Five lessons learned by University of Iowa undergrads in Kembrew McLeod’s 2008 “Popular Music & Culture” class, in which they had to answer the following throwaway final exam question: “In a couple sentences, explain why -- although it is important to reserve the right to rock -- one should never rock it hardcore twenty-four hours a day.”

5. It is important to reserve the right to rock because everyone needs an outlet for rebellion, but rocking 24-7 is not a sustainable lifestyle.

4. One should never rock it hardcore 24 hours a day because it would no longer be hardcore; it would just be like any other day.

3. If one were to rock all night and all day, then there would be nothing else in life that would be non-rock. Therefore, if the category non-rock couldn’t exist, neither could rock.

2. One should never rock it hardcore 24 hours a day because eventually it would become lame and tedious. In order to reserve the awesomeness of rocking, one must take time to do other things so that it remains totally sweet to rock.

1. Although to “rock it hardcore 24 hours a day” sounds nice, in order to truly “reserve the right to rock” one must discontinue rocking at some point. In order to keep the rocking “hardcore,” the length of time must be under 24 hours. [The student then drew a graph titled “Trajectory of Rock: Time vs. Intensity,” with an x axis representing “intensity” and the y axis “time.” The recommended “ideal balance of hardcore, extended rocking” totals 2-4 hours a day.]