BUSEL WRITING BOOKLET FOR STUDENTS

BUSEL WRITING BOOKLET FOR STUDENTS (ELEMENTARY) 2015-2016 ACADEMIC YEAR 1 P a g e

APPROACH TO WRITING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL By the end of the Elementary level, the students are expected to: use correct grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation. write isolated and connected sentences about their everyday needs in order to develop the language. organize their ideas logically, in a basic way and connect their ideas by using basic linkers. develop the basic language to be able to start writing longer simple texts and dialogues. ELEMENTARY LEVEL (ELM) END OF LEVEL 'CAN-DO' STATEMENTS By the end of the Elementary level, students can: make simple, connected sentences and produce texts of around 80 words. order their ideas in a logical way. write about everyday topics (eg. family, daily routine, hobbies, etc.). use connectors and linkers correctly (such as and, but, because, then, next, so). use correct spelling, punctuation and. use a range of level grammar and vocabulary correctly. 2 P a g e

ELEMENTARY LEVEL STUDENT WRITING SAMPLES The following student samples (Samples A, B and C) show good writing at the end of the Elementary level and show that there are different ways of doing this. You can find strengths (good points) and weaknesses (bad points) for all of the samples. The samples are strong and/or weak in different areas (grammar, vocabulary, organization, content and mechanics). The first three samples (Sample A, B and C) show that those students are ready for the Pre-Intermediate level. Sample D is enough ( adequate in the criteria) to get to the Pre-Intermediate level but the student will have to work hard to make their writing better. Samples E and F are failing samples (especially Sample F) and those students need to work harder to pass the Elementary level. Writing prompts: 1. Write about your first day at Bilkent University. What did you do? Who did you meet? How did you feel? (Samples A, C, D, E, F) 2. Write about your high school. Write about your: high school friends / teachers lessons free time activities at high school (Sample B) 3 P a g e

SAMPLE A = 'GOOD PASS' Firstly, I got up very early, because I very excited then I had breakfast at 7:00 o clock. I left home at 7:15. I went to school by bus. I started classes at 9:00 o clock. I met new teachers and I met new friends. I loved them. My friends were very funny. Then I met two friends. My friends s name are Gizem and Begüm. We had lunch at Bilkent University s restaurant. Then we ate chocolate cake because we loved it. We went to Real by car. We bought something then we came to school. We were tired and we had a good time. I were very happy because I loved my school and I loved my friends SAMPLE A * correct sentence structure/word order * mostly accurate use of Past Simple * correct use of irregular verbs in Past Simple * accurate use of collocations (e.g. get up early, have breakfast, leave home, have a good time...etc.) * a good range of level vocabulary (e.g. buy something, be tired, meet someone, start classes, funny, eat chocolate cake...etc.) * linked sentences rather than isolated ones creating a sort of a flow * mostly correct use of linkers such as and, because, then * correct use of prepositions * accurate use of subject and object pronouns (e.g. I loved them...we had lunch...) * relevant content * good expansion within the word limit *make simple, connected sentences and produce texts of about 80 words *order their ideas in a logical way *write about everyday topics (eg. family, daily routine, hobbies, etc.) *use connectors/linkers correctly (such as and, but, because, then, next, so) *can use a range of level grammar and vocabulary correctly * inaccurate use of possessive s with plural nouns (e.g. My friends s name are...) * singularity & plurality mistake (e.g. My friends s name are...) * subject-verb agreement mistake (e.g. I were very happy) * punctuation mistakes at times (e.g. the use of a comma before because and the missing period at the end of the last sentence) * missing verb to be (e.g. I very excited) * inappropriate use of and at times (e.g. We were tired and we had a good time.) 4 P a g e

SAMPLE B = 'GOOD PASS' Hello! My name is Didem. I am a student at Bilkent University now and I was a student at Etimesgut Anatolian High School. The high school isn t very big but it is crowded so my classroom was crowded. I love my high school friends and teachers. My old classmates and I are going to visit our teachers. I had got 12 lessons and my favourite lesson was Maths. I listened to music, played basketball in my free time at high school. I miss my old classmates. SAMPLE B * adequate response to the task; information all relevant to the topic and all related to the task * simple, but effective sense of introduction and conclusion to the task *extensive use of long sentences for the ELM level *correct sentence structure/word order *nice attempt to compare current and past conditions, with the appropriate use of simple and past tenses *mainly correct use of tenses *vocabulary is all related to the theme *make simple, connected sentences and produce texts of about 80 words *order their ideas in a logical way *write about everyday topics (eg. family, daily routine, hobbies, etc.) *use connectors/linkers correctly (such as and, but, because, then, next, so) *can use a range of level grammar and vocabulary correctly *limited use of linkers and some inaccuracy of use (' The high school isn t very big but it is crowded...') *response is short (85 words) *some inaccuracy in past tense use (' I had got 12 lessons...') *limitation and repetition in range and use of vocabulary ('student', 'teachers', 'crowded') 5 P a g e

