Exam Section II, Task 4

Comparing Cultures

• Fast-paced exercise- only takes 6 minutes

• It will allow you to use language to convey a cultural and authentic message based on products, practices, and perspectives, using what you have learned about the French-speaking world.

• To get a 5 in this category, you need to be culturally savvy and able to compare without judging.

Product, Practice, Perspective

• The Three Ps will help you organize your response and make a valid and interesting comparison

• An example- Tou are asked about the use of coffee in the US and France:

  • The Product is coffee

  • The Practice- in the US it is consumed in the mornings (in your home, in the car…), there are different flavors- add details

  • compare the different cultures- accentuate the french way of living

  • The Perspective- what do these practices tell us about cultures?- you could add negative and positive points

The comparisons are derived from the 6 themes of the curriculum:

• Families in Different Societies

• The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity

• Influences of Beauty and Art

• How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives

• Factors That Impact the Quality of Life

• Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges

Strategies and Tips

Get beyond the Superficial

• Explain what the practice tells you about the people

• Do not assume that your listeners know a lot about the topic

• Be explicit- use examples, think about the research that you have done already

Jot Down Your Ideas

• You have 4 minutes to create a draft

• DO NOT make a list for each culture- It is not a comparison unless you specifically say how they differ and how they are similar

• Fill out the chart given to you on page 326

Step A: The Introduction

• 15 seconds max (out of 2 mins)

• Specify the two communities you are going to compare

• Use these sentences:

L’idée du/de la/de l’___________ est vue similairement en/au ___________ et en/au.

Le thème du/de la/de l’ est vu différemment en/au _________ et en/au.

Je vais vous parler du/de la/de l’________ en/au + name of country et dans ma communauté des États-Unis.

Step B: The Comparison

• 1 min 30 seconds

• The comparison has to be well balanced

• You should be talking and advancing your argument- elaborate and be explicit

• Explain what the cultural perspective demonstrates

• Use the words of tranisition (same or different comparison)

  
  

Step C: The Conclusion

• 15 seconds

• Add anything you forgot to say and then wrap up.

• Examples of a concluding sentence:

  • Et donc, je voulais dire que la grande différence entre ___________ et ___________ c’est ___________.

  • Et donc, on remarque qu’en fait en/au ___________ et en/au ___________, c’est pareil au niveau de ___________.

Scoring Guidelines: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/pdf/ap19-sg-french-language.pdf