Task 6: Persuading (no image)

Instructions: 60 seconds to take notes, and 60 seconds to respond

This task presents a representative situation that may occur in a person’s daily life. Test-takers are required to choose one (1) of two (2) ways to solve a problem and explain their reasons to a friend, an associate, or a family member. Test-takers must defend their choice to the ‘imagined’ other person (a friend, an associate, or a family member), but they have to be careful how they argue (delicately/ be sensitive) because they are disagreeing with another person (i.e., they do not want to make the other person angry). Test-takers can concentrate on speaking about other things to explain but they have to respond directly to the question prompt they choose. There are 60 seconds for both preparation and the spoken response.

Procedure:

Preparation (60 seconds):

Take notes:

1. Choose a side/position to defend.
2. State the purpose of your response first (very important) (topic sentence)
3. Write down 2 or 3 reasons why you cannot participate – being understanding of the other person’s situation (extra information) – use your imagination.

Procedure when speaking (60 seconds):

1. Remember to speak in a paragraph form – topic sentence (purpose), 2 or 3 reasons why (to explain) – use your imagination/ make up plausible excuses.
2. Speak a concluding sentence.

 

Example 1:

Your child’s school has asked you to help with a class field trip. Your friend bought you tickets to a baseball game for that same day. The school will cancel the field trip if there are not enough parents, but your friend will be upset if you cannot go to the baseball game because the tickets were expensive.

Note*: There is no correct answer, a good response is an organized response every time!

Choose ONE of the following options: (you have 60 seconds to respond):

EITHER

1. Talk to the school. Explain why you cannot help with the field trip.

OR

2. Talk to your friend. Explain why you cannot attend the game.

For example:

Hi. This is Mr. Turner. To whom am I speaking? (extra information underlined)

PURPOSE of call: Hi. I am hopeful you have enough parents to help with the field trip today, Marci. I am sorry that I cannot attend, but something suddenly came up.

Reasons/ excuses: An old friend from out of town, asked me to attend a baseball game with him. We have not seen or spoken with each other for 30 years, so this is a very special occasion for us. Now, to make amends, I will offer you my time for the next two field trips, as I know there is another one at the end of the month and again in two months’ time. I can guarantee I will help in whatever you need. Again, I am sorry I cannot participate, but this is a situation that I cannot change as my friend will move to another country and we will probably never see each other again. [use your imagination to make excuses, but make sure your excuses are believable]

Conclusion: I hope you can understand, thank you.

 

Response 1: (defending #1 option) (imagined information underlined)

Hi. This is Mr. Turner. To whom am I speaking?

Hi. I am hopeful you have enough parents to help with the field trip today, Marci. I am sorry that I cannot attend, but something suddenly came up. An old friend from out of town asked me to attend a baseball game with him. We have not seen or spoken with each other for 30 years, so this is a very special occasion for us. Now, to make amends, I will offer you my time for the next two field trips, as I know there is another one at the end of the month and again in two months’ time. I can guarantee I will help with whatever you need. Again, I am sorry I cannot participate, but this is a situation that I cannot change as my friend will move to another country and we will probably never see each other again. I hope you can understand, thank you.

Statistics: 149 minutes spoken in 58 seconds.

 

Marker’s score = 10 or 11

Content/Coherence: The speaker’s response is organized and is coherent, in that it fulfills the question prompt. The response uses a proper paragraph form, and some remorse is presented adequately so the listener (the character of Marci) can understand the speaker’s plea.

 

Vocabulary: The speaker used different verb tenses effectively throughout the response. Present perfect (have not seen); simple present the verb to be (is, am, are); simple past (asked); simple future (will move).

 

*Listenability: This criterion depends upon the speaker’s ability to speak with rhythm, pronunciation, intonation, pauses, interjections, and self-correction. The response is grammatically correct.

 

Task Fulfillment: The speaker’s response is complete because it responds directly to the question prompt and tries to resolve the problem later while giving plausible excuses. The tone varies (from  ‘now to make amends’ to ‘I am sorry’), but it is acceptable due to the difficulty involved with the question prompt.

 

Response 2 (defending #2 option) (imagined information underlined)

Hi Bill, I just wanted to call and tell you I cannot go to the baseball game with you as I have to assist with a field trip at my daughter, Jenny’s, school. Needless to say, I want to go, but the school doesn’t have any help for this trip, so it is my turn to do so. Anyways, you and Rodger both love baseball, perhaps he can go with you as I am sure he will jump at your box seats on the third baseline. Tell you what, I will buy suitable seats for the next home series in a two-weeks, so then we can go together. Again, sorry I have to cancel but I promised the school.

