowhere near where they used to be I could not bring myself to put As atop those beauties.

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* ''Film/{{Clueless}}'' when a report about the Haitians (pronounced Hait-i-ans) goes a little off-topic:
-->“So, OK, like right now, for example, the Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, ‘What about the strain on our resources?’ But it’s like when I had this garden party for my father’s birthday, right? I said R.S.V.P. because it was a sit-down dinner. But people came that, like, did not R.S.V.P. So I was, like, totally buggin’. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, squish in extra place settings; but by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier!\\
And in conclusion, may I please remind you that it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.”



* ''Film/Clueless'' when a report about the Haitians (pronounced Hait-i-ans) goes a little off-topic:“So, OK, like right now, for example, the Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, ‘What about the strain on our resources?’ But it’s like when I had this garden party for my father’s birthday, right? I said R.S.V.P. because it was a sit-down dinner. But people came that, like, did not R.S.V.P. So I was, like, totally buggin’. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, squish in extra place settings; but by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier!
And in conclusion, may I please remind you that it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.”


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* ''Film/Clueless'' when a report about the Haitians (pronounced Hait-i-ans) goes a little off-topic:“So, OK, like right now, for example, the Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, ‘What about the strain on our resources?’ But it’s like when I had this garden party for my father’s birthday, right? I said R.S.V.P. because it was a sit-down dinner. But people came that, like, did not R.S.V.P. So I was, like, totally buggin’. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, squish in extra place settings; but by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier!
And in conclusion, may I please remind you that it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.”



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* ''Film/Clueless'' when a report about the Haitians (pronounced Hait-i-ans) goes a little off-topic:
“So, OK, like right now, for example, the Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, ‘What about the strain on our resources?’ But it’s like when I had this garden party for my father’s birthday, right? I said R.S.V.P. because it was a sit-down dinner. But people came that, like, did not R.S.V.P. So I was, like, totally buggin’. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, squish in extra place settings; but by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier!

to:

* ''Film/Clueless'' when a report about the Haitians (pronounced Hait-i-ans) goes a little off-topic:
“So,
off-topic:“So, OK, like right now, for example, the Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, ‘What about the strain on our resources?’ But it’s like when I had this garden party for my father’s birthday, right? I said R.S.V.P. because it was a sit-down dinner. But people came that, like, did not R.S.V.P. So I was, like, totally buggin’. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, squish in extra place settings; but by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier!
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* ''Film/Clueless'' when a report about the Haitians (pronounced Hait-i-ans) goes a little off-topic:
“So, OK, like right now, for example, the Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, ‘What about the strain on our resources?’ But it’s like when I had this garden party for my father’s birthday, right? I said R.S.V.P. because it was a sit-down dinner. But people came that, like, did not R.S.V.P. So I was, like, totally buggin’. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, squish in extra place settings; but by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier!
And in conclusion, may I please remind you that it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.”

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* ''ComicStrip/BigNate'': Nate's had a lot of these. Once he was supposed to write a report on Paul Revere, and instead writes it on Paul Revere from the band "Paul Revere and the Raiders".

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* ''ComicStrip/BigNate'': Nate's had a lot of these. Once he was supposed to write a report on Paul Revere, and instead writes it on Paul Revere from the band "Paul Revere and the Raiders". Another time, he was supposed to do a report on the Ming Dynasty and he ends up making it about the basketball player Yao Ming.
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* In ''Manga/KareKano'' Aya Sawada's writing skill was discovered when she wrote a story that had nothing to do with the assigned report.

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* In ''Manga/KareKano'' ''Manga/HisAndHerCircumstances'' Aya Sawada's writing skill was discovered when she wrote a story that had nothing to do with the assigned report.
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A [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] version might involve the report or speech going on a tangent (i.e. vaguely related to the assigned prompt). Even then they might drift into a completely different subject, making you wonder how they managed to get there. See also OneTractMind, where a character ''always'' inserts a specific belief into their speeches and/or writings, no matter how irrelevant. Compare ScriptSwap and OhWaitThisIsMyGroceryList, where someone didn't mean to make an off-topic report, and may have even made a good report...that's at home, while they're reading their grocery list or other wrong script.

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A [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] version might involve the report or speech going on a tangent (i.e. vaguely related to the assigned prompt). Even then they might drift into a completely different subject, making you wonder how they managed to get there. See also OneTractMind, where a character ''always'' inserts a specific belief into their speeches and/or writings, no matter how irrelevant. Compare ScriptSwap and OhWaitThisIsMyGroceryList, where someone didn't mean to make an off-topic report, and may have even made a good report...that's at home, while they're reading their grocery list or other wrong script.
script. Also compare PaddingThePaper, with which this sometimes overlaps.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'', episode "Buster's Growing Grudge", Buster is frustrated that Binky told one of Buster's jokes and seemingly got a good grade for it while Buster receives a D. Near the end of the episode, we get this exchange between Buster and Arthur.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'', episode "Buster's Growing Grudge", Buster is frustrated that Binky told one of Buster's jokes while presenting his report on UsefulNotes/ChristopherColumbus and seemingly got a good grade for it while Buster receives a D.D for his report about [[UsefulNotes/{{Tutankhamun}} King Tut]]. Near the end of the episode, we get this exchange between Buster and Arthur.
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* ''Webcomic/OriginalLife'': One story arc parodying ''Literature/TheMetamorphosis'' turns out to actually be a book report written by Tom. The strip revealing this ends with his teacher telling him he was supposed to do a report on ''Literature/BeholdingBee''.
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while unconventionally phrased, it is very much on topic


