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| Controversy surrounding the 21-page exam paper: many teachers argue that the quality of an essay doesn't depend on its length. |
Teachers generally agree that the length of an essay does not reflect its quality. A student who can write a long essay and receive high praise from their teachers demonstrates a rich writing style and a broad base of knowledge.
Recently, a female student in Ha Tinh province wrote a 21-page essay on Literature for the 10th grade entrance exam and received a score of 9.75. Thanks to this, she became the top-scoring student in the Literature specialized class at Ha Tinh High School for Gifted Students.
This information sparked controversy on social media. Many praised the student, saying she must have a rich knowledge base and clear thinking to be able to write so prolifically. However, others argued: "On average, it only takes less than 9 minutes to fill a page of exam paper; that's as fast as an automatic typewriter."
"How incredibly challenging was that exam that students had to painstakingly write 21 pages just to clarify the issue? A literature exam like that is even worse than a bodybuilding competition!" Some even criticized the examiners, saying they "must be measuring by the inch before grading."
"It's not just a fleeting moment of glory."
According to Ms. Nguyen Phuong Thanh, Deputy Head of the Literature, History, Geography, and Civic Education Department (Giang Vo Secondary School, Hanoi), it's normal for a literature student to write about 4 sheets of paper, equivalent to 16 pages or more, within 150-180 minutes. However, if a student can write 21 pages in the same amount of time, that would be extraordinary.
According to Ms. Thanh, to be highly regarded by teachers, a female student must possess abundant writing skills, meaning the ability to think, express herself, and write very quickly, as well as having a good memory and a broad and solid knowledge base.
“I believe this isn't just a fleeting moment of brilliance. She has proven her abilities in district and provincial-level competitions for gifted students, and the proof is her convincing first prize in Literature at the provincial level. She is undeniably a talented individual. As a teacher, I admire and appreciate students with such outstanding abilities,” said Ms. Phuong Thanh.
However, according to Ms. Phuong Thanh, not everyone who writes at length necessarily writes well. In fact, when teaching both gifted and average students, Ms. Thanh always focuses on developing two skills: from a main idea to a longer essay; and from a long essay, condensing it into a shorter piece, a short paragraph, or even a single sentence.
Ms. Phuong Thanh expressed her opinion: "A good essay must first and foremost be accurate and complete, meaning it must be on topic, have a coherent and well-structured system of ideas, and be written in clear and easy-to-understand language. Only then should other factors be considered, such as fluent expression, vivid imagery, and an impressive ending that leaves a lasting impression on the reader..."
According to Ms. Thanh, the current trend in teaching Literature focuses on training students to write concisely yet comprehensively, with logical arguments, aiming for the practical goal of making the text easily understandable to the reader or listener.
At the same time, she also stated that, in reality, many concise articles are still profound and have the power to move the hearts of millions of people. President Ho Chi Minh's immortal political essays are a prime example of this.
"In the selection exam for gifted students entering specialized schools, we should appreciate and honor such essays. However, we shouldn't over-promote them; we still need to learn how to write concisely, comprehensively, and clearly."
"We shouldn't equate lengthy writing with good writing. Depending on the context, purpose, and audience, we should choose a way of speaking and writing that is appropriate," Ms. Phuong Thanh said.
Length alone cannot measure the quality of an essay.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, a Literature teacher at Thai Binh Specialized High School (Thai Binh province), also expressed her admiration for her student from Ha Tinh province for her writing skills, diligence, and dedication.
"At her age, her hands don't have much strength yet, but she's risen to such heights; it's truly admirable," Ms. Thuy said.
Ms. Thuy believes that, for a Literature exam, whether the essay is long or short depends on each person's choice, ability, and writing style. Some people need to write at length to fully express their ideas and convey their message, while others are able to write concisely and succinctly.
Therefore, length is not a measure of the quality of a literature exam. According to Ms. Thuy, to write a good essay, students need to express their viewpoint on the issue raised in the question using a system of reasoning, personal feelings, and emotions; have a unique perspective and approach to exploring the issue; and demonstrate creativity in their writing style and expression.
"Reading an essay that reveals the unique character, intellect, and soul of the student will make it an impressive piece of writing," Ms. Thuy said.
Ms. Nguyen Thien Huong, a Literature teacher at Dong Da Secondary School (Hanoi), also affirmed that length is not the deciding factor in the quality of an essay.
"For students with a rich knowledge base, clear thinking, and a strong literary sensibility, even when writing at length, the content remains specific, comprehensive, and persuasive; readers still find it very engaging."
Conversely, some candidates write lengthy but rambling essays that fail to clarify the question's requirements, and no one will want to read them.
Some students write very concisely and succinctly, yet still persuasively; but then there are essays that are too short to fully develop their ideas.”
Therefore, according to Ms. Huong, a good essay must clearly focus on the topic, be comprehensive, express ideas coherently and logically, use clear language, and be rich in emotion and imagery. Through this, the essay must demonstrate unique and profound personal viewpoints.
By achieving those elements, whether long or short, the essay is sure to receive a high score.
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