Preparation Manual

Section 6: Sample Interpersonal and Presentational Writing Assignments
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) French (610)

Directions for the Interpersonal and Presentational Writing Assignments

This section of the exam consists of three assignments that measure different aspects of your writing ability in the target language:

Response to a Letter, Memo, or E-mail
Opinion/Position Essay
Presentational Writing: Integrated Skills

Directions for each assignment will be provided before the assignment.

The total testing time for this section of the exam is 50 minutes; therefore, you should manage your time so that you have enough time to respond to all three assignments within the allotted time. The timer in the upper right corner of the screen will indicate how much time is remaining.

You will type your response to each assignment. Your response must be written in the target language. You may use the erasable notebooklet provided to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your response. However, your final response to each assignment must be typed in the response box provided for the assignment.

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 ash symbol button that appears in the upper left corner of the screen. Using the mouse, double-click on the character you wish to include in your response, or 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.

Sample Interpersonal and Presentational Writing Assignments

Response to a Letter, Memo, or E-mail

For this assignment, you will be given a letter, memo, or e-mail to which you will write an appropriate response in the target language. First, read the content provided on-screen. Then, type your response in the response box.

Manage your time so that you allow enough time to plan, write, and revise your response. Your response to this assignment should be a minimum of 60 words.

Assignment 1

Vous recevez la lettre suivante en réponse à votre demande pour un poste d'assistant de langue.

Cher/Chère candidat(e),

Nous accusons réception de votre lettre de sollicitation pour un poste d'assistant de langue à Marseille, dans un établissement de deuxième cycle. Si votre candidature est retenue, le rectorat d'Aix-Marseille vous contactera quelques mois avant votre prise de poste pour que vous puissiez leur fournir les pièces justificatives nécessaires à la validation de votre dossier.

Dans l'immédiat, nous aimerions faire plus ample connaissance avec vous. La mission de l'assistant de langue requiert des qualités exceptionnelles ainsi que des compétences pédagogiques et informatiques. Vos réponses aux questions suivantes nous aideront à en savoir plus sur vous et vos aptitudes.

Selon vous, quelle est l'importance du rôle pédagogique d'un assistant de langue ? Les assistants de langue collaborent étroitement avec les professeurs des écoles pour préparer les activités pédagogiques : de quelles sortes d'outils pédagogiques et informatiques vous serviriez-vous pour motiver les élèves et stimuler leur curiosité ?

Bien que vous ne soyez pas obligé(e) d'être un locuteur natif francophone, une bonne maîtrise de la langue française est essentielle pour ce poste.

Votre candidature nous intéresse ; merci de nous répondre dans les plus brefs délais. Vous pouvez aussi, dès à présent, consulter le bureau des assistants : assistants-langues@ac-aix-marseille.fr.

Cordialement,

Mme De Lavalle
Gestionnaire des assistants de langue

Opinion/Position Essay

For this assignment, you will be provided with a scenario to write an essay in the target language to support your opinion or position on an issue. First, read the scenario. Then, type your response in the response box provided.

Your essay should include reasons and/or examples to support your opinion.

Manage your time so that you allow enough time to plan, write, and revise your essay. An effective essay will typically contain a minimum of 120 words.

Assignment 2

Depuis plusieurs années, une majorité d'établissements scolaires favorisent les classes multiniveaux, mélangeant ainsi les élèves à niveau fort avec ceux à niveaux moyens et faibles. Selon vous, quels effets l'hétérogénéité des classes pourrait-elle avoir sur les acquis des élèves ?

Répondez en employant des exemples précis pour soutenir vos idées.

Presentational Writing: Integrated Skills

For this assignment, you will read a passage in the target language. This passage will appear in both the Writing and Speaking sections.

First, read the passage and associated writing task. Then, type your response in the response box provided.

Manage your time so that you allow enough time to plan, write, and revise your response. Your response should contain a minimum of 120 words and must be in the target language.

