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The Homework Machine
- 158 statements
- 30 feature instances
- 6 referencing feature instances
| The Homework Machine | type |
TVTItem | |
| The Homework Machine | label |
The Homework Machine | |
| The Homework Machine | page |
TheHomeworkMachine | |
| The Homework Machine | comment |
Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })In an interview room sits a police officer, and a girl named Kelsey; the latter of which is considered guilty of a crime. The child is demanded to give a testimony and is being recorded by cameras and microphones, all eyes and ears on them. The girl parts her lips, and begins to talk.STOP. EJECT. INSERT NEXT TAPE. PLAY.Brenton Damagatchi, Judy Douglas, Sam "Snik" Dawkins, and Kelsey Donnelly are all 5th grade students that only share one thing in common: their last names all start with a "D". Apart from that, they're nothing alike, Brenton is the typical smart kid who gets perfect grades, Judy always looks up to the teacher, Sam is a class clown who doesn't play by the rules, and Kelsey doesn't care enough about her grades to do any real work. Despite this (and largely because their teacher assigns seats in alphabetical order), they're all forced to sit together in class, with only their last names keeping them together...Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })At least that's what you may be led to believe.All these kids (who cheekily named themselves "the 'D' squad" due to their last names) do share something else: a secret that if revealed, could have massive repercussions within the school district and within the county itself.A 2007 novel by Dan Gutman, The Homework Machine is about the social repercussions of the eponymous device, and a commentary on the inner workings of the American Education System. The book's narrative is told in a series of testimonies provided by the 4 lead child characters, as well as their parents, the teachers, and the staff of the school they all attended. The testimonies are provided in the order they were taken, but said testimonies do not tell the story in the order that the events took place.Was followed by a sequel in 2009, Return of the Homework Machine.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_3'); }) | |
| The Homework Machine | fetched |
2023-02-21T07:12:34Z | |
| The Homework Machine | parsed |
2023-02-21T07:12:34Z | |
| The Homework Machine | isPartOf |
DBTropes | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1759ff85 | type |
Four-Philosophy Ensemble | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1759ff85 | comment |
Four-Philosophy Ensemble: The D SquadThe Cynic: Snik, who hates homework with a violent passion and refused to do it for a time at his old schoolThe Optimist: Judy, who really doesn't mind homework and thinks it has educational valueThe Realist: Kelsey, who does homework even though it sucksThe Apathetic: Brenton, who doesn't really mind homework but admits it's time consuming and thus invents the homework machine | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1759ff85 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1759ff85 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_1759ff85 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1d9af117 | type |
Gender-Equal Ensemble | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1d9af117 | comment |
Gender-Equal Ensemble: The D-Squad consists of Brenton and Snik (male) and Judy and Kelsey (female). | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1d9af117 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1d9af117 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_1d9af117 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1e1afc1b | type |
Framing Device | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1e1afc1b | comment |
Framing Device: The story is told through testimonials given by the D Squad, their teacher, their parents, and occasionally other people. It's framed as the police putting the story together the following summer. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1e1afc1b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_1e1afc1b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_1e1afc1b | |
| The Homework Machine / int_22cf536c | type |
Chekhov's Gun | |
| The Homework Machine / int_22cf536c | comment |
Chekhov's Gun: The catapult, which they used to fling the machine into the canyon. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_22cf536c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_22cf536c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_22cf536c | |
| The Homework Machine / int_352a1d70 | type |
All First-Person Narrators Write Like Novelists | |
| The Homework Machine / int_352a1d70 | comment |
All First-Person Narrators Write Like Novelists: Zigzagged. They do spend a fair amount of time discussing not-exactly-homework-machine-related things, but for the most part, the cast of narrators talk like people, not like novelists. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_352a1d70 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_352a1d70 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_352a1d70 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_38958f33 | type |
Black and Nerdy | |
| The Homework Machine / int_38958f33 | comment |
Black and Nerdy: Judy is a gifted, hardworking and rule-abiding student who gets called a goody-goody and a know-it-all by the other kids. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_38958f33 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_38958f33 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_38958f33 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_3c0a4666 | type |
Noodle Incident | |
| The Homework Machine / int_3c0a4666 | comment |
