Sounds like they have been given lines and are acting them out.

Can't really remember what it was about. I do remember it got a B on it. I explained that the book was like a reading of my own boring life, but mine situations was way worst than his, and that this book is famous. Made me depressed. My teacher told me that if I write my paper she would give me and A. I got depressed for this book the first time. Took me a long damn while to get over the damn depression. Not gonna revisit anything like that again, for a stupid grade.

Clearly, these are actors ...

Students? These people look like 30