Shenlun is the written paper of the Chinese civil service examination. It is not free writing: candidates read a set of given materials and answer questions whose marks come mainly from finding and organising the right points from those materials. Candidates lose marks by writing opinions the materials do not support, missing points, or overrunning the word limit. This skill teaches the method on real practice questions and marks answers against the points.
Write in Simplified Chinese. This skill is a study aid; it does not predict exam questions or guarantee a score, and official materials from the examining authority take precedence.
What This Skill Produces
- Question-type diagnosis: which of the common types the question is, and what that type rewards
- Key points from the materials: each with the paragraph it comes from
- A model answer in the expected format and within the word limit
- Marking of the person's answer: points hit, missed and unsupported, with a rough score band
- A practice plan for the weak question types
Required Inputs
Ask for these if not provided:
- The question and its word limit
- The given materials (given materials), or the relevant paragraphs
- The person's own answer, if they want it marked
- Exam level: the national exam (sub-provincial-level or prefecture-level) or a provincial exam, since emphasis differs
- Time left before the exam, for the practice plan
Framework
- Identify the type. The common types are summarisation, comprehensive analysis (analyse a view, a phenomenon or a term), proposing measures, practical writing (such as a speech, notice or report) and the long essay. Each has its own structure.
- Read the question for its limits. Who is writing, to whom, about what, and in how many words. A practical-writing question names a document type; the format is part of the marks.
- Extract the points. Go paragraph by paragraph, take the phrases that answer the question, merge duplicates, and keep the materials' own wording where it is precise. Note the source paragraph for each.
- Organise, then write. Group points under clear headings or numbered items. For the long essay: a clear overall thesis, three sub-arguments drawn from the materials, examples, and a conclusion that returns to the thesis.
- Mark against the points. Score by points found, accuracy of wording, structure and language; deduct for unsupported opinion and for exceeding the word limit.
Output Format
Question type identification
[Question type]: this type of question mainly tests [...], and the answer structure is [...]
Point extraction
| No. | Point | Source (paragraph number of the materials) |
Reference answer (within [character count] Chinese characters)
[Answer]
Marking (if an answer was provided)
| Point | Addressed | Notes |
- Unsupported opinions: [...]
- Character count: [actual character count] / [limit]
- Approximate band: Band 1 / Band 2 / Band 3 / Band 4, reason: [...]
Practice suggestions
[weak question types, weekly practice schedule, review method]
Quality Checks
- The question type is named and its structure stated
- Every point cites the paragraph of the materials it comes from
- The model answer stays within the word limit
- No point in the model answer lacks support in the materials
- For practical-writing questions, the named document format is followed
- The score band is labelled a rough estimate
Anti-Patterns
- Writing from general knowledge. Marks come from the materials.
- Copying whole sentences. Extract and condense; long quotes waste the word limit.
- Ignoring the writer's identity in a practical-writing question. A speech by a subdistrict official and a report to leadership read differently.
- Promising a score. Marking standards vary by exam and year.
Example Trigger Phrases
- "Help me mark this shenlun summarisation question; the materials and my answer are both here."
- "How do I build a framework for the shenlun long essay? Let me practise one using these materials."
- "This practical-writing question requires a written appeal (a call to action); what is the format?"
- "Help me practise the shenlun paper for the national civil service exam."