It’s easy to read the story “Proficiency” and relate to the theme. At least once in life we will have our skills in a specific subject questioned and that is alright, as long as we see those situations as an opportunity to improve and grow.
(How does the author feel about her writing abilities?) At the beginning of the narrative, the author feels really confident about her writing abilities, mentioning she “never had a GPA bellow 3” and that she “worked diligently on her honors English class, passing with an A.”. She made it clear that she believed writing was one of her greatest strengths and something she really enjoyed it. However, after taking the standardized test she felt lost, she questioned herself if she was truly a good writer and by the end of the text, she left the reader with an idea that she will never enjoy writing again by saying “I never again felt the same love of reading and writing”. Even though I don’t agree with this attitude, I still understand it. Sometimes it’s hard to take criticism, especially when it comes with little or no explanation.
(How does the author feel about the standardized test?) I had the impression she also felt confused and somewhat angry toward the standardized test, almost like the test was unfair. She was upset about not being offered any feedback or explanation and justified it by saying if she had been offered feedback she could have “written what was expected on the second try and maintained my enthusiasm.”. This experience probably cost her confidence for taking tests too since she also mentioned she “barely passed the twelfth-grade test”.
(If you were Mrs. Brown, the author’s English teacher, what would you say) Even though her friends and teachers had no explanation for her failing in writing, if I was her teacher, I would encourage her to keep going and take a different approach. Maybe talk to other students who had taken the test before and discuss what they did differently or maybe try to practice different types of essays. Sometimes different tests ask for different essay structures and I would advise her to not wait for the state to give her feedback but try to find those answers somewhere else.
(How do you feel about your writing abilities?) Fortunately, I never failed any writing test, which is good because just like the author, I also enjoy writing. I do feel confident about my writing abilities, but I know there is plenty of room for improvement: I sometimes I have problems spelling in English or formulate a text structure in my head before starting writing, especially if I have little time to do so.
3 thoughts on “Isabella Ciriaco – Conversation 1”
hey Isabella!! Your suggestion for Mrs. Brown, the author’s English teacher, is constructive and aligned with fostering a growth mindset. Encouraging the author to seek alternative approaches, learn from successful peers, and explore different essay structures demonstrates a proactive and supportive teaching approach. Overall, your response effectively addresses the given points, offering a well-balanced mix of analysis and personal reflection. It demonstrates a clear understanding of the narrative and showcases your ability to connect with the themes presented in “Proficiency.”
Hi, Isabella, sorry I am replying now because I finished reading your conversation yesterday. Your responses are very clear, I like your response for “If you were Mrs. Brown, the author’s English teacher, what would you say”, it is very useful I never noticed that different style or type of essay will influence writer grade in test. For the writing abilities, I also have the same problem, if I don’t have enough time to write, my text structure will be very messy. Finally, in your response to the first question, I believe that “never had a GPA bellow 3” may not be the best example representing her writing ability, more about learning ability.
Hi Isabella, I like your thoughtful and constructive responses to the prompt questions. I like the way sympathize with the author and how you also encourage her to keep on trying without dismissing her feelings. I think your approach towards helping the author rebuild a relationship with writing doesn’t only come from understanding but I would say how you relate to them, just like them you’ve never failed a test before so I imagine that you’ve put yourself in their shoes and you’ve tried to find different solutions to not give up. I enjoyed reading your answers it shows that you comprehend the story and that you’ve put thought and time when it came to answering the questions.