You are correct, lumberjim.
That was more of a tactic to get the writer to reveal his "topic" so as to inspire more writing on his part. I would never write a paper for a student. In fact, I have to watch out for that bullshit in my own job.
As an [a] historian for the National Park Service, I am one of several people that recieve "Ask A Historian" questions from all of America. Usually they are so broad as to be rediculous' "What caused the Civil War?" Sure. Let me tell you the answer to that.
My desire is to get people, especially kids, to think. Think on their own. Kids are actually a lot smarter than we give them credit for. They are battered by so much crap that they feel they can't think for themselves.
Maturity is overated. I've met 6-year olds that are smarter than 43-year olds, more mature, too.