CAAP Common Core: Chinese - Writing

The CAAP Common Core for Chinese remains textbook neutral and serves only as guidance for Chinese teachers in Ohio. Each level subsumes the previous level descriptors.

In Chinese, adding new vocabulary and more complex structures is the logical progression, as opposed to adding new topics and new tenses as in other languages.

  • ASSUMPTIONS: Most writing will be a product of the input from the textbook and/or supplemental materials. Pinyin is recommended as a stepping stone to learning Chinese characters. The students should master the spelling of Pinyin with proper tones. After the mastery of Pinyin, Chinese characters can be written by hand or typed, in traditional or simplified forms.
  • FUNCTIONS: communicating basic information.
  • FORMATS: character workbook, name cards, forms, lists, notes, invitations, short texts on familiar topics.
  • EXERCISES: Hanzi tracing, practicing writing Hanzi, dictations, filling in blanks, completing a form, making a list, creating a basic invitation, writing short texts on familiar topics and Hanzi typing practice.
  • STRATEGIES: applying correct stroke order and proportion, tracing radicals (bushou) and character (Hanzi) association (on paper or digitally), typing with Pinyin input.
  1. I can write about my family (e.g., ages, number of brothers, sisters, relationship, pets, basic occupations, hobbies, etc.).
  2. I can write about people’s nationalities (e.g., I am American; He is from Beijing.).
  3. I can write about my school life in simple terms (e.g., name of the school, grade level, basic information about classes or school, etc.).
  4. I can write about basic food and beverage preferences (e.g., taste, etc.).
  5. I can write about my weekly schedule (e.g., time, date, day of the week, locations, with whom, activities, etc.).
  6. I can write a simple short story.
  • ASSUMPTIONS: Most writing will be a product of the input from the textbook and/or supplemental materials. Pinyin is recommended as a stepping stone to learning Chinese characters. The students should master the spelling of Pinyin with proper tones. After the mastery of Pinyin, Chinese characters can be written by hand or typed, in traditional or simplified forms.
  • FUNCTIONS: communicating basic information on a wider range of topics.
  • FORMATS: character workbook, forms, lists, notes, invitations, short texts on familiar topics.
  • EXERCISES: Hanzi tracing, practicing writing Hanzi, dictations, filling in blanks, answering questions, writing texts with more details on familiar topics.
  • STRATEGIES: applying correct stroke order and proportion, tracing radicals (bushou) and character (Hanzi) association (on paper or digitally), typing with Pinyin input, composing texts by recombining high-frequency vocabulary and structures to provide information.
  1. I can write a diary entry about events of my day (e.g., weather of the day, when I get up, wash my face, brush my teeth, get dressed, go to school or work, when I go to bed, etc.).
  2. I can write a simple thank-you note (e.g., after visiting a family for the weekend, going to dinner at someone's house, receiving a gift, etc.).
  3. I can write a letter or email to a penpal describing my life, hobbies and interests.
  4. I can write about my personal possessions (e.g., price, size, color).
  5. I can summarize the basic idea of selected clips from TV programs or movies and give an opinion (e.g., This clip is about a Chinese student’s daily schedule and life in high school.).
  6. I can write a note giving simple directions to places, including means of transportation, landmarks and relative location (e.g., The book store is next to the restaurant.).
  7. I can write about a dining experience (e.g., eating at a friend’s house or at a restaurant, quality of food and atmosphere).
  8. I can write a simple short story with more details.
  • ASSUMPTIONS: Most writing will be a product of the input from the textbook and/or supplemental materials. Pinyin is recommended as a stepping stone to learning Chinese characters. The students should master the spelling of Pinyin with proper tones. Chinese characters can be written by hand or typed, in traditional or simplified forms.
  • FUNCTIONS: communicating more detailed information on a wider range of topics.
  • FORMATS: forms, lists, notes, short essays, a wider range of texts on familiar topics.
  • EXERCISES: dictations, answering questions, writing texts (stories, diaries, etc.) with more details on familiar topics.
  • STRATEGIES: applying correct stroke order and proportion, tracing radicals (bushou) and character (Hanzi) association (on paper or digitally), typing with Pinyin input, composing texts by recombining high-frequency vocabulary and structures to provide more detailed information.
  1. I can write about where people live (e.g., house or apartment, location, types of rooms, what is in their room, neighborhood, etc.).
  2. I can write about people’s physical features (e.g., tall, short, thin, dark-skinned, long straight hair, big brown eyes, single eyelids, etc.).
  3. I can give descriptions, comparisons and contrasts of media (e.g., television programs, shows, movies, program schedules, etc.).
  4. I can request information and discuss different vacation and travel plans (e.g., activities, prices, reservations, including comparisons and contrasts of various locations and restaurants).
  5. I can write a note about my health and physical well-being (e.g., body parts, symptoms, treatments, etc.).
  6. I can write about weather conditions and forecasts (e.g., different days, seasons, cities and regions).
  7. I can write about school life (e.g., a school schedule, courses, class periods, teachers, school supplies, providing advice for excelling in school, etc.).
  8. I can write about social events (e.g., birthday parties, after-school activities, holiday celebrations, time, attendees, menu, etc.).
  9. I can write about a shopping experience and describe it (e.g., bargaining in the market, asking for discounts, using weights and measures, prices, etc.).
  • ASSUMPTIONS: Some writing will be a product of the input from the textbook and/or supplemental materials while others will be spontaneous. Pinyin is recommended as a stepping stone to learning Chinese characters. The students should master the spelling of Pinyin with proper tones. Chinese characters can be written by hand or typed, in traditional or simplified forms.
  • FUNCTIONS: communicating more detailed information on a wider range of topics.
  • FORMATS: notes, poems, songs, short essays, extended narratives, blogs, a wider range of texts on familiar topics.
  • EXERCISES: dictations, answering questions, writing texts (essays, stories, diaries, etc.) with more details on familiar topics.
  • STRATEGIES: applying correct stroke order and proportion, tracing radicals (bushou) and character (Hanzi) association (on paper or digitally), typing with Pinyin input, composing texts by recombining high-frequency vocabulary and structures, employing cohesive devices, using a wide range of vocabulary and structures in order to provide detailed information and influence others and applying appropriate social register (e.g., Ni/Nin) and formulaic expressions (e.g., Zhu hao. -- Wish you well.)
  1. I can write about the main ideas from selected video clips and provide a short review (e.g., plot and character traits from movies or television shows, some details of current events, etc.).
  2. I can write about the preparation and some features of regional cuisines (e.g. Si Da or Ba Da Cai Xi).
  3. I can fill out a job application, write a simple resume and/or create a brief job posting (e.g. workplace location, salary, requirements, work schedule and experiences, etc.).
  4. I can compose a simple short poem, rewrite the ending of a story and summarize short stories about famous idioms and proverbs (e.g. shou zhu dai tu, san ge he shang mei shui he, etc.).
  5. I can draft a travel itinerary with simple information about some provinces and major cities, regional climates, geographic variations, and famous landmarks (e.g. The Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, etc.).
  6. I can write about my experience celebrating a Chinese holiday to a penpal (e.g. chun jie, etc.).