Ziping Chen – Conversation 1

Fortunately, I took the “Write Proficient” test two weeks ago, and I got a pass score. Even though I did not believe it was true until the professor sent me an email. I understand standardized tests have some unreasonable, but it is the best way to judge the student’s basic abilities now. In the story “Proficiency” I appreciated Shannon’s courage and confidence in writing at the beginning, and I pity that she almost gave up her love for writing later.

·Retell the author’s journey as a writer.

She has four stages experienced as a writer: confidence, disbelief herself, cheer up, finally disappointment for writing. At the beginning, she feels self is a grate write, has good grade scores at school and in other people’s eyes. Until she failed the first writing test, she disbelieves in herself. She thought a self-reflection cheer up back. The last thing that made her really lose the love in writing is she get a failure again. Even though she passed it on the third try, but she really lost the love for writing, like she said, “Perhaps because of that lack of seriousness” made she didn’t excel in writing anymore.

·How does the author feel about her writing abilities?

Before the second failure, she always feels herself is a good writer and have a strong English skill. She said, “I must have been a pretty good writer” and “It was one of my strengths.” This confidence comes from other people’s feedback about him, “Obviously all my English teachers and many others enjoyed or at least appreciated my writing”. Even when she got the first failure, she “began to hate writing”, but she told herself “It was no big deal. Surely I would pass the next time.” If I was her classmate, I also will confuse why she didn’t pass this proficiency test. I can understand why someone has good grades in many aspects, also can also fail one test in a bad condition, but this is too ridiculous that she failure twice. I think that this is a small probability event, and I will have a first feeling this was the test has problem.

·How does the author feel about standardized tests?

I think the author feels standardized tests are unfair and unreasonable. It cannot represent her actual writing level. Although she “pass every part-except writing”, she still believes that “the tests didn’t have the slightest clue about what constituted good writing”. I think it’s because writing requires more subjective judgment of the test. And this test is meaningless it didn’t give students any feedback “when students fail the test, the state of Ohio doesn’t offer any explanation.” If I have a course that doesn’t give me any feedback on how my work, I cannot get a change. Even if I am the last student, I didn’t know the truth before I got the final score. We need feedback to fix problems and get better self; not just a cold score, it cannot improve anything.

·If you were Mrs. Brown, the author’s English teacher, what would you say when the author asked: “How can I get A’s in all my English classes but fail the writing part of the proficiency test twice?”

If I was Mrs. Brown, I would say: “I know you are sad and confused about the test, don’t forget your talent just like you said “A poem I wrote was put on television once” it is enough to prove your writing skill was excellent. The proficiency test is for mostly people who have a basic skill. You didn’t pass the test, just your writing was not seen by the right person. I know you are smart, so for writing please continue keep your weel and responsible.”

·Has there been a time in your life when you doubted your abilities as a writer or in general? Explain.

In my first semester, I chose one that I have 100% percent can get a good grade’s course, Math. Finally, I got a unexcepted score, I felt sad. why? I have the same confidence as the author said, “I surely spelled every word correctly, used good grammar, and even used big words in the proper context.” I also do each question correctly and completely, and I learned this course content at high school, why I can lose it. I think it will my entire academic career get lost score. After my reflection, I learned one thing that feedback is very important, I do not want someone to take the initiative to tell me what my problem is, I need initiative to find it.

·How do you feel about your writing abilities?

English always is a nightmare for me, until I learn to writing systematically at college. I just found writing is a thing that if I want to do, I can do well. It can connect thinking and reading skills. Like the author said, “I never again felt the same love of reading and writing.” When she lost writing, she also lost reading. I have the same feeling in my writing, I really started writing after I had read enough content. I write down my opinion immediately when I read something interesting, ignoring grammar or spelling, and then fix and organize it. I think the best way to fight fear is to see it clearly first and then beat it.