Written production in the DALF C1: synthesis and essay

Two linked tasks

The paper links two tasks on the same theme. First you write a synthesis of the documents in the set, then an essay in which you take a position on a question related to that theme. Each counts for half the mark.

It is the longest paper of the C1, and the one where method makes the biggest difference.

The synthesis

What it is

The synthesis condenses several documents into a new, single, coherent text that can be understood without having read the sources. It is not a summary of each document one after the other: it brings the ideas together, showing where the documents agree and where they differ.

The rules

• Objectivity. No personal opinion, no comment, no idea or information from outside the set of documents.
• Your own words. Do not reuse sentences from the documents; only essential key words may be kept.
• Length. Between 200 and 240 words. State the number of words at the end of your text. Keeping within this range is part of the assessment.
• Structure. An introduction presenting the theme and the question the documents share, a body in two or three parts, and a short conclusion that takes stock without giving your opinion.
• Instructions. Follow them to the letter: if they ask for a title, give one.

How to count words

The rule used in DELF and DALF exams: a word is any group of characters between two spaces. « C'est-à-dire » therefore counts as one word, as does « l'économie », and « un bon élève » as three.

From document to synthesis: an example

Sentence from a document:

Le télétravail, longtemps marginal, s'est imposé en quelques mois dans un grand nombre d'entreprises.

(Remote working, long marginal, became established within a few months in a large number of companies.)

Synthesis sentence:

Les deux auteurs s'accordent sur l'essor rapide du travail à distance, devenu courant en peu de temps.

(Both authors agree on the rapid rise of working at a distance, which became common in a short time.)

The synthesis sentence links the documents (« les deux auteurs s'accordent », both authors agree), condenses the idea and rephrases it without adding anything.

The argumentative essay

What is expected

You take a position on a question related to the theme of the documents, and you defend it with arguments and examples. The instructions specify the genre of the text: a contribution to a debate, a formal letter, a critical article, a report. You may use elements from the documents, provided you make them your own and work them into your own reasoning.

Length and genre

The essay must be at least 250 words. Aim for 300 to 350 words: enough to develop your ideas without multiplying the risk of mistakes.

Respect the conventions of the genre required. A formal letter opens with a salutation and closes with a formal sign-off; an article has a title; a contribution to a debate addresses the other participants.

Structure

1. Introduction: a hook, the question at stake, the announcement of your outline.
2. Body: two or three parts, each built around an argument illustrated by a precise example.
3. Nuance: an opposing point of view, which you discuss before reaching your decision.
4. Conclusion: a clear answer to the question, possibly opening onto a wider issue.

What the examiners assess

For both tasks, the markers assess compliance with the instructions (length, genre, objectivity for the synthesis), the coherence of the text and the flow of ideas, the range and precision of vocabulary, and grammatical accuracy. The synthesis is also judged on how faithfully it conveys the key ideas of the documents; the essay, on the strength and clarity of the