How does one even begin to define homework when the meaning can change so drastically depending on students, teachers, and the assignment given? To some students, homework is something to be done while the hapless teacher of the preceding class period is trying to somehow get the information needed to pass the course into their head. This starts a chain reaction of students who have not listened in class, therefore cannot do their homework and leave it for the class before the class for which it was originally assigned. The next day is a repeat of the last since the students, in their frantic attempts to avoid a zero, have once again failed to pay attention.
To other students, homework is something to be feared and thought of, always. Homework is almost sacred, and it must always be perfectly completed well before the due date. Often in these students’ quest for the perfectly finished homework, they must drop some bowling pins in their daily juggling to make sure that they catch the one pin that matters- homework. These dropped pins are then promptly forgotten as the juggler tries to deal with the new pins thrown at him, their effects not felt until much later.
Another factor that greatly impacts the definition of homework is the teacher assigning it. To some teachers, homework is something that will never see a grading pen. To others, homework is something that automatically gets full credit as long as a student took the time to take a pencil to paper. To still others, homework is something to be laughed at, made fun of, and given a failing grade no matter how good it is.
All in all, that definition of homework you asked for? Still working on it.