Auténtico 1 Unit 7 Writing Assessment Study Notes

Overview of the Auténtico 1 Unit 7 Writing Assessment

The Unit 7 Writing Assessment for the Auténtico 1 curriculum focuses on the ability of the student to describe activities and events that occurred in the past using the preterite tense. The assessment requires the student to answer eight distinct questions about their personal history, social life, chores, and preferences. For most responses, the student should utilize the "yo" (I) form of the verb. There is a strong recommendation to use regular −ar-ar verbs where possible to ensure grammatical accuracy, although certain irregular verbs and specific temporal expressions are also required.

Describing Family and Social Activities in the Preterite

A significant portion of the assessment involves describing social interactions with family and friends. To answer the question "¿Qué hiciste con tu familia el fin de semana pasado?" (What did you do with your family last weekend?), the student must provide at least two activities. The primary grammatical focus is using the preterite "yo" form. An example provided is "Yo pasé tiempo con mi familia y hablé con mi hermano," which translates to "I spent time with my family and talked with my brother."

Similarly, when asked "¿Qué actividades hiciste con tus amigos la semana pasada?" (What activities did you do with your friends last week?), the student must again provide two activities using the preterite "yo" form. The transcript encourages sticking to −ar-ar verbs. A provided example of a complete response is "Yo jugué videojuegos y monté en bicicleta con mis amigos," meaning "I played video games and rode a bike with my friends."

Purchasing Gifts and Temporal Expressions

The assessment includes a section on shopping and time management, specifically regarding the purchase of gifts. The prompt asks "¿Qué regalo compraste recientemente? ¿Cuándo y dónde lo compraste?" (What gift did you buy recently? When and where did you buy it?). An example response is "Hace una semana compré una camiseta en la tienda de ropa," which means "A week ago I bought a t-shirt in the clothing store."

To answer the "when" portion of this question accurately, students should be familiar with several key temporal expressions:

  1. El mes pasado: This expression translates to "last month."
  2. Este mes: This expression translates to "this month."
  3. Hace un mes: This expression translates to "a month ago."

Athletic Activities and Seasonal Variations

Students are required to distinguish between sports played in different seasons using the preterite forms of "practicar" (to practice) or "jugar" (to play).

For winter sports, the prompt asks "¿Qué deportes practicaste/jugaste en el invierno?" (What sports did you practice/play in the winter?). The student is required to list two sports. A sample response is "Practiqué el básquetbol y el vóleibol" (I practiced basketball and volleyball).

For summer sports, the prompt is "¿Qué deportes practicaste/jugaste en el verano?" (What sports did you practice/play in the summer?). Students must give two sports in their answer. An example given is "Juégué al béisbol y nadé," which means "I played baseball and swam."

Household Chores and Irregular Preterite Verbs

The assessment requires students to list chores performed to assist at home with the question "¿Qué quehaceres hiciste para ayudar en casa?" (What chores did you do to help at home?). A sufficient answer must include two chores. Simple examples of regular chores include "Lavé los platos" (I washed the dishes), "quité el polvo" (I dusted), and "saqué la basura" (I took out the trash).

Notably, the transcript highlights two specific chores that utilize irregular verbs in the preterite tense:

  1. Hice la cama: This translates to "I made the bed," using the irregular preterite of "hacer."
  2. Puse la mesa: This translates to "I set the table," using the irregular preterite of "poner."

Daily Attire and Academic History

The final sections of the assessment cover personal clothing and academic study habits from the previous year. To answer "¿Qué ropa llevaste ayer?" (What clothes did you wear yesterday?), the student must list two articles of clothing. The example provided is "Llevé pantalones cortos y una camiseta" (I wore shorts and a t-shirt).

Regarding academics, the prompt asks "¿Para qué clases estudiaste mucho el año pasado?" (For which classes did you study a lot last year?). The student should respond with the phrase "Estudié mucho para…" followed by two specific subjects. An example provided is "Estudié mucho para las clases de historia y música," which means "I studied a lot for history and music classes."