The high school entrance exam is approaching (hereinafter referred to as the "zhongkao"), and students preparing for the zhongkao always pay special attention to the composition questions on the Chinese test. To help students perform at their best when dealing with the composition, here are some suggestions.
Upon receiving the test paper, it's advisable to first skim through the composition question. This quick glance may only take a few seconds, but it often sparks an instant thought process that leaves an impression in your mind. When you come back to tackle the question, it won't feel unfamiliar, and you'll be less likely to panic or become flustered. Remember, emotions can either inspire or inhibit your writing flow.
When it comes time to formally write the essay, the first step is to carefully examine the meaning of the question — that is, to understand what the question requires you to express and in what form. It's worth spending some time on this step; don't rush into writing just to save time. Sometimes hastily starting to write leads to increasing doubts as you progress. By the time you realize the need to start over, there may not be enough time left, and you'll end up finishing with a sense of unease, resulting in unsatisfactory performance. Another possibility is that you may write the entire essay without realizing that your interpretation of the question has been skewed. However, this will not escape the eyes of the examiners, and your score will inevitably suffer, which is indeed regrettable.
Take the 2008 Shanghai zhongkao composition question "The Colors in My Eyes" as an example. At first glance, this seems very abstract and difficult to grasp. In recent years, zhongkao and gaokao (college entrance exam) composition questions have played with language, causing some people to exclaim how challenging they are. Actually, this isn't necessarily true. Such topics generally belong to narrative writing styles. Carefully analyzing the question will reveal that it either asks you to write about a person or narrate an event.
For instance, "The Colors in My Eyes" refers to the colors I see with my eyes, with the central word being "colors." You could write about the colors of people's clothing on the street, the colors of skyscrapers, etc., thus creating a descriptive narrative filled with emotion. However, such an approach might be challenging and probably not the intent of the question setter. Therefore, you should consider the metaphorical meaning of "colors," referring to colorful characters, events, and social life. Thus, addressing this question essentially involves writing a narrative about either a person or an event. Note that the "colors" in the question represent an atmosphere that the examiner intends to evoke, one that is visually striking and pleasant. Therefore, the characters and events you narrate should align with this atmosphere rather than contradict it.
The real challenge lies in whether your heart contains colorful characters and events. If you care about life, love life, and reflect on your relationship with the people and events around you, facing such a question becomes easier. Simply sift through your memories to find suitable colorful characters and events. Relying on memorized anecdotes or fabricated stories will only expose flaws, resulting in a lackluster essay.
Before beginning to write, it's best to create an outline. It doesn't need to be comprehensive or lengthy; simply organize your thoughts and arrange your materials in order. With this outline, even if time is tight, you can still write calmly and confidently. Creating an outline is also part of planning and structuring your essay effectively.
During the zhongkao, you should still draft your essay. Many students believe there's no time for drafting during exams. However, drafting not only starts the writing process but also provides an opportunity to refine the structure and polish the language of your essay. This is not an unnecessary hassle but a crucial step in improving the quality of your work.