2006-All Observations on Middle School Entrance Exam Essays in the New Curriculum

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: In December 2004, following the Indian Ocean tsunami, a British media report described a ten-year-old girl named Tilly Smith. Before a towering wave surged towards a beach in Phuket, Thailand, Tilly, using her geography knowledge learned at school, predicted a powerful tsunami. She immediately alerted her parents, warning the beachgoers to evacuate, thus saving over 100 lives. What memories does this report evoke for you? What thoughts does it inspire? Please choose one angle from calmness, confidence, care, or the power of knowledge, create your own title, and write an essay. Requirements: (1) The genre is unrestricted except for poetry. (2) Write your self-chosen title in the designated position on the answer sheet. (3) No fewer than 600 words. (4) Do not mention the name of your school or the real names of any individuals.
Solution to the Essay Question by Yao Xuemei, Beijing Haidian District Teachers' College
The 2006 senior high school entrance examination essay question in Beijing Haidian District, rooted in students' actual experiences, aligns with the Experimental Draft of the Chinese Language Curriculum Standards for compulsory education. It focuses on the core principles of new curriculum writing evaluation, emphasizing the ability of students to express genuine emotions using their mother tongue, as well as comprehensively assessing their development in writing skills. Based on the actual teaching and learning of Chinese language education in middle schools across the district, it considers the writing levels of students at different stages of development. Specifically, the question has the following characteristics:
1. Reflects the educational value of the Chinese language subject, emphasizing the guidance of correct emotional attitudes and values.
The question begins with a news report, guiding students to choose one angle from calmness, confidence, care, or the power of knowledge, create their own title, and write an essay based on their experiences or reflections. These four angles either focus on student development, nurturing positive qualities and well-rounded personalities; or emphasize the beauty of humanity and human relationships, reminding students to appreciate love and practice kindness; or help students recognize the importance of knowledge, teaching them to value learning and apply it in practice. Such design allows students to be inspired by positive emotions and correct values while engaging with the writing material and process.
2. Closely linked to students' lives, emphasizing the expression of genuine emotions.
The writing material is drawn from real life. The calmness, courage, care, and ability to apply knowledge demonstrated by Tilly Smith in the face of a sudden disaster will deeply move every candidate. Meanwhile, each topic will evoke many memories or reflections. This design respects students' writing expectations, giving them something to say and encouraging them to express their unique feelings and genuine experiences with life.
3. Reduces restrictions, emphasizing choice and openness in content.
This year's senior high school entrance examination essay question in Haidian District differs from typical "material-based" or "topic-based" essays. While providing a text, the goal is not to force students to rigidly adhere to the main theme of the material.