Noodle Incident: We never find out why Snik got suspended at his previous school, though it's implied it had something to do with him not wanting to do his homework. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_3c0a4666 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_3c0a4666 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_3c0a4666 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_420c50b7 | type |
A.I. Is a Crapshoot | |
| The Homework Machine / int_420c50b7 | comment |
A.I. Is a Crapshoot: Downplayed. Giving the homework machine the ability to access the sum of human knowledge leads to it not turning off when unplugged but that's all it really does. The D-squad freaks out and chucks it into the canyon. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_420c50b7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_420c50b7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_420c50b7 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_4ae9b099 | type |
Nobody Likes a Tattletale | |
| The Homework Machine / int_4ae9b099 | comment |
Nobody Likes a Tattletale: When the D Squad first hears about the homework machine that Brenton built, Judy thinks about raising her hand and telling the teacher, but decides not to because everyone already calls her a goody two-shoes and she doesn't want them calling her a tattletale too. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_4ae9b099 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_4ae9b099 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_4ae9b099 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_5049f19d | type |
Do Well, But Not Perfect | |
| The Homework Machine / int_5049f19d | comment |
Do Well, But Not Perfect: After a while, Miss Rasmussen starts getting suspicious of the homework the D Squad is turning in because their answers are always perfect with no mistakes. In turn, Brenton starts programming the homework machine to make minor mistakes at random when doing Snik's and Kelsey's homework because they're more Book Dumb than either him or Judy. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_5049f19d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_5049f19d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_5049f19d | |
| The Homework Machine / int_545d100b | type |
Intelligence Equals Isolation | |
| The Homework Machine / int_545d100b | comment |
Intelligence Equals Isolation: Brenton is a Child Prodigy with a ridiculously advanced mind who can't relate to other kids and seemingly has no interest in making friends. He only ends up befriending the rest of the D Squad in the first place because they came over to his house for a homework assignment. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_545d100b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_545d100b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_545d100b | |
| The Homework Machine / int_65bc92fc | type |
Four-Temperament Ensemble | |
| The Homework Machine / int_65bc92fc | comment |
Four-Temperament Ensemble: The D SquadCholeric: Brenton (the genius)Melancholic: Judy (the perfectionist)Sanguine: Snik (the class clown)Phlegmatic: Kelsey (the slacker) | |
| The Homework Machine / int_65bc92fc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_65bc92fc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_65bc92fc | |
| The Homework Machine / int_7986a111 | type |
Bonding over Missing Parents | |
| The Homework Machine / int_7986a111 | comment |
Bonding over Missing Parents: Kelsey starts crying when she finds out about Snik's dad, because she lost her own father in a snowmobile accident when she was six. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_7986a111 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_7986a111 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_7986a111 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_7b6e47a5 | type |
Armor-Piercing Question | |
| The Homework Machine / int_7b6e47a5 | comment |
Armor-Piercing Question: When Ronnie suspects the D Squad has a secret, he tries to get it out of Brenton by pretending to be friendly, and when that doesn't work, he threatens to reveal what Brenton is up to. Brenton says, "And what exactly am I up to?" Ronnie doesn't have an answer, because he doesn't know. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_7b6e47a5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_7b6e47a5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_7b6e47a5 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_808b6d16 | type |
Sdrawkcab Name | |
| The Homework Machine / int_808b6d16 | comment |
Sdrawkcab Name: Snik's real name is Sam, but his nickname is "Snikwad" or "Snik" because that's his last name, Dawkins, spelled backwards. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_808b6d16 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_808b6d16 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_808b6d16 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_8ae880f7 | type |
Deconstruction | |
| The Homework Machine / int_8ae880f7 | comment |
Deconstruction: Brenton is a Child Prodigy, but he's not one to the absurd levels many books and television shows depict them. He was only able to build the Homework Machine in the first place because he got ahold of an advanced supercomputer by a fluke, and despite his nerdiness he's not capable of doing things that are outside the realms of plausibility. At the end of the day, he is still a kid. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_8ae880f7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_8ae880f7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_8ae880f7 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_8e20ae0d | type |
Child Prodigy | |
| The Homework Machine / int_8e20ae0d | comment |
Child Prodigy: Brenton has always been a super-genius, even from a young age. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_8e20ae0d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_8e20ae0d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_8e20ae0d | |
| The Homework Machine / int_91df3195 | type |
Military Brat | |
| The Homework Machine / int_91df3195 | comment |
