Another Analytical Essay?

So, I'm sitting here Sunday evening, trying to think of what I need to do when I realize I still need to do that "pain-in-the-butt English Analysis Essay." Its not really the doing it that's a pain in the butt, but just the thinking of what to analyze, and getting started. Once you've got it down, it gets a lot funner. (Is that a word?) So, with that in mind, I'm going to ask it. . . Why does Mr. Rich make us write an analytical essay every week?

From what I know, Mr. Rich cares about his students, else he wouldn't be a teacher. I think he makes us do these for our own benefits. Plus, it helps us in several other areas. First of all, it helps us in our writing skills. Just like any other skill, writing takes practice, and if we're forced to write every week, our writing skills won't completely go down the toilet. Second, it keeps us thinking. Even though its a pain to think of a why question EVERY week, our brains don't turn to mush because of it. Secretly, I also think he is helping to prepare us for the AP English test, with the combination of my first and second reasons.

So, with that reasoning, when you have to write you essay every week, just think of it as Mr. Rich's ego saying, "I'm helping all these kids write better and keep their brains!"