Response to James Gray

Twenty minutes is not much time to produce a terrific piece of writing. Only the truly insightful and talented writers will be able to produce writing that is awe-inspiring under the pressure of twenty minutes. So Gray states that what he read was "from not too bad to pretty grim." Well, welcome to the real world. And let's see you write something worthy of an 8 or a 9 on a AP writing test in twenty minutes, Mr. Gray. The fact that anyone can do it is pretty impressive in itself. A first draft is what it is . . . a first draft. Like Art said, good writing takes time. I am sure being able to write something mind-bogglingly good in twenty minutes is a terrific feat, but let's face it. Most of us need time to inspire awe in other with our writing. Let's give the kids more time!!! Do kids in college really write under those conditions these days? I was a sophomore in college in 1979 and I never wrote an essay in 20 minutes.