Statistics: 120 words spoken in approximately 53 seconds.

Marker’s score = 9 or 10

Content/Coherence: The speaker gives a coherent response to the question prompt as there is a purpose stated and is presented in an understandable manner – the prompt is tackled in a direct manner with plausible insight.

 

Vocabulary: Some collocations related to baseball make the conversation more believable (third baseline, love baseball (as a sport), home series).

 

*Listenability: This criterion depends upon the speaker’s ability to speak with rhythm, pronunciation, intonation, pauses, interjections, and self-correction. The response is grammatically correct.

 

Task Fulfillment: The tone is believable as the speaker does show some remorse in the form of ‘making up for not being able to go to the baseball game. The response is complete because it answers the question prompt directly, and the speaker attempts to settle or make up for missing the event.

 

Example 2:

A friend who lives in another country is coming to visit for a year. She tells you that she would like to stay at your place to explore your country’s culture and to spend some time with you. Your roommate does not agree and says you will have to move out if she comes.

Choose ONE of the following options:

EITHER

1. Talk to your friend. Explain why she cannot move in for a year.

OR

2. Talk to your roommate. Explain why your friend should be allowed to move in with you for a year.

Response 1: (option 1)

Hi Rachel. I spoke with my roommate about the possibility of you moving in with us, but she said no. In fact, she said that I would have to move out if you moved in! The problem is we have a three-year lease on our apartment while we go to school, so I would have to pay for my rent even if I moved out. I can’t afford to do that, so that is the problem – money. I hope you understand the situation because I would prefer to live with you, but we had already signed this lease 4 months earlier.

I hope you decide to come, anyway. We can hang out together at my apartment even if you do not live here. I will send you an email of some other place to live close by. Hope to see you soon.

Statistics: 141 words spoken in approximately 57 seconds

Marker’s score = 11

Content/Coherence: The content of the speaker’s response is complete as the question prompt is answered directly, and it is organized in the proper form. Coherence is gained by the speaker thoroughly explaining why it is impossible for her to move in due to the expense. Finally, the speaker tries to reconcile with her friend by stating that she would prefer to room with her.

 

Vocabulary: The speaker uses the modal verbs accurately (I would have to move out/ future possibility) and the ‘if clause’ (if I moved out,).

 

*Listenability: This criterion depends upon the speaker’s ability to speak with rhythm, pronunciation, intonation, pauses, interjections, and self-correction. The response is grammatically correct.

 

                   Task Fulfillment: The speaker’s response is complete as it is organized and it offers

a solution even though her friend cannot stay with her. The tone is consistent

throughout and the question prompt is answered directly.

Response 2: (option 2) (Notice how this task needs only a little imagination – just 3 reasons) [grammatical errors]

I have listened to your complaint, Susan, urh but I think my friend should be able to live here for a year. There [is] a lot uhh of benefits if she does, you know. We will [has] uhh someone to share the cleaning of the apartment – and –  if she lives with us here, she will [give] rent which means we will both uhh have more money to spend. Besides, my friend, Zowie, is uhh a quiet type, so there will not be any problems or arguments with her. She uhh will probably get a job as well, so she will not [am] in the apartment all that much. Finally, uhh you will [enjoy] her, so all three of us will get along just fine. These uhh are my reason[] why Zowie should live with us.

Statistics: 127 words spoken in approximately 56 seconds.

 

Marker’s score = 7

Content/Coherence: the response was logical in its approach – spoken like a persuasive paragraph with an opening counter to why the speaker’s friend should not be able to stay, then proceed to give 3 acceptable reasons, and finally, conclude appropriately. Hence, the response was very coherent away from the hesitations and grammar errors.

 

Vocabulary: There are errors in the choice of words – the speaker should use ‘pay’ and not ‘give’; and substitute ‘like’ for ‘enjoy’. Also, the speaker did not pluralize the noun ‘reason’ as ‘reasons’.

 

*Listenability: The speaker does hesitate several times but the response does move forward and is comprehensible to any listener. There are some grammatical errors, but these do not impede the listener’s understanding.

 

      Task Fulfillment: The speaker’s response is complete as the task used the proper

 

paragraph form, which included a concluding/summarizing sentence. The tone

 

wavered a little as there were hesitations, but these were acceptable.