Assignment 3

L'article suivant intitulé « Pour apaiser la guerre des places de stationnement, le parking partagé » a été écrit par Kamal Azzouz et publié sur le site Web www.rtbf.be en 2014.

Durant des années, Fabienne vivait un enfer quotidien. Celui de trouver une place de stationnement en début de soirée dans son quartier de la commune de Schaerbeek. Après une longue journée de travail, Fabienne nous explique que c'était la guerre des nerfs : « Depuis cinq ans, cela devient vraiment de plus en plus compliqué. On cherche, on cherche, on cherche… Parfois après une heure, j'appelle mon mari et il vient prendre le relais. Ça donne envie de fuir de Bruxelles ! »

Mais depuis peu, Fabienne profite du concept de parking partagé dans lequel s'inscrit la commune. L'idée, c'est de mutualiser des emplacements en fonction des heures d'occupation. Et donc de donner deux vies à une même place pour le plus grand bonheur des riverains.

Le parking partagé, c'est le fonds de commerce de Julien Vandeleene, fondateur de la société BePark : « On propose une solution de parking pendant un horaire qui est complémentaire. Du coup, on ne propose pas les mêmes tarifs qu'un tarif complet. On est globalement 50 % moins cher. »

De plus, cette société surfe sur la vague du smartphone grâce à une application. Vandeleene nous explique comment le système gère les entrées et les sorties du parking : « On vient adapter notre propre technologie au système d'accès actuel. On a des systèmes de monitoring, d'alerte car les personnes doivent partir le matin. Donc il faut respecter un règlement. L'objectif, c'est que cela fonctionne bien tant pour le propriétaire que pour l'utilisateur. »

Dans les grandes villes comme Bruxelles, trouver une place est un véritable parcours du combattant. Pourtant des emplacements libres en début de soirée, il y en a un peu partout en ville.

Premier exemple, les parkings des immeubles de bureau. Edouard Herinckx, un promoteur immobilier, a tout de suite adhéré au principe du partage : « Les collaborateurs des différentes entreprises quittent les bureaux aux alentours de 18 heures. Et donc, bien entendu, le parking reste vide la plupart du temps la nuit. L'idée était de mettre à disposition des riverains ou à d'autres personnes qui sont dans le quartier à ce moment-là comme les clients des restaurants dans le coin. »

Que dire des parkings des grandes surfaces systématiquement désertés les soirs et les dimanches. Les riverains d'un quartier saturé de Forest apprécient sans doute la démarche de Jean-Paul Mottard : « Il nous semblait important de rendre service à tous ces voisins qui sont nos clients. D'un autre côté, l'aspect financier n'est pas négligeable pour nous. Donc c'est du win-win. »

Used by permission

Writing Assignment

Expliquez comment le concept du parking partagé décrit dans l'article est une innovation pour la communauté bruxelloise.

Donnez des exemples précis pour soutenir votre point de vue.

Scoring Rubrics

Scoring Rubric for Response to a Letter, Memo, or E-mail and Opinion/Position Essay

