Writing Overview

What to expect in the writing section…

• 2 tasks (1 independent tasks and 1 integrated tasks).

– Integrated task: You will real a 250-300 word passage, and then listen to a 1-2 minute lecture on the same topic.

The information in both passages is related, but is not the same. You must take notes, and the write a 100-200 word response about how the information in both passages is related.

– Independent task: You will write an essay about a topic that is given to you. The ideas for the essay come from your own experience, rather than from material given to you.

• 2 tasks, 2 questions

• 60 minutes

• Score: initially from 0 – 5 points, then converted to a 0 - 30 points scale

• Limited (1-16)• Fair (17-23)

• Good (24-30)

Writing Scoring Criteria

5

ANSWER TO QUESTION The student answers the question thoroughly.

COMPREHENSIBILITY The student can be understood completely.

ORGANIZATION The student’s response is maturely organized and developed.

FLOW OF IDEAS The student’s ideas flow cohesively.

GRAMMAR The student uses advanced grammatical structures with a high degree of accuracy.

VOCABULARY The student uses advanced vocabulary with a high degree of accuracy.

Writing Scoring Criteria

4

ANSWER TO QUESTION The student answers the question adequately but not thoroughly.

COMPREHENSIBILITY The student can generally be understood.

ORGANIZATION The student’s response is adequately organized and developed.

FLOW OF IDEAS The student’s ideas generally flow cohesively.

GRAMMAR The student uses either accurate easier grammatical structures or more advanced grammatical structures with some errors..

VOCABULARY The student uses either accurate easier vocabulary or more advanced vocabulary with some errors.

Writing Scoring Criteria

3

ANSWER TO QUESTION

The student gives a basically accurate response to the question.

COMPREHENSIBILITY The student’s basic ideas can be understood.

ORGANIZATION The student’s response is organized basically and is not thoroughly developed.

FLOW OF IDEAS The student’s ideas flow cohesively sometimes and at other times do not.

GRAMMAR The student has a number of errors in grammar or uses only very basic grammar fairly accurately.

VOCABULARY The student has a number of errors in vocabulary or uses only very basic vocabulary fairly accurately.

Writing Scoring Criteria

2

ANSWER TO QUESTION The student discusses information from the task but does not answer the question directly.

COMPREHENSIBILITY The student’s ideas are not always intelligible.

ORGANIZATION The student’s response is not clearly organized and is incomplete or contains some inaccurate points.

FLOW OF IDEAS The student’s ideas often do not flow cohesively.

GRAMMAR The student has numerous errors in grammar that interfere with the meaning.

VOCABULARY The student has numerous errors in vocabulary that interfere with meaning.

Writing Scoring Criteria

1

ANSWER TO QUESTION

The student’s response is only slightly related to the topic.

COMPREHENSIBILITY The student’s ideas are occasionally intelligible.

ORGANIZATION The student’s response is not clearly organized and is only minimally on the topic.

FLOW OF IDEAS The student’s ideas do not flow smoothly.

GRAMMAR The student produces very little grammatically correct language.

VOCABULARY The student uses very little vocabulary correctly.

Speaking Scoring Criteria

0 The student either says nothing or fails to answer the question.

Score Conversion

• You will be given a score from 0-5 for each of the 2 tasks. These scores will be averaged, and then converted into a scale from 0-30 points.

• The conversion chart is on page 578 of your book.

• Since both tasks are different, they require different strategies.

Strategies! For an independent writing task

We’ll be familiar with the directions…

• Read questions carefully, and answer exactly as it is asked…

Organize your response clearly

– Introduction– Body paragraphs – Conclusion

Use transitions!!!!!!!!

• (Page 503 Appendix A3)

• Whenever you make a statement, be sure to support it using examples, reasons, facts or personal information.

• Use grammar and vocabulary you know well

• Finish your essay a little early so that you have time to check.

Strategies! For an integrated writing task (Reading, Listening, and Writing)

We’ll be familiar with the directions…

• Not a familiar topic? Don’t worry, all you need to know is included in the passages.

• Read and listen to the passages carefully

Don’t trust your memory…

Take notes!!!

Organize your response clearly

– Introduction– Body paragraphs – Conclusion

Use transitions!!!!!!!!

• (Page 503 Appendix A3)

• Use grammar and vocabulary you know well

• Organize your response very clearly:– Overall topic statement about the relation

between the passages.– One paragraph for the reading passage.– One paragraph for the listening passage.

• Finish your essay a little early so that you have time to check.