Study Guide
Field 059: World Languages—Spanish
Sample Writing Assignment
The following materials contain:
- Test directions for the writing assignment
- A sample writing assignment
- A sample strong response to the writing assignment
- Performance characteristics and scoring scale for the writing assignment
Directions for the Writing Assignment
This section of the test consists of one constructed-response assignment to which you must respond in the target language. You are to prepare a written response on the assigned topic. You should use your time to plan, write, review, and edit your response to the assignment.
Read the assignment carefully and think about how you will organize your response before you begin to type.
Please note that special characters (such as letters with accents or other diacritical marks) cannot be entered using the keyboard but are available for insertion in the on-screen response box. To access these characters, click on the button that appears in the upper left corner of the screen. Using the mouse, click on the character you wish to include in your response and then select "Insert." The character will be inserted where the cursor is positioned in the response box.
Your score will depend on the extent to which you effectively communicate a whole message, in the target language, to the specified audience for the stated purpose. You will be assessed on your ability to express, organize, and support opinions and ideas, not on the position you take. Your response to the assignment will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Purpose: The extent to which the response addresses the assignment and is appropriate for the given context.
- Coherence: The extent to which ideas are effectively sequenced and logically connected.
- Development: The extent to which ideas are elaborated and supported.
- Grammar: The extent to which the response exhibits a command of syntax and grammar.
- Vocabulary: The extent to which the response demonstrates a command and range of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.
- Mechanics: The extent to which the response demonstrates accuracy of spelling, character formation, diacritical marks, punctuation, and capitalization.
You are to prepare a written response to this assignment of approximately 300–400 words. Be sure to write about the assigned topic. You may not use any reference materials. Your response must be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work. Remember to review what you have written to ensure that you address all aspects of the assignment and make any changes you think will improve your response.
Sample Writing Assignment
Objective 0007
Presentational and Interpersonal Communication Skills (Standard 4)
Complete the exercise that follows.
Imagine that you just received an e-mail from a Spanish teacher who is coming to teach for a year in your school. The teacher will be accompanied by family members and is asking for information about suitable living accommodations in your area. Writing in Spanish, compose an e-mail of approximately 300–400 words to the teacher in which you give details about living accommodations suitable for families in your area. In your e-mail, you must include, but are not limited to, the following information:
- a description of living accommodations suitable for families in your area;
- a reason why you think that the teacher's family will enjoy living in that area; and
- a way in which you could help the teacher find suitable housing in your area.
Sample Strong Response to the Writing Assignment
Estimada señora Villalobos:
Quisiera darles a usted y a los suyos una cálida bienvenida
a Indiana y a nuestra escuela. Somos muy afortunados de tenerla a usted con nosotros
durante este próximo año escolar, y quién sabe, quizás más tiempo. Nuestra ciudad,
aun siendo de tamaño considerable, es un lugar excelente para familias, y estoy
segura que se van a encontrar muy a gusto aquí.
Encontrar alojamiento adecuado no
ha sido fácil en los últimos años, pero parece que el mercado por fin empieza a
recuperarse, y ahora es buen momento para instalarse.
Como ustedes vienen de manera
provisional por un año o menos, me imagino que de momento no les interesa nada permanente.
¿O sí? Hay muchos vecinos de clase media y asequibles que para empezar son ideales.
Si aún no se han decidido por la compra, yo les recomendaría que alquilaran una
casita en las afueras, en uno de nuestros barrios residenciales, si tienen niños
pequeños. Hay también numerosos dúplex, que se le ofrece las ventajas de la casa
unifamiliar a un precio más bajo.
Si tienen hijos ya crecidos, otra opción a considerar
es un apartamento en algún bloque en la periferia de la ciudad. Últimamente los
precios de los apartamentos han bajado, y se pueden encontrar por un alquiler muy
razonable. Tenemos una amplia oferta de restaurantes, festivales, y tiendas en el
centro, aunque el aparcamiento siempre ha sido, y sigue siendo, nuestro peor problema
urbano.
Mi vecina, que trabaja en una agencia inmobiliaria, dice que deberían empezar
a mirar cuanto antes por Internet. Los sitios incluyen todos los listados con muchos
detalles sobre los alojamientos y los precios.
Espero que esta información le sirva
de ayuda. Deseándole un buen viaje, me despido hasta que nos encontremos en el otoño.
No dude en llamar si hay algo más que pueda hacer por usted.
Atentamente,
Performance Characteristics for the Writing Assignment
The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the writing assignment.
Purpose | Extent to which the response addresses the assignment and is appropriate for the given context |
---|---|
Coherence | Clarity of the relationship among ideas |
Development | Extent to which ideas are elaborated and supported |
Grammar | Command of grammar and syntax |
Vocabulary | Command of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions |
Mechanics | Accuracy of spelling, character formation, diacritical marks, punctuation, and capitalization |
Scoring Scale for the Writing Assignment
Scores will be assigned to each response to the writing assignment according to the following scoring scale.
Score Point | Score Point Description |
---|---|
4 |
The "4" response demonstrates a strong level of skill in presentational writing.
|
3 |
The "3" response demonstrates a general level of skill in presentational writing.
|
2 |
The "2" response demonstrates a limited level of skill in presentational writing.
|
1 |
The "1" response demonstrates a weak level of skill in presentational writing.
|
U | The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, illegible, not written in the required language, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment. |
B | There is no response to the assignment. |