Study Guide

Field 253: World Language: German 
Presentational Writing

Recommendation for individuals using a screenreader: please set your punctuation settings to "most."

Directions for Presentational Writing Assignment

For this section of the test, you will compose a written response to an assignment presented on screen. You must respond to the assignment in the target language.

The assignment appears on the screen with a response box. Type your response in this box. Note that the assignment includes a prompt and an exhibit. Read the assignment carefully before you begin to write. Think about how you will organize your response. You may use the erasable notebooklet provided to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your response. However, your final response 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 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 response to the assignment will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

• PURPOSE: the extent to which the response fulfills the tasks outlined in the assignment, demonstrates engagement with the exhibit, and uses writing conventions appropriate for the specified context and audience
• SUPPORT: the extent to which the response is elaborated with explanations and comparisons that are supported with relevant details from the exhibit and the candidate's own ideas
• ORGANIZATION: the extent to which the response communicates a logically sequenced and coherent written message
• VOCABULARY: the extent to which the response uses words and idiomatic language appropriate for the specified context and audience
• GRAMMAR: the extent to which the response uses appropriate narrative time frames, sentence structures, cohesive devices, and mechanics (spelling, punctuation, and if applicable, capitalization and diacritical marks)

Your response will be evaluated on the criteria above, not on any personal opinions expressed in the response. Be sure to write about the assigned topic and use multiple paragraphs. You may not use any reference materials during the test. This should 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 and make any changes you think will improve your response.

A response will be considered unscorable if it is unrelated to the assigned topic, not written in the required language, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.

Select the Next button to continue.

Sample Presentational Writing Assignment

Objective 0007 
Apply knowledge of target-language structures and writing conventions to compose an effective, coherent, and clear response to a prompt.

[The examinee will see on screen the following directions:
To view the exhibit, click the button above. A pop-up window will appear. The pop-up window can then be resized and/or repositioned on your screen so that you can access the information while completing your response.]

Use the exhibit provided to complete the assignment below.

Imagine that you are currently living in Berlin. You are planning to begin exploring Berlin's different neighborhoods with the goal of learning about local cultures. You want to invite a German-speaking friend to join you. Drawing on the excursion options advertised in the provided exhibit and your knowledge of German writing conventions, write an e-mail in German to your friend in which you:

• explain how you made the decision to begin exploring Berlin's different neighborhoods and invite your friend to join you;
• compare the two excursion options advertised in the exhibit, providing one advantage and one disadvantage of each option; and
• explain which option would best help you and your friend learn about the products, practices, and/or perspectives of local cultures.

Your response must be written in your own words, except for quotations and paraphrases from the exhibit used as evidence to support your ideas.

Exhibit

BERLIN eine STADT - zwölf STADTVIERTEL

Charlottenburg-wilmersdorf

Gewinnen Sie einen ersten Eindruck von dem Viertel bei einer der geführten Freitagnachmittagsfahrten in Kleinbussen durch das Viertel

Treffpunkt: Freitags 16 Uhr Eingang zum Schlosspark: 30 €

Verbringen Sie dann lhr Wochenende damit, was Sie am meisten interssiert: Das Charlottenburger Schloss für Barockliebhaber, das Olympiastadion für Sportfreunde, zahlreiche Museen für Freunde der bildenden Kunst die Siemensstadt für Architekturinteressierte, der Grunewald für Naturfreunde und natürlich der Kurfürstendamm, das wahre Shopping Paradies

Friedrichshain-Kruezberg

Erkunden Sie eines der interessantesten und faszinierendsten Viertel Berlins: Überall städtisches Gewimmel, Lebensöberschwang und Vielfalt, ein wahrer Schmelztiegel.

Schlendern Sie entlang dem längsten erhaltenen Teil der Mauer, der s.g. East Side Gallery, staunen Sie über die Monumentalbauten in der Karl-Marx-Allee, Gebäude aus der Gründerzeit und ultramoderne aus dem 21. Jahrhundert.