SAMPLE C = 'GOOD PASS' Firstly, I was very excited. I met new friends and I met new teachers. The teachers were friendly and optimistic. I had lunch at Mozart Cafe. The food was delicous. I got classroom and I met new person. Her name was Candan. She was nineteen years old. She was friendly. She was honest because she was talkative. I finished class at 16.20 than Candan and I went shopping and I bought a pair of shoes. Candan bought a dress. Then, we went to the cinema. The film was wonderful. I left home and I ate out with my family. I had great time. Bilkent University is the most beautiful universities off all because there are new buildings and there is a big garden. SAMPLE C * correct sentence structure/word order * mostly accurate use of Past Simple * correct use of irregular verbs in Past Simple *Subject verb agreement * accurate use of collocations (e.g. had lunch at Mozart Cafe, nineteen years old, finished class at 16.20, went shopping, bought a pair of shoes, went to the cinema, left home, ate out with my family...etc.) * a good range of level vocabulary (e.g. buy something, be excited, meet someone, friendly, optimistic, honest, talkative, delicious...etc.) * linked sentences rather than isolated ones creating a sort of a flow * mostly correct use of linkers such as and, because, then * correct use of prepositions * accurate use of articles most of the time (e.g. the film...the most beautiful...a big garden) * relevant content * good expansion within the word limit *make simple, connected sentences and produce texts of about 80 words *order their ideas in a logical way *write about everyday topics (eg. family, daily routine, hobbies, etc.) *use connectors/linkers correctly (such as and, but, because, then, next, so) *can use a range of level grammar and vocabulary correctly * a few missing articles (e.g. met new person, had great time.) * singularity & plurality mistake (the most beautiful universities.) *misspelling of of (most beautiful off all) * inappropriate use of because at times (e.g. She was honest because she was talkative.) *Inappropriate use of got (got the classroom) *Some transitions not clear (The film was wonderful... I left home) *Misspelling of then (than) 6 P a g e

SAMPLE D = 'ADEQUATE/BORDERLINE PASS' I got up very early because it was first day. I had breakfast with my family then I went to school. I was happy. I met Elif in a cafe. Elif is outgoing people because she is very friendly. We ate lunch. We had a good time. We finished work at about 4:20. then we played piano in our school. It was very crowded day. We did sport because Bilkent is the biggest of all. We had dinner in Bilkent Centre. I leaved home at about 8:00. It was beautiful day but I feeled very tired. I drank green tea with my family and watched TV then I went to bed. SAMPLE D * correct sentence structure/word order * mostly accurate use of Past Simple and Present Simple *Subject verb agreement * accurate use of collocations (e.g. got up very early, had breakfast with my family, had a good time, had dinner, played piano, leave home, do sport...etc.) * a fair range of level vocabulary (e.g. outgoing, friendly,...etc.) * linked sentences rather than isolated ones creating a sort of a flow and narrative * mostly correct use of linkers such as and, but, then * correct use of prepositions * accurate use of articles some of the time (e.g. a cafe...a good time...the biggest of all) *No spelling mistakes (apart from irregular verbs) * relevant content * good expansion within the word limit *make simple, connected sentences and produce texts of about 80 words *order their ideas in a logical way *write about everyday topics (eg. family, daily routine, hobbies, etc.) *use connectors/linkers correctly (such as and, but, because, then, next, so) *can use a range of level grammar and vocabulary correctly * missing articles (e.g. it was first day, Elif is outgoing people, it was very crowded day, it was beautiful day.) *some incorrect use of irregular verbs in Past Simple (leaved, feeled) *some inappropriate word choice (eg. work, crowded) * singularity & plurality mistake (people.) * inappropriate use of because at times (e.g. Elif is outgoing people because she is very friendly and would be more appropriate.) *Some content not clear (It was a crowded day... We did sport because Bilkent is the biggest of all) *Run-on sentence (I drank green tea with my family and watched TV then I went to bed) 7 P a g e

