I had to stay after school today to give a make-up test to a kid who'd been sick on the test day. I write all my own tests--we rarely even use the textbooks.
Anyway, about halfway through the test, the kid looks up at me, all frustrated.
Kid: Mrs. Revis, I'm mad at you!
Me: (surprised) Why?
Kid: Because every time I read these test questions, I can hear you!
Me: What?!
Kid: I can just tell you wrote these questions! They sound like you! And it's driving me crazy! Get out of my head!
Me: *suppressed laughter*
This kid was basically saying that the test I wrote for the class had my own personal "voice" to it--that elusive thing that authors struggle to achieve and editors tend to give speeches on. And while he didn't know it, that kid had just made my day. I may painstakingly try to figure out how to inject an entertaining voice into my fiction writing, but at least this kid can see it in question 42.
6 comments:
Hey Beth! head on over to my blog. I've tagged you in a meme. :0) tag. You're it!
Christy
Cool! Thanks!
Great stuff.. Students are so honest. :)
That's awesome!!! I remember taking tests that had the teacher's Voice in the question. It drove me crazy, too, but I wasn't exactly appreciating the writing skills it took to pull that off. :)
Keri--Trust me, I know! They're brutal sometimes :)
Tabitha--I had never thought of it before! It really surprised me; it was something I'd never expected.
Susan-- Thanks :)
This is perfect! What every author wants! To have a voice!
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