Treffpunkt: Station Schlesisches Tor, Samstags 14 Uhr kostenlos

Besuchen Sie das Jüdische Museum und das Deutsche Technologiemuseum, und, und, und...

Geheimtipp Geführte Stadtrundgänge weden an den meisten Samstagen gegen 14 Uhr von Einwohnerm des Viertels gratis angeboten.

Dauer: ca. 2 Stunden

Treffpunkt: Bhf Schlesisches Tor

Sample Strong Response to Presentational Writing Assignment

Rationale for Sample Strong Response to Presentational Writing Assignment

The response thoroughly fulfills the tasks outlined in the assignment. It explains why the writer made the decision to explore Berlin's neighborhoods (she is new to the city and saw an advertisement inviting people to visit two specific areas) and features an invitation to her friend, Anke, to join her. It compares the two options throughout and describes at least one advantage and disadvantage of each (e.g., Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf costs money and is "touristy" but reliable; Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is less formal but may be less efficient). It also arrives at a conclusion as to which option would be best and explains why. The response uses writing conventions appropriate for the context of writing an e-mail to a friend (e.g., using sentence fragments such as "Und das ganz umsonst!") that would not be appropriate in a more formal written text. The response demonstrates a strong engagement with the exhibit through both direct and indirect references to its contents. Explanations and comparisons are effectively supported with relevant details from the exhibit (paraphrased information and direct quotations) as well as the candidate's own ideas (opinions and analysis of the provided information, suggestions based on this information, and additional thoughts based on the preferences of the writer and her friend).

The response's message is logically sequenced and coherent. It begins with a greeting and an explanation of the purpose for writing the e-mail, then compares the two options through a series of well-structured paragraphs before presenting a conclusion that is reasonable based on the preceding ideas.

With the exception of quotations and paraphrases from the exhibit, the e-mail is written in the candidate's own words and effectively uses words and idiomatic language appropriate for an e-mail to a friend. Although the message is informal, there is evidence of a range of vocabulary (e.g., different words for "tour": "Tour," "Führung," "Rundgang," "Busfahrt") and precise usage ("Baustil," "einheimisch," "stattfinden," "Sehenswürdigkeiten," "sogenannt"), as well as idiomatic language that shows knowledge of words and phrases unique to German ("Lust haben," "zu Fuß gehen," "halten von," "bei [etwas] richtig sein"). Narrative time frames, sentence structures, cohesive devices, and mechanics are appropriate and effective. The response uses present ("ich finde es wichtig . . .") and past tenses ("habe . . . gefunden"), as well as imperative ("Stell dir vor . . ."), interrogative (". . . sind wir nicht . . . Touristinnen?"), and subjunctive constructions ("Wir könnten . . . Insider-Tipps bekommen"). Ability to execute simple and complex sentences with appropriate word order is demonstrated. Cohesive devices such as pronouns (". . .mit den Rundgängen in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg . . ./ sie finden . . . statt," "die Siemensstadt, die etwas mit Architektur zu tun hat"), sequencing words ("danach"), and comparative words/phrases (". . . während man in Kreuzberg . . ."; "Da ist der Kreuzberg Rundgang schon lebendiger") are employed successfully.

Minor errors within the response do not interfere with comprehensibility. Examples of such errors include: "schwärmen" as reflexive verb; awkward usage/translated English in the sentence "Beide Alternativen haben Geschichte, Kunst und Architektur"; incorrect dative plural in "zwei von den zwölf Berliner Viertels"; singular instead of plural construction in "das gesparte 60 Euro"; a three-word phrase written as a single word ("aufjedenfall"); and "Stück" coded as masculine instead of neuter.

Performance Characteristics for Presentational Writing Assignment

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the Presentational Writing assignment.

Purpose	the extent to which the response fulfills the tasks outlined in the assignment, demonstrates engagement with the exhibit, and uses writing conventions appropriate for the specified context and audience
Support	the extent to which the response is elaborated with explanations and comparisons that are supported with relevant details from the exhibit and the candidate's own ideas
Organization	the extent to which the response communicates a logically sequenced and coherent written message
Vocabulary	the extent to which the response uses words and idiomatic language appropriate for the specified context and audience
Grammar	the extent to which the response uses appropriate narrative time frames, sentence structures, cohesive devices, and mechanics (spelling, punctuation, and if applicable, capitalization and diacritical marks)

Score Scale for Presentational Writing Assignment

A score will be assigned to the response to the Presentational Writing assignment according to the following score scale.