SAMPLE E = FAIL I feel exciting when I came Bilkent University. First day I met new friends. I love them. I met new teachers. There were three teachers. They were sucsessfull. My new friends and I ate something together. We had a good time. First day, I went home late because I left school late. I like Bilkent University because I feel learning English. First day, I saw Bilkent Sport Center. It was really good. My new friends and I played tennis after lunch. I am really bad a tennis player. Lessons were boring after lunch. But I love my university. SAMPLE E * correct sentence structure/word order ('My new friends and I played tennis after lunch.') * Correction use of linkers 'because' and 'but' to show logical connection of facts/events *A variety of level vocabulary ('together', 'really good', 'boring') *Mainly accurate use of simple past, including use of simple past in irregular form *Correct subject-verb agreement * relevant content *write about everyday topics (eg. family, daily routine, hobbies, etc.) *can use a range of level grammar and vocabulary correctly * Some error in tense usage (present continuous instead of simple past) *Some error in article use ('First day I met...', 'I am really bad a tennis player.') *Some prepositions missing ('...when I came Bilkent University.', 'First day, I saw Bilkent Sport Center.') *Some vocabulary error ('They were sucsessfull.', '...I feel learning English.') *Limited use of linkers to connect ideas (no use of 'and', 'or', 'then'/'next') *A large number of short, often unconnected sentences (reflected by the limited use of linkers) *Some confusion in logical organization of events ('...played tennis after lunch' and 'Lessons were boring after lunch') 8 P a g e

SAMPLE F = FAIL I got up early. I went to Bilkent University. I drove a car with my father. My father name is Yakup. I went to Main Campüs with my friend and we ate hamburger and cips drank coke. I met Furkan and Anıl. We are departmant is Computer Information System. Furkan is best friend. I went to visit uncle. Uncle is worked at Bilkent University. We went to East Campüs because it s empty. Weather is very hot to drank water and coke and sprite. SAMPLE F * mostly correct sentence structure/word order * mostly accurate use of Past Simple * correct use of irregular verbs in Past Simple (e.g. went, drove, drank) * some nice level vocabulary (e.g. visit, eat hamburger, drink coke) * correct use of prepositions (e.g. at, to, with) * mostly relevant content *write about everyday topics (eg. family, daily routine, hobbies, etc.) * missing possessive s (e.g. My father name is...) * some spelling mistakes (e.g. Campüs, cips) * inaccurate use of articles or missing articles at times (e.g. I drove a car.../ We went to East Campüs) * problems with possessive adjectives (e.g. We are department is.../ I went to visit uncle) * inaccurate use of verb to be (e.g. Uncle is worked...) * isolated sentences rather than linked ones * limited range of level vocabulary * jumpiness in terms of content (inappropriate sequence of events/ideas) * some language mistakes hindering meaning (e.g. Weather is very hot to drank water and coke and sprite) * The student could have written more about the day (more about what s/he did on that day and how s/he felt) 9 P a g e

BUSEL ELEMENTARY AND PRE-INTERMEDIATE WRITING CRITERIA (Total: 15 points) GRAMMAR Student s written work shows 4 3 2 1 0 good control of grammar and a good range of structures; very few errors related to level objectives adequate control of grammar and an adequate range of structures; few errors related to level objectives limited control of grammar and limited range of structures evident; frequent errors related to level objectives very limited control of grammar and very limited range of structures; errors related to level objectives throughout almost no control of grammar; inadequate sample for scoring VOCABULARY Student s written work shows 4 3 2 1 0 good control of vocabulary and a good range of lexical items; very few errors related to level objectives adequate control of vocabulary and an adequate range of lexical items; few errors related to level objectives limited control of vocabulary and limited range of lexical items evident; frequent errors related to level objectives very limited control of vocabulary and very limited range of lexical items; errors related to level objectives throughout almost no control of vocabulary; inadequate sample for scoring CONTENT Student s written work shows 3 2 1 0 good response to the task; information relevant to the topic and completely related to the task adequate response to the task; information mostly relevant to the topic and mostly related to the task very limited response to the task; information mostly irrelevant to the topic and mostly unrelated to the task an almost irrelevant response to the task; almost no attempt at answering the question ORGANISATION Student s written work shows 2 1 0 good organization; good use of linkers and referencing related to level objectives adequate organization; adequate use of linkers and referencing related to level objectives almost no organization; almost no use of linkers and referencing; inadequate sample for scoring MECHANICS Student s written work shows 2 1 0 good use of spelling and punctuation; few errors related to level objectives adequate use of spelling and punctuation; some errors related to level objectives almost no use of spelling and punctuation; inadequate sample for scoring Ground Rules: Students are assessed according to their own level objectives; do not penalize for language errors that are beyond level objectives. For papers that seem totally or partially irrelevant please consult standardization leader(s) for a decision. Papers well below the word limit are penalized from content as they do not respond to the task fully. Papers far below the word limit could be considered insufficient for scoring. Please consult standardization leader(s) for a decision. 10 P a g e