Score	General Description	Features/Dimensions
Score	General Description	Task Completion	Topic Development	Writing Skills
3 High	A response at this level is characterized by most of the following features/dimensions:	Fully addresses and completes the task	Directly relates to the topic; topic well developed All or almost all supporting details or examples are appropriate and effective	Response is well organized and generally coherent Demonstrates a high or mid-high degree of control of a variety of structures; a few grammatical errors occur with no evident patterns Varied vocabulary appropriate for the content and used with precision Very few errors in conventions of the written language (orthography: spelling, accent marks and punctuation; sentence structure) Register is appropriate (accurate social and/or cultural references included)
2 Mid-High	A response at this level is characterized by most of the following features/dimensions:	Addresses and completes the task	Relates to the topic Most supporting details or examples are well defined	Response is organized, but some parts are not fully developed Demonstrates a moderate degree of control of a variety of structures; some grammatical errors occur Appropriate vocabulary with occasional errors such as making up words or code-switching Some errors in conventions of the written language (orthography: spelling, accent marks and punctuation; sentence structure) but they do not impede communication Register is usually appropriate (generally accurate social and/or cultural references included)
1 Mid-Low	A response at this level is characterized by most of the following features/dimensions:	Addresses and completes the task	Moderately relates to the topic Some supporting details or examples are vague or not well defined	Response is inadequately organized/not sequenced correctly Demonstrates a lack of control of a variety of structures; frequent grammatical errors occur Limited vocabulary; frequent errors such as making up words or code-switching Frequent errors in conventions of the written language (orthography: spelling, accent marks and punctuation; sentence structure) Register is inappropriate (inaccurate social and/or cultural references are included)
0 Low	A response at this level is characterized by most of the following features/dimensions:	Partially addresses and/or partially completes the task	Minimally relates to the topic Most supporting details or examples are irrelevant or not effective	Response is disorganized Demonstrates a lack of control of most structures; numerous grammatical errors impede communication Insufficient vocabulary; constant interference from another language Pervasive errors in conventions of the written language (orthography: spelling, accent marks and punctuation; sentence structure) impeding communication Minimal to no attention to register (inaccurate social and/or cultural references are included)

Scoring Rubric for Presentational Writing: Integrated Skills

Score	General Description	Features/Dimensions
Score	General Description	Task Completion	Topic Development	Writing Skills
3 High	A response at this level is characterized by most of the following features/dimensions:	Fully addresses and completes the task	Directly relates to the topic; topic well developed All or almost all supporting details or examples are appropriate and effective Clearly demonstrates a high degree of understanding of the content in the text	Response is well organized and generally coherent Demonstrates a high or mid-high degree of control of a variety of structures; a few grammatical errors occur with no evident patterns Varied vocabulary appropriate for the content and used with precision Very few errors in conventions of the written language (orthography: spelling, accent marks and punctuation; sentence structure) Register is appropriate (accurate social and/or cultural references included)
2 Mid-High	A response at this level is characterized by most of the following features/dimensions:	Addresses and completes the task	Relates to the topic Most supporting details or examples are well defined Demonstrates a moderate degree of understanding of the content in the text	Response is organized, but some parts are not fully developed Demonstrates a moderate degree of control of a variety of structures; some grammatical errors occur Appropriate vocabulary with occasional errors such as making up words or code-switching Some errors in conventions of the written language (orthography: spelling, accent marks and punctuation; sentence structure) but they do not impede communication Register is usually appropriate (generally accurate social and/or cultural references included)
1 Mid-Low	A response at this level is characterized by most of the following features/dimensions:	Addresses and completes the task	Moderately relates to the topic Some supporting details or examples are vague or not well defined Demonstrates a low degree of understanding of the content in the text	Response is inadequately organized/not sequenced correctly Demonstrates a lack of control of a variety of structures; frequent grammatical errors occur Limited vocabulary; frequent errors such as making up words or code-switching Frequent errors in conventions of the written language (orthography: spelling, accent marks and punctuation; sentence structure) Register is inappropriate (inaccurate social and/or cultural references are included)
0 Low	A response at this level is characterized by most of the following features/dimensions:	Partially addresses and/or partially completes the task	Minimally relates to the topic Most supporting details or examples are irrelevant or not effective Demonstrates a poor degree of understanding of the content in the text	Response is disorganized Demonstrates a lack of control of most structures; numerous grammatical errors impede communication Insufficient vocabulary; constant interference from another language Pervasive errors in conventions of the written language (orthography: spelling, accent marks and punctuation; sentence structure) impeding communication Minimal to no attention to register (inaccurate social and/or cultural references are included)

Note: Your written response should be your original work, written in your own words and not copied or paraphrased from some other work.

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