Score Point	Score Point Description
4	The "4" response demonstrates effective presentational writing skills. The response thoroughly fulfills the tasks outlined in the assignment, demonstrates strong engagement with the exhibit, and uses writing conventions appropriate for the specified context and audience. The response is effectively elaborated with explanations and comparisons that are fully supported with relevant details from the exhibit and the candidate's own ideas. The response effectively communicates a logically sequenced and coherent written message. Minor errors in connecting ideas do not interfere with comprehensibility. The response effectively uses a range of words and idiomatic language appropriate for the specified context and audience. Minor errors do not interfere with comprehensibility. The response effectively uses a range of appropriate narrative time frames, sentence structures, cohesive devices, and mechanics. Minor errors do not interfere with comprehensibility.
3	The "3" response demonstrates generally effective presentational writing skills. The response largely fulfills the tasks outlined in the assignment, demonstrates general engagement with the exhibit, and uses writing conventions generally appropriate for the specified context and audience. The response is generally elaborated with explanations and comparisons that are largely supported with relevant details from the exhibit and the candidate's own ideas. The response communicates a largely effective, sequenced, coherent written message. Some errors in connecting ideas interfere with comprehensibility. The response uses words and idiomatic language largely appropriate for the specified context and audience. Some errors interfere with comprehensibility. The response uses largely appropriate narrative time frames, sentence structures, cohesive devices, and mechanics. Some errors interfere with comprehensibility.
2	The "2" response demonstrates partially effective presentational writing skills. The response partially fulfills the tasks outlined in the assignment, demonstrates limited engagement with the exhibit, and uses writing conventions that are partially appropriate for the specified context and audience. The response is partially elaborated. Explanations and/or comparisons are partially supported, with few relevant details from the exhibit and/or the candidate's own ideas. The response communicates a written message that is partially effective and/or partially coherent. Frequent errors in connecting ideas interfere with comprehensibility. The response uses basic words and idiomatic language that are partially appropriate for the specified context and audience. Frequent errors interfere with comprehensibility. The response uses basic and/or partially appropriate narrative time frames, sentence structures, cohesive devices, and mechanics. Frequent errors interfere with comprehensibility.
1	The "1" response demonstrates ineffective presentational writing skills. The response does not fulfill the tasks outlined in the assignment, demonstrates little or no engagement with the exhibit, and uses writing conventions that are inappropriate for the specified context and audience. The response is ineffectively elaborated, with few or no explanations or comparisons and few or no details from the exhibit or the candidate's own ideas. Any support present may be irrelevant. The response communicates an ineffective, incoherent written message. Constant errors in connecting ideas significantly interfere with comprehensibility. The response uses few or no words and little or no idiomatic language appropriate for the specified context and audience. Constant errors significantly interfere with comprehensibility. The response uses few or no appropriate narrative time frames, sentence structures, cohesive devices, or mechanics. Constant errors significantly interfere with comprehensibility.
U	The response is unscorable because it 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.

Acknowledgements:

pavalena. Illustration - map of Germany. Credit Line: pavalena. Shutterstock. Copyright Notice: © pavalena.

Wilson, Rob. A Green Passenger Van Isolated on White. Credit Line: Rob Wilson. Shutterstock. Copyright Notice: © Rob Wilson.

ullstein bild. Berlin Kaufhaus Wertheim. Collection: ullstein bild. Credit: ullstein bild / Contributor. Getty Images.

123rf.com. One young man caucasian walking side view looking up in studio white background. Credit Line: 123rf.com. Copyright Notice: © 123rf.com.

harding, david. berlin wall remnants. Credit Line: david harding. Shutterstock. Copyright Notice: © david harding.

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