Writing Anchors

 

 

Level One: Clearly Failing

Topic: Describe someone

 

Her neme is Olga.

She is twenty six eyears old.

She has bluo ays.

She has shor year.

She is toll.

She is happy.

She is estudin.

She is werin a white blose.

She is from Seattle.

 

·   Why it’s failing: Lack of spelling accuracy.

 

Level One: Clearly Failing

Topic: Describe someone

 

She is vare vare happy because she is go to work

Araday She make good many

She halpe hor family She is

Thing Good home Hor solfe live

She is good Ghalie

 

·   Why it’s failing: Lack of spelling accuracy, lack of periods, incomprehensible meaning.

 

 

Level One: Clearly Passing

Topic: Describe someone

 

Her name is Rosa.

She is from Korea.

She is married.

She is 30 years old.

She is a doctor.

She has two sons.

She is live in Greenwood.

She is beautiful.

She is long brown hair.

She is happey.

 

·   Why it’s passing: Basically correct sentences with subjects and verbs and basic correct usage of the be-verb. Good spelling.

·   Note: It would be a better sample if this student had showed the ability to use verbs other than the be-verb.

 

Level One: Clearly Passing

Topic: Provide basic information about yourself

 

My name is Ivan. I am from the Russia. I live in Everett. I’m married. My wife’s name Galina. We have children: Two sons and two daughters. They are name Sergey, Anastasia, Irina and Mark. Three children going to scholl everyday. Mark is baby. We have birds and fish in home. My children like it. My wife is working in Everett. I’m working in Seattle, and I’m study English at Shorelline community college.I like it my work and my college because I want speaking.We going to church every Sunday. I like my life and love my family.

 

·   Why it’s passing: Basically correct sentences with subjects and verbs and mostly correct usage of the be-verb. Is sometimes successful in trying other tenses aside from present tense, and also tries compound sentences. Good spelling.

Level Two: Clearly Failing

Topic: Describe your past activities.

 

I cleaning the apartment in the Morning. The afternoon they goes to The market bought the food. In the naight I cooking spaghetti.I saw the movies on the tv. At 11:00pm goes to slept to the bed.On Sunday at 10:00 cloock went to NorgateMall. At 4:00 cloock went to the park magnson park. At 7.00 clookThey went to the Chucke cheesePlayies and eat pizza amusement.

At 9:00 Ocloock I took the showerI go to slept. On Mondaywent to the park and playiesswing walking and running.

 

·   Why it’s failing: Lack of spelling accuracy, low level of verb control in terms of conjugation and tense (especially past tense), lack of subjects in some sentences, lack of phrasing.

 

Level Two: Clearly Failing

Topic: Provide basic past and present information about yourself

 

My from is my country. I came to the U.S.A. June 1990. I lived in ALASKA for 11 years and 6 month. I worked everyday, so I don’t know English. Because I want to study. I live long time, but I anderstand little bet. I live in Shoreline and I like Shoreline Commute College Program. I finished ESL I want get the job. Thank you for teaching.

 

·   Why it’s failing: Lack of vocabulary and expressions, confusion over vocabulary usage, missing words such as articles and prepositions, spelling problems with simple words, sentence fragments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level Two: Clearly Passing

Topic: Write a letter to introduce yourself to your next quarter’s teacher.

 

Dear __________,

I am from Columbia. I studied international cook. I worked for six years in a ship. I knew many countries. I was happy. When I felt tired, I stopped the work. I was with my family for six months ago. I felt bored because in my country the economic was bad. I have 3 brothers and 4 sisters, all they are married. I have three years living here. I live in Greenwood with a friend. I work at Taco Time. I like job because I can come to school in the morning. When I have free time, I like to watch movie. I could understand more English. I want speak English perfect. In my future I will buy a house. I want to have better job and I want to speck perfect English.

 

·   Why it’s passing: Basically correct sentences with subjects and verbs, correct usage of the be-verb. Good control of past tense verbs, time clauses and compound sentences, can shift between tenses. Good spelling.

 

Level Two: Clearly Passing

Topic: Write a letter to introduce yourself to your next quarter’s teacher.

 

Dear___________,

I was born in Russia. After I graduated from University, I moved to Georgia-capital city of Georgia is Tbilisi. I got married there and I began to work. When I was 23 years old, I was an engineer of aerospace. The work had much responsibility. It takes a lot of experience.

I have two children. Ten years ago we lived in Yugoslavia.

In 1998 year we moved from Slovenia to U.S.A. Now we are living in Seattle. My younger son and I like to travel somewhere. Sometimes we are going to the park. Sometimes we are driving to the mountains.

In the future, I think my family and I will move to Florida and next year I am planning to work somewhere. I’m going to look for a job.

 

·   Why it’s passing: Basically correct sentences with subjects and verbs, correct usage of the be-verb. Good control of past tense verbs, time clauses and compound sentences, can shift between tenses. Good vocabulary and spelling.

