Tiffany Gutierrez Conversation 1

1. How does the author feel about her writing abilities?

Shannon at first was very confident in her writing ability, she had straight A’s until she took this exam. After taking this exam and realizing she ultimately failed it she felt shocked, and distraught. Shannon then began to start doubting herself and her writing abilities. “I began to hate writing, and I started to doubt myself. I doubted my ability and the ideas I wrote about. ‘This test made it impossible for Shannon to ever regain her strength and love for writing once again.

1. How does the author feel about standardized tests?

Along with being uncaring of her writing skills after the test, Shannon does not like standardized tests. To the point where she almost failed her 12th grade test, she never took English serious ever again.” I stopped taking English seriously… I earned a 2 on the Advanced Placement English Exam, barely passed the 12th grade proficiency test.” This major turn of character affected Shannon in the long run negatively because, her love for writing was over she was ok with failing.

1. 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?

Truth be told if I were to be Mrs. Brown, I’d probably not know what to say. Not just because my student earned straight A’s, but because of the circumstances. As the teacher I also would have no clue on why she failed the test much less twice.

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

There was a time in my freshman year, I had two ELA teachers one of them {the Co-teacher} would pick on me constantly to the point of me not wanting to go to that class. It wasn’t until the main teacher finally acknowledged the situation. by tenth grade, I was able to regain the liking I had towards writing.

1. How do you feel about your writing abilities?

I think my writing abilities are up to standards. Writing is a way where I can express myself without having to feel self-conscious, along with reading I consider writing to be my go-to.