WRITING PROMPT
Write a letter to the host family you are about to go stay with in Cuernavaca, Mexico. They will
want to know a lot about you since you will be spending the month of January living with them. The
more they know about you, the easier your transition to life with them will be. You will want to
mention many of the following things: introduce yourself, tell them about your interests, where
you’re from (describe your city, the weather, etc.), your family/friends and what you’d like to do
while you’re in Mexico. Make sure to ask them a question, or two, as well. (24 puntos)
RÚBRICA para ESCRIBIR
Exceeds Expectations
Meets Expectations
6 puntos
5 puntos
Does Not Meet
Expectations
4-0 puntos
Comprehensibili
ty
A native speaker would
A sympathetic native
Several parts would be
understand this letter.
speaker would
difficult for a
understand this letter.
sympathetic native
speaker to understand.
Intercultural
Communicative
Competency
Demonstrated knowledge
Attempted to make
Did not attempt to
of the host culture by
cultural connections
make any cultural
making several cultural
between both cultures.
connections.
Demonstrated a strong
Used a good range of
Vocabulary use was
grasp of a large range of
vocabulary to
barely enough to
vocabulary.
communicate ideas but
communicate the
would have been even
message.
connections between both
cultures.
Range of
Vocabulary
clearer with more
vocabulary.
Risk-Taking
Took risks in using
Took risks in using a
Played it very safe.
grammatical forms and/or
range of vocabulary and
Used the very basics to
vocabulary that may not
grammatical forms.
communicate message.
have been focused on in
class.
Pablo Muirhead
muirheap@matc.edu
Writing Prompt - Letter to exchange student
Imagínate que un estudiante mexicano vendrá a vivir en Milwaukee para estudiar en MATC por un
semestre. ¿Qué debe saber para prepararse para su experiencia? ¿Qué le recomiendas hacer para
que esté listo para su experiencia? Escríbele un correo electrónico presentándote y explicándole
todo lo que debe saber.
RÚBRICA para ESCRIBIR
Exceeds Expectations
Meets Expectations
10-9 puntos
8-7 puntos
Does Not Meet
Expectations
6-0 puntos
Comprehensibility
A native speaker would
A sympathetic native
Several parts would be
understand this letter.
speaker would
difficult for a
understand this letter.
sympathetic native
speaker to understand.
Intercultural
Communicative
Competency
Demonstrated strong cross-
Attempted to make
Did not attempt to
cultural awareness by
cultural connections
make any cultural
between both cultures.
connections.
Demonstrated a strong
Used a good range of
Vocabulary use was
grasp of a large range of
vocabulary to
barely enough to
communicate ideas but
communicate the
would have been even
message. Only wrote
clearer with more
about a couple of the
vocabulary. Wrote
themes.
making several cultural
connections between both
cultures.
Range
vocabulary and wrote about
all of the themes listed.
about most of the
themes.
Risk-Taking
Took risks in using
Took risks in using a
grammatical forms and/or
range of vocabulary and Used the very basics to
vocabulary that may not
have been focused on in
grammatical forms.
Played it very safe.
communicate message.
class.
Pablo Muirhead
muirheap@matc.edu
Writing Prompt
EL CORREO ELECTRÓNICO DE MARIA (de la película María llena de gracia)
Take on the role of María and write an email home to your mother and sister in Colombia. Remember
that you are having cultural experiences with which they are unfamiliar. In your email, make sure to
help them understand by comparing and contrasting both your U.S. and your Colombian experiences.
Include the following information:
o
o
o
o
o
o
What the weather in December is like (compare and contrast),
What the people are like (compare and contrast),
What the food is like (compare and contrast),
What work is like (compare and contrast),
If you think they should come live with you in the U.S. or not,
What your hopes are for your immediate future (Espero que…).
Exceeds Expectations
Meets Expectations
10-9puntos
8-7puntos
Does Not Meet
Expectations
6-0 puntos
Comprehensibility A native speaker would understand
this letter.
A sympathetic native speaker
Several parts would be
would understand this letter.
difficult for a sympathetic
native speaker to understand.
Range
Demonstrated a strong grasp of a
Used a good range of
Vocabulary use was barely
large range of vocabulary and
vocabulary to communicate
enough to communicate the
wrote about all of the themes
ideas but would have been even
message. Only wrote about a
listed.
clearer with more vocabulary.
couple of the themes.
Wrote about most of the
themes.
Risk-Taking
Intercultural
Communicative
Competency
Pablo Muirhead
Took risks in using grammatical
Took risks in using a range of
Played it very safe. Used the
forms and/or vocabulary that may
vocabulary and grammatical
very basics to communicate
not have been focused on in class.
forms.
message.
Demonstrated strong cross-
Attempted to make cultural
Did not attempt to make any
cultural awareness by making
connections between both
cultural connections.
several cultural connections
cultures.
between both cultures.
muirheap@matc.edu