Study Guide

Field 259: World Language: Russian 
Presentational Writing

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

Review the IMEI M E instructions for Russian  . The IMEI M E instruction document will be available to you during the actual test.

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.

For this assignment, you will type your response in the target language using Input Method Editor (IMEI M E) technology. You may access specific instructions for IMEI M E use by selecting the button above the response box. Note that because the default input language is set as English, you will need to select the target language before you begin typing by clicking on the arrow in the language selection box at the top left corner of the screen. Please note that all punctuation should be entered while the target language is the selected input language.

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 Minsk. You are planning to visit a national park in the region, with the goal of learning about local cultures. You want to invite a Russian-speaking friend to join you. Drawing on the activity options advertised in the provided exhibit and your knowledge of Russian writing conventions, write an e-mail in Russian to your friend in which you:

• explain how you made the decision to visit a national park and invite your friend to join you;
• compare the two activity 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

with text and images. A summer landscape with lake and clouds in Belarus; An osprey catching a fish; Happy smiling twin boys kayaking; and An indoor swimming pool in a luxury home with wood beamed ceiling.

Национальный парк
«Нарочанский»
Республика Беларусь

Нарочанский край – известный курортный регион Беларуси c прекрасными пейзажами, чистыми озёрами и реками, а также лечебными минеральными источниками.

Расположенный в 160 км к северо-западу от Минска парк привлекает гостей со всего мира.

Дикая природа

Флора и фауна Национального парка богата и разнообразна.

В парке вас ждёт:

• 43 озера, сотни видов растений и животных, включая редкие виды, занесённые в Красную книгу
• Музей леса, который знакомит посетителей с жизнью деревьев
• 16 гостевых коттеджей

Чем заняться:

Пешие походы, велотуризм, водные прогулки, рыбалка, подводная рыбалка, дайвинг и вертолётные экскурсии (летом)

Лечение в санатории

Нарочанский парк – самый известный беларуский курорт. Здесь ежегодно отдыхают и лечатся более 100 тысяч человек. На территории парка функционируют 11 санаториев и лечебниц.

Санатории:

• Лечение минеральной водой, а также грязелечение, массаж, целебный воздух хвойных лесов, органическая еда, спа-процедуры и многое другое
• Опытный высококвалифицированный персонал

К вашим услугам:

Бассейны, сауны, косметический салон, солярий, кинотеатр, дискотека, библиотека, рестораны, бильярд, настольный теннис, прачечная, спортивная площадка

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 go to the park ("Здесь также замечательная природа. Недавно мой друг Саша рассказал мне о Национальном парке «Нарочанский» и теперь я очень хочу поехать туда."), and features an invitation to his friend, Dasha, to join him ("Ты хочешь поехать со мной?"). It compares the two options of enjoying the nature and medical treatment at the sanatorium throughout and describes at least one advantage and disadvantage of each (e.g., the nature is perfect for hiking, but Dasha has a bad back; Dasha could receive treatment for her back, but the doctors might not be very experienced). It also offers one option, fishing, that would allow for learning about the local traditions and culture ("…рыбалка – это хороший способ познакомиться с местные жители, узнать больше о их жизни и культуре").

The response uses writing conventions appropriate for the context of writing an e-mail to a friend (e.g., using appropriate greeting: "Дорогая Даша! Как ты? Где ты сейчас?" and the "ты" form). 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 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 his 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.

The email is written in the candidate's own words and effectively uses words and idiomatic language appropriate for an email to a friend. Although the message is informal, there is evidence of a range of vocabulary appropriate for the context (e.g., "Там очень много уникальных животных и растений – ты знаешь, как я люблю природу"), as well as idiomatic language that shows knowledge of words and phrases unique to Russian ("По-моему, лечение в санатории, массажи и чистый воздух пойдут тебе на пользу.; "Обычно рыбалка занимает весь день и люди сближаются и деляться мыслями о жизни."; "я закажу для нас домик"). Narrative time frames, sentence structures, cohesive devices, and mechanics are appropriate and effective. The response uses present, past, and future tenses, as well as imperative ("Напиши мне…") and conditional ("Если бы ты приехала, я был бы очень рад.") constructions. Ability to execute simple and complex sentences with appropriate word order is demonstrated. Cohesive devices ("Хотя"; "По-моему,"; "Кроме этого,"; "Правда,"; "К тому же,") are employed successfully.

Minor errors within the response do not interfere with comprehensibility. Examples of such errors include case errors ("с многие прекрасные люди" instead of "с многими прекрасными людьми", "с местные жители" instead of "с местными жителями"), verb government and missing prepositions ("я скучаю походы" instead of "я скучаю по походам"), verb conjugation errors ("проведу на свежем воздухе" instead of "провожу на свежем воздухе"), and wrong choice of words ("ловить её это всегда большой азарт" instead of "ловить её всегда увлекательно").

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:

brickrena. Summer landscape with lake and clouds, Belarus. Credit Line: brickrena. Shutterstock. Copyright Notice: © brickrena.

Hudgins, Lorraine. Osprey catching fish from James River, Virginia, USA. Credit Line: LorraineHudgins. Shutterstock. Copyright Notice: © LorraineHudgins.

CroMary. Active, happy twin boys kayaking, smiling, portrait. Credit Line: CroMary. Shutterstock. Copyright Notice: © CroMary

123rf.com. Swimming pool in luxury home with wood ceiling beams. Credit Line: lmphot. 123rf.com. Copyright Notice: © lmphot

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