* In ''Film/{{Clueless}}'', Cher summarizes Haiti/American relations for her class debate this way:
-->'''Cher:''' So like, right now for example. The Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, "What about the strain on our resources?" Well it's like when I had this garden party for my father's birthday, right? I put R.S.V.P. 'cause it was a sit-down dinner. But some people came that like did not R.S.V.P. I was like totally buggin'. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, and squish in extra place settings. But by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier. And so if the government could just get to the kitchen, rearrange some things, we could certainly party with the Haitians. And in conclusion may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.
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* ''ComicStrip/{{Foxtrot}}'': Jason once had to do an oral presentation on ''Literature/OldYeller''. He ended up spending a huge amount of time on a visually impressive multimedia presentation. When he finished his teacher had only one question: "Did you actually read the book?" He still doesn't understand out why she flunked him.

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* ''ComicStrip/{{Foxtrot}}'': Jason once had to do an oral presentation on ''Literature/OldYeller''. He ended up spending a huge amount of time on a visually impressive multimedia presentation. When he finished his teacher had only one question: "Did you actually read the book?" He still doesn't understand out why she flunked him.
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* ''{{Series/Community}}'': Jeff and Pierce are assigned a simple presentation in Spanish class, needing to only exchange five phrases in conversational Spanish. Pierce goes way overboard, delivering a presentation that has multiple costumes, props, pyrotechnics (sparklers) and even has an audience participant (Annie) at one point. However, they did fail to include the actual five phrases needed to get a passing grade.

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* ''{{Series/Community}}'': In "[[Recap/CommunityS1E02Spanish101 Spanish 101]]", Jeff and Pierce are assigned a simple presentation in Spanish class, needing to only exchange five phrases in conversational Spanish. Pierce goes way overboard, delivering a presentation that has multiple costumes, props, pyrotechnics (sparklers) and even has an audience participant (Annie) at one point. However, they did fail to include the actual five phrases needed to get a passing grade.
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-->'''Senor Chang (pointing at Jeff and Pierce in turn):''' "F, [[FMinusMinusF minus]]."

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-->'''Senor Chang (pointing at Jeff and Pierce in turn):''' "F, [[FMinusMinusF [[FMinusMinus F minus]]."
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-->'''Senor Chang (pointing at Jeff and Pierce in turn):''' "F, F minus."

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-->'''Senor Chang (pointing at Jeff and Pierce in turn):''' "F, F minus.[[FMinusMinusF minus]]."



'''Miss Tan:''' That was an Interesting report on The January Valentines, Maudie.\\

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'''Miss Tan:''' That was an Interesting interesting report on The January Valentines, Maudie.\\
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* ''{{Series/Community}}'': Jeff and Pierce are assigned a simple presentation in Spanish class, needing to only exchange five phrases in conversational Spanish. Pierce goes way overboard, delivering a presentation that has multiple costumes, props, pyrotechnics (sparklers) and even has an audience participant (Annie) at one point. However, they did fail to include the actual five phrases needed to get a passing grade.
-->'''Senor Chang (pointing at Jeff and Pierce in turn):''' "F, F minus."
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None


* ''ComicStrip/{{Foxtrot}}'': Jason once had to do an oral presentation on ''Literature/OldYeller''. He ended up spending a huge amount of time on a visually impressive multimedia presentation. When he finished his teacher had only one question: "Did you actually read the book?"

to:

* ''ComicStrip/{{Foxtrot}}'': Jason once had to do an oral presentation on ''Literature/OldYeller''. He ended up spending a huge amount of time on a visually impressive multimedia presentation. When he finished his teacher had only one question: "Did you actually read the book?"book?" He still doesn't understand out why she flunked him.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


A [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] version might involve the report or speech going on a tangent (i.e. vaguely related to the assigned prompt). Even then they might drift into a completely different subject, making you wonder how they managed to get there. See also OneTractMind, where a character ''always'' inserts a specific belief into their speeches and/or writings, no matter how irrelevant.

to:

A [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] version might involve the report or speech going on a tangent (i.e. vaguely related to the assigned prompt). Even then they might drift into a completely different subject, making you wonder how they managed to get there. See also OneTractMind, where a character ''always'' inserts a specific belief into their speeches and/or writings, no matter how irrelevant.
irrelevant. Compare ScriptSwap and OhWaitThisIsMyGroceryList, where someone didn't mean to make an off-topic report, and may have even made a good report...that's at home, while they're reading their grocery list or other wrong script.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In the ''Series/StargateSG1'' episode "Prodigy", Samantha Carter gives a guest lecture at the Air Force Academy and meets Cadet Jennifer Hailey, a brilliant but bored student who once ignored the assignment in favor of a paper titled "Towards a New Cosmology of Multiple Realities". Sam ends up recruiting her into Stargate Command.