 

 

Level Three: Clearly Failing

Topic: How has your life changed since you came to the U.S?

 

Since I’m moved to the U.S, I have been so many changes in my life. First, I haven’t very good understand people who are speak English. It’s hard for me. Second, when I lived in my country I have to many friends. Now I  living in The U.S. and I don’t have to many friends, only couple. It’s not good for me, because I love to talk with people about something. In the U.S. people and life so different. Finally, I’m now very happy because I life in the U.S. and my family life with me. Before I lived in the my country buy myself since then 1993 year. I hope someday I will to learn English very well and I will to have many good friends. I want to happy in the U.S.

 

·   Why it’s failing: low level of verb control in terms of form and tense, incorrect vocabulary usage, confusing paragraph organization.

 

Level Three: Clearly Failing

Topic: What are the differences between your life in the U.S. and your life in your   native country?

 

     I have come to U.S. since 2002. In here I can to improve my English level. In  my country I was nothing to speak English, but in here I need speak English everytime. In here I have met many friends. They are from difference country, so we need English talking about. We have often talked

our way of life. So now I can know other country way of life. If I go friends

country to travel. My friends will take careof me and If they go to my country, I will surly take care my friends. I am very like to meet friends and I like to travel. I think if I finish my university, I will go to my friend country to travel.

 

·   Why it’s failing: low level of complex sentence control, incorrect vocabulary usage, verb forms, inconsistent use of infinitive phrases.

 

 

Level Three: Clearly Passing

Topic: How has your life changed since you came to the U.S?

 

     My life has changed a lot since I came to U.S. First of all, I have learned how to take care of myself. I didn’t need to do that in Hong Kong. Everything my parents helped me to do it such as cooking cleaning and washing. Even though I still have to do that, nobody can help me.

And I am not a neat person. I cann’t stand a dirty. I have cleaned everyday.

It becomes my habit. I feel more independent for me. Before I have never thought that I can do it. I can handle it now. I really proud of that. Second, I

don’t like Seattle’s weather at all. The weather is so bad that is always cloudy and raining. I am easily happy and upset person, so the weather is always control my feeling. I felt uncomfortable for beginning. I would rather

like Hong Kong’s weather than Seattle’s weather. After a few months, I have adapted to Seattle’s weather.  I feel more comfortable in here now. Finally a friend is the most important thing in my life. I would like to meet some friend from everywhere. And my friends help me a lot, especially my homework. That’s all. I am still try to adjust to my Seattle life. I have a wonderful time in Seattle. I never forget my life in Seattle.

 

·   Why it’s passing: Basically correct sentences with subjects and verbs, correct usage of the present perfect. Good control of past tense verbs, time clauses and compound sentences, can shift between tenses. Good vocabulary. Good organizations and support. Good spelling.

 

Level Three: Clearly Passing

Topic: What are the characteristics of a good spouse?

 

     There are three main characteristics that a good spouse should have.

First of all, a good spouse should be lovely. Because, nowadays, in the marriage, both of them have to work and they don’t see other unlike 40 years ago. That’s why, the few times they spend together, they have to love each other and don’t waste time fighting. Second,  jealousy. There are a lot of

wifes who make trouble to their husband because a girl called asking for him. In my country, the low level use to have fights and splits because of jealousy, unlike other countries. As a result, couples have to trust each others and communication is very important. Finally a good spouse should like kids because every couple dreams to have babies and the first year the wife have to take care of the babies. In addition, the husband can help when he’s available or not busy. In conclusion, every couple wants the marriage improve the passing the years and nothing is perfect. They have to be patient and to get used to have a new kind of life with a partner. But I think a good spouse should be lovely, not jealous and the most important, she has to love kids.

 

·   Why it’s passing: Good control of verbs, great vocabulary and phrases including transitions, good organization and support, correct adverb clauses, good spelling.

Level Four: Clearly Failing

Topic: How has life changed for women over the last many years?

 

     In this age, It has different from women. In my country, women have thinking freedom so they get new life situations. My mother was born in 1959. So she has had new thinking to make in her life. But my grandmother is more than 60 years old so she didn’t have thinking’s freedom to do her own life. A lot of great events are made by women today in the last 50 years. My grandmonther’s life that has never gotten a lot real nice life when she was young girl. So, women have changed their thinking in the last 60 years.

     I think my grandmother’s life was not changed a lot. In my grandmother’s age they had thinking problems. Many men had higher situation than women 60 years ago. For example, my grandfather had a big control when he took care of family, but my granadmonther didn’t. However, the new age is soon so my grandmonther doesn’t change her thinking. But my monther’s life is difference than grandmonther’s. My mother has more good thinking in her life. She has a story to sale some food and takes some money. So my father didn’t worry about moneys problems. My mother has her own thinking and she can do many things in her real life if she wants to do. In this new age, women has changed a lot than old age. So, those are women’s life differences.

