Preparation Manual

Section 5: Sample Presentational Speaking Assignments
TX PACT: American Sign Language (ASL): Early Childhood–Grade 12 (Subtest II) (785)

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

Sample Directions for the Expressive Production Assignments

**YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO READ THE INFORMATION ON THIS SCREEN.**

[At the conclusion of 3 minutes, the screen will automatically advance and the first assignment will begin. You cannot advance until the 3 minutes are up. Monitor your time by referring to the countdown on the right side of your screen.]

This exam consists of two sections. The directions for each section appear immediately before that section.

SECTION ONE: EXPRESSIVE PRODUCTION

The Expressive Production section of the exam consists of four assignments. You must respond to each assignment in American Sign Language. Use of non-ASL signing, including non-ASL grammar, vocabulary, and sign production, may result in an unscorable response.

All parts of the Expressive Production assignments are timed. In this section of the exam, all screens advance automatically and you will not be able to go back to previous screens.

Each Expressive Production assignment will begin with 2 minutes for you to review the assignment and prepare your response. Read all directions carefully and review the assignment during the preparation time provided.

When the preparation time is over, the screen will automatically advance and you will move to the recording area. You may take up to 2 minutes to record your response.

You may monitor your preparation and recording times by referring to the on-screen countdowns. Voice-over announcements will play to alert the test administrator to preparation and recording times.

When your recording time is over, you will automatically be advanced to the next screen.

You may use the erasable notebooklet provided to take notes; however, you will be scored only on the video-recorded responses that are recorded after you are instructed to begin signing. You will have only ONE opportunity to record your response. Once the video recording has begun, it cannot be stopped, nor can you re-record your response.

Your response to each assignment will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Relevance and Appropriateness: The extent to which the response addresses the assignment in a culturally appropriate manner for the intended audience and purpose
• Fluency: The extent to which the response communicates clear and coherent ideas delivered with a steady rate, appropriate pace, and ease of expression
• Grammar and Syntax: The extent to which the response demonstrates accurate and appropriate use of ASL syntax and grammatical forms, including space, classifiers, constructed actions, and non-manual markers
• Vocabulary: The extent to which the response demonstrates a range of ASL vocabulary and appropriate use of idiomatic expressions and multiple meaning signs
• Sign Production: The clarity and accurate formation of signs, including use of non-manual markers

[Each assignment includes several suggestions to help direct your response. It is not necessary that you address every point in the list, nor are you limited to the points provided. However, what you sign must be relevant to the situation that is presented to you.]

Domain II—Expressive Production 

Competency 005—In response to an assignment, communicate an effective message in American Sign Language, using vocabulary, linguistic structures, and pragmatics appropriate for the given audience and purpose.

Sample Expressive Production Assignment I

[The examinee will see on left side of screen the following directions:]

Assignment 1

You will have 2 minutes to study this assignment and prepare your response. Then the screen will automatically advance and your response will be recorded.

You may take up to 2 minutes to complete your response.

Begin reviewing the assignment and preparing your response now.

Description of a Strong Response to Assignment I

A strong response to this expressive production constructed-response assignment would address the assigned topic in American Sign Language and develop the topic by elaboration of specific points. The response would be delivered in a consistently clear manner. The signer would sign fluently, using a variety of sentences and linguistic structures, including appropriate idiomatic expressions. The signer's vocabulary would show mastery of a broad range of signs and usages. The signer would handle simple and complex linguistic constructions, avoiding errors that interfere with communication and avoiding influence from forms of manually coded English. The signer would exhibit good to excellent articulation and control of aspect.

A response to Assignment I could include, but is not limited to, the following topics:

• factors to consider in whether to move closer to work or school or to commute a long distance. These factors could include the cost of living in each area; the cost of gas, insurance, and car maintenance; the time it takes to commute; and the frequency of travel.
• advantages and disadvantages of moving versus commuting a long distance. These advantages and disadvantages could include saving money on gasoline if one moves closer to work or school; saving the expense and inconvenience of moving by staying where one is; the environmental impact of driving; or the distance to family and friends.

Sample Expressive Production Assignment II

[The examinee will see on left side of screen the following directions:]

Assignment 2

You will have 2 minutes to study this assignment and prepare your response. Then the screen will automatically advance and your response will be recorded.

You may take up to 2 minutes to complete your response.

Begin reviewing the assignment and preparing your response now.

Description of a Strong Response to Assignment II

A strong response to this expressive production constructed-response assignment would address the assigned topic in American Sign Language and develop the topic by elaboration of specific points. The response would be delivered in a consistently clear manner. The signer would sign fluently, using a variety of sentences and linguistic structures, including appropriate idiomatic expressions. The signer's vocabulary would show mastery of a broad range of signs and usages. The signer would handle simple and complex linguistic constructions, avoiding errors that interfere with communication and avoiding influence from forms of manually coded English. The signer would exhibit good to excellent articulation and control of aspect.