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* In the ''Series/StargateSG1'' episode "Prodigy", Samantha Carter gives a guest lecture at the Air Force Academy and meets Cadet Jennifer Hailey, a brilliant but bored student who once ignored the assignment in favor of a paper titled "Towards a New Cosmology of Multiple Realities". The paper was brilliant, but she got a "D" because that wasn't the topic. Sam ends up recruiting her into Stargate Command.

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* In ''Fanfic/ParentsOfPonyville'', young Dinky Doo is [[ShipperOnDeck obsessed with romance]] and finds ways to shoehorn it into all of her schoolwork. The one example mentioned in the story was her assigned history report, which she used as an excuse to write a ship-fic about historical figures.



* In ''Fanfic/ParentsOfPonyville'', young Dinky Doo is [[ShipperOnDeck obsessed with romance]] and finds ways to shoehorn it into all of her schoolwork. The one example mentioned in the story was her assigned history report, which she used as an excuse to write a ship-fic about historical figures.



* In one of the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' novels, Marco is required to do a book report on ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and does so horribly that it was is obvious he didn't read the book.



* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'': When the regular Quidditch commentator is unable to report on a match, [[CloudCuckoolander Luna Lovegood]] volunteers to replace him. During the match she talks about things like interesting clouds and whether one of the players suffers from something called "Loser's Lurgy", but never about the action or the score of the game.



* In one of the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' novels, Marco is required to do a book report on ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and does so horribly that it was is obvious he didn't read the book.
* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'': When the regular Quidditch commentator is unable to report on a match, [[CloudCuckoolander Luna Lovegood]] volunteers to replace him. During the match she talks about things like interesting clouds and whether one of the players suffers from something called "Loser's Lurgy", but never about the action or the score of the game.



* ''Series/TheInBESTigators:'' In "The Case of the Concert Catastrophe", Maudie becomes obsessed with the girl group The January Valentines:
-->'''Maudie:''' ''(reading report)''...and that's why they are my favourite members of The January Valentines.\\
'''Miss Tan:''' That was an Interesting report on The January Valentines, Maudie.\\
'''Maudie:''' Thank you.\\
'''Miss Tan:''' But your assignment was on the invention of the light bulb.



* ''Series/TheInBESTigators:'' In "The Case of the Concert Catastrophe", Maudie becomes obsessed with the girl group The January Valentines:
-->'''Maudie:''' ''(reading report)''...and that's why they are my favourite members of The January Valentines.\\
'''Miss Tan:''' That was an Interesting report on The January Valentines, Maudie.\\
'''Maudie:''' Thank you.\\
'''Miss Tan:''' But your assignment was on the invention of the light bulb.



* ''WebAnimation/HowToKillAMockingbird'' centers entirely on one of these, becoming an increasingly absurd and actionized telling of ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'', as presented by someone who only read the first chapter.



* ''WebAnimation/HowToKillAMockingbird'' centers entirely on one of these, becoming an increasingly absurd and actionized telling of ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'', as presented by someone who only read the first chapter
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'''Miss Tan:''' That was an Interesting report of The January Valentines, Maudie.\\

to:

'''Miss Tan:''' That was an Interesting report of on The January Valentines, Maudie.\\
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How To Write An Example - "Don't Write Reviews" by using YMMV Tropes.


* ''ComicStrip/{{Foxtrot}}'': Jason once had to do an oral presentation on ''Literature/OldYeller''. He ended up spending a huge amount of time on SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome filled multimedia presentation. When he finished his teacher had only one question: "Did you actually read the book?"

to:

* ''ComicStrip/{{Foxtrot}}'': Jason once had to do an oral presentation on ''Literature/OldYeller''. He ended up spending a huge amount of time on SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome filled a visually impressive multimedia presentation. When he finished his teacher had only one question: "Did you actually read the book?"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/TheInBESTigaors:'' In "The Case of the Concert Catastrophe", Maudie becomes obsessed with the girl group The January Valentines:

to:

* ''Series/TheInBESTigaors:'' ''Series/TheInBESTigators:'' In "The Case of the Concert Catastrophe", Maudie becomes obsessed with the girl group The January Valentines:
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* ''Series/TheInBESTigaors:'' In "The Case of the Concert Catastrophe", Maudie becomes obsessed with the girl group The January Valentines:
-->'''Maudie:''' ''(reading report)''...and that's why they are my favourite members of The January Valentines.\\
'''Miss Tan:''' That was an Interesting report of The January Valentines, Maudie.\\
'''Maudie:''' Thank you.\\
'''Miss Tan:''' But your assignment was on the invention of the light bulb.

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