 

·   Why it’s failing: Verb forms, word forms, phrasing/word choice incorrect clause structure difficult to understand in parts, spelling,  

 

Level Four: Clearly Failing

Topic: What did you learn from listening to the fire fighter’s lecture?

 

     Before a week, we were noticed that we will have a talk from a fire fighter. Today the day was come. We were introduced ourselves to the fire fighter. After all, she started to talk about the fire from two days ago. That fire was cause by careless the teapot was put on the shove and wasn’t noticed by anyone. So the teapot was over heat and it started caught on fire.

     When we finished the talk about the accident, a new topic was started. We were talking about the fire safety. She said that the main part to prevent fire is installed the smoke alarms. Now a days most of people were fled from the fire safely is because of the smoke alarms. After all the fire fighter said that, “You don’t have to install a smoke alarm, unpleased you want to.”

 

·   Why it’s failing: Verb forms, word forms, lacks clauses, misuse of infinitives

 

 

 

 

Note: To complete ESL Level Four, students should be able to write multi paragraphs on a single topic which is not directly related to their daily life, family (in other words, it shouldn’t be a topic similar to the concrete topics which they have written on in levels 1-3.) Students should be able to use perfect, simple and continuous tenses, use a variety of adverb clauses and show basically correct vocabulary and phrase usage.
Level Four: Clearly Passing

Topic: Write a letter of introduction to an advisor/employer

 

Dear Ms-----,

 

I’m interested in your university. First, I’d like to introduce myself. I have experienced many different things so far in my life. I worked as nurse in Japan. I had worked in a medical ward, in a hospice and in an outpatient care ward by the time I became a nurse. I met many patients and much death. And I decided that I wanted to study nursing very much.

 

By September 2002, I had come to L.A. to study nursing. Now, while I’m studying English, I’m looking for a university to study nursing. I have done a volunteer since November 2002. I like to take care of patients. But my job is doing library chores. I am OK. I want to do something and meet many people. I think those experiences are valuable things to me.

 

I will have entered university nursing school by next year. And after I graduate from nursing school, I will work as a nurse in L.A. In the future I’d like to teach nursing students in a nursing school. Would you please tell me about your nursing school?

 

Thank you for your attention.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

·   Why it’s passing: Good control of verbs, good vocabulary including transitions, good organization.

 

Level Four: Clearly Passing

 

     Boys and girls are raised differently in my country. First boys are very important in the family, more than girls, because boys are responsible to pass the family’s last name. Also, they can take care of father and mother when they get older. Furthermore, boys have to work and take over the financial affairs. Then when they get married, they have to stay in the family house and their wives should be take care of his parents.

     On the other hand, the girls have to serve the men and do the tasks inside the hours like take are of children, cook and clean. They don’t have to work outside of the house. In addition when they get married, they have to move out of the family and they have to the their husband’s family to do the daughter in laws duties. For example, I have two brothers and my father loves them more than me and my sisters. My sisters had to move out when they got married and they don’t have to take care of my parents. When I was single, I had to serve my brothers and father because my mom dead seven years ago. At that time, my dad treated my brother’s better than me. When I had my own opinion or idea and I wanted to talk to my dad, he didn’t listen to me. Compared to my brothers, my dad always agreed when they talked. As a result, boys and girls are raised differently in my country.

 

Why it’s passing: Good control of verbs, good vocabulary and phrases, and transitions, good organization and cohesion.

Level Five: Clearly failing

Topic: What is the difference between how boys and girls are raised in your country?

 

     I think in my country boys are raised more than girls about everything. In traditional culture of my country the parents always take care of boys more than girls from childhood to adults. For example, my uncle have four boys, and only one girl. My cousin still goes to school everyday, but after come back home, she must do housework during her four brothers didn’t do anything in their house. They have only study hard because after they graduate from university, they must look for a better job to support with their parents when my uncle get older. The parents in my country usually live with their sons. They don’t live with their daughters when they retired. My uncle thinks that girls no much study so my cousin, after finishing high school, didn’t continue to study. She must stay home to cook and do housework. She must learn how to good cook to serve her husband future. My uncle think after she got married, her husband will take care everything for her and she only responsible with her husband and her children, no responsible with her parents.

 

·  Why it’s failing: Verb forms, tenses shifting, incorrect negatives, lack of S-V agreement, word forms, difficult to understand in parts, lacks common transitions.

 

 

Level Five: Clearly Passing

Topic: In your opinion should boys and girls be raised the same? Why or why not?

 

     I think boys and girls should be raised the same because males and females have the same opportunities and abilities in my mind. For example, everyone knows that being a fireman is a hard job but many firemen are women. Or some people think that cooking should be done by women but many famous cooks are males. In addition, boys and girls enjoy the same rights and assume the same obligations in society. For families, although males can keep their family’s name as well as look after their parents, females should look after their parents either because they are her parents. So, boys and girls should have the same responsibilities and be raised the same.