Military Brat: Snik, who's new at the beginning of the story because his father is assigned to Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_91df3195 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_91df3195 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_91df3195 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_a1a46946 | type |
Early Personality Signs | |
| The Homework Machine / int_a1a46946 | comment |
Early Personality Signs: According to Brenton's mom, he was always different from other kids. He never cried as a baby, and never wanted to play with other children or watch TV. He played chess with himself and taught himself how to play the piano. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_a1a46946 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_a1a46946 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_a1a46946 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_a1b0bde2 | type |
Revealing Cover-Up | |
| The Homework Machine / int_a1b0bde2 | comment |
Revealing Cover Up: The homework machine is only discovered when the D-squad builds a catapult to chuck it into the Grand Canyon and its parts are later found by some hikers, therefore getting them caught for littering. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_a1b0bde2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_a1b0bde2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_a1b0bde2 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_aa6043ca | type |
Open-Minded Parent | |
| The Homework Machine / int_aa6043ca | comment |
Open-Minded Parent: Kelsey's mom lets her elementary-school-age daughter dye her hair pink and pierce her belly button. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_aa6043ca | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_aa6043ca | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_aa6043ca | |
| The Homework Machine / int_ae3d6438 | type |
Deadpan Snarker | |
| The Homework Machine / int_ae3d6438 | comment |
Deadpan Snarker: Snik has a sharp tongue. This is what he wrote for an assignment where the class had to make 10 rules about homework. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_ae3d6438 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_ae3d6438 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_ae3d6438 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_b4a6ae4c | type |
Everyone Has Standards | |
| The Homework Machine / int_b4a6ae4c | comment |
Everyone Has Standards: Even though he hates the D Squad, Ronnie swears up and down that he wasn't the one who called the cops on them. He's not lying. It was Brenton. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_b4a6ae4c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_b4a6ae4c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_b4a6ae4c | |
| The Homework Machine / int_cc82b744 | type |
It Won't Turn Off | |
| The Homework Machine / int_cc82b744 | comment |
It Won't Turn Off: The machine runs unplugged, and only turns off when thrown over the Grand Canyon. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_cc82b744 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_cc82b744 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_cc82b744 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e3109dae | type |
Switching P.O.V. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e3109dae | comment |
Switching P.O.V.: The story is narrated by 4 characters: Brenton Damagatchi, Kelsey Donnelly, Sam "Snick" Dawkins, and Judy Douglas. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e3109dae | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e3109dae | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_e3109dae | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e8cfde67 | type |
Ambiguous Disorder | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e8cfde67 | comment |
Ambiguous Disorder: Precociously brilliant and antisocial Brenton. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e8cfde67 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e8cfde67 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_e8cfde67 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e9e35e8f | type |
Exact Words | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e9e35e8f | comment |
Exact Words: When Miss Rasmussen is starting to get suspicious of the D Squad's perfect homework, she takes Snik aside and asks him if he ever copies off anybody. He says he doesn't, which is technically true because he gets the machine to do his homework for him. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e9e35e8f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_e9e35e8f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_e9e35e8f | |
| The Homework Machine / int_fb4e0f18 | type |
Asian and Nerdy | |
| The Homework Machine / int_fb4e0f18 | comment |
Asian and Nerdy: Brenton is Japanese-American and a genius kid who's programmed a machine to do his homework for him, and he's only in fifth grade. | |
| The Homework Machine / int_fb4e0f18 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_fb4e0f18 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_fb4e0f18 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_fe3bf3a4 | type |
Four-Man Band | |
| The Homework Machine / int_fe3bf3a4 | comment |
Four-Man Band: The D SquadOnly Sane Man: JudyThe Smart Guy: BrentonThe Pervert: SnikThe Butt Monkey: Kelsey | |
| The Homework Machine / int_fe3bf3a4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_fe3bf3a4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_fe3bf3a4 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_name | type |
ItemName | |
| The Homework Machine / int_name | comment |
||
| The Homework Machine / int_name | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine / int_name | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Homework Machine | hasFeature |
The Homework Machine / int_name | |
| The Homework Machine / int_name | itemName |
The Homework Machine |
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