A response to Assignment II could include, but is not limited to, the following topics:

• a description of satisfying aspects of the job. This description could include aspects like the pleasure of seeing students learn and grow; or an experience of having a specific student become more interested in learning ASL.
• a reason why those aspects will be particularly satisfying. These reasons could include the satisfaction of knowing that students are better prepared to participate in the larger world after having learned what you have taught them; or the satisfaction of exposing students to a new language and culture they may not have known very much about.

Performance Characteristics for Expressive Production Assignments

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the Expressive Production assignments:

Relevance and Appropriateness	The extent to which the response addresses the assignment in a culturally appropriate manner for the intended audience and purpose
Fluency	The extent to which the response communicates clear and coherent ideas delivered with a steady rate, appropriate pace, and ease of expression
Syntax and Grammar	The extent to which the response demonstrates accurate and appropriate use of ASL syntax and grammatical forms, including space, classifiers, constructed actions, and non-manual markers
Vocabulary	The extent to which the response demonstrates a range of ASL vocabulary and appropriate use of idiomatic expressions and multiple meaning signs
Sign Production	The clarity and accurate formation of signs, including use of non-manual markers

Score Scale for Expressive Production Assignments

The four points of the scoring scale correspond to varying degrees of performance.

Score Point	Score Point Description
4	The "4" response reflects thorough understanding and strong command of ASL. The response thoroughly addresses the assignment and develops the topic by elaboration of specific points, using effective communication, including sociocultural aspects that are appropriate for the assignment. The response communicates thoroughly clear and coherent ideas, signing with a consistent rate and fluent pacing and little, if any, hesitation. Minor errors do not interfere with comprehensibility. The response demonstrates thoroughly accurate and appropriate use of ASL syntax and grammatical constructions, including space, classifiers, constructed actions, and non-manual markers. Errors do not interfere with comprehensibility. The response demonstrates broad command and wide range of accurate, precise ASL vocabulary and thoroughly appropriate use of idiomatic expressions and multiple meaning signs. The response demonstrates thoroughly effective sign production. Errors in the production of signs and non-manual markers do not interfere significantly with comprehensibility.
3	The "3" response reflects a general understanding and satisfactory command of ASL. The response generally addresses the assignment and develops the topic using some elaboration of specific points, generally using effective communication, including sociocultural aspects that are satisfactory for the assignment. The response communicates generally clear and coherent ideas, signing with satisfactory pacing but some hesitation. Some errors may slightly interfere with comprehensibility. The response demonstrates generally appropriate use of ASL syntax and grammatical constructions, including space, classifiers, constructed actions, and non-manual markers. Errors may slightly interfere with comprehensibility. The response demonstrates a general command and satisfactory range of accurate ASL vocabulary, and generally appropriate use of idiomatic expressions and multiple meaning signs. The response demonstrates generally effective sign production. Errors in the production of signs and non-manual markers may slightly interfere with comprehensibility.
2	The "2" response reflects a partial understanding and limited command of ASL. The response partially addresses the assignment and develops the topic with limited elaboration of specific points, using partially effective communication, including sociocultural aspects that are partially appropriate for the assignment. The response communicates partially clear ideas, signing with frequently inappropriate rate and pacing, and inappropriate hesitation, making some of the message difficult to understand. Frequent errors interfere with comprehensibility. The response demonstrates partially appropriate use of ASL syntax and grammatical constructions, including space, classifiers, constructed actions, and non-manual markers. Errors often interfere with comprehensibility. The response demonstrates a partial command and limited range of ASL vocabulary, and partially appropriate use of idiomatic expressions and multiple meaning signs. The response demonstrates partially effective sign production. Errors in the production of signs and non-manual markers often interfere with comprehensibility.
1	The "1" response reflects minimal or no understanding or command of ASL. The response minimally addresses the assignment, with little or no elaboration of specific points, using ineffective communication, including sociocultural aspects that are consistently inappropriate for this assignment. The response is ineffective in communicating ideas. It is difficult to understand, signing with inappropriate rate and pacing, significant hesitation, making the communication fragmented and choppy. Errors interfere significantly with comprehensibility. The response demonstrates minimal or no appropriate use of ASL syntax and grammatical constructions, including space, classifiers, constructed actions, and non-manual markers. Errors interfere significantly with comprehensibility. The response demonstrates minimal or no command or range of ASL vocabulary, and inappropriate use of idiomatic expressions and multiple meaning signs. The response demonstrates ineffective sign production. Errors in production of signs and non-manual markers significantly interfere with comprehensibility.
U	The response is just a repetition of the assignment, unrelated to the assignment, incomprehensible, not communicated using ASL, or not of sufficient length to score.
B	There is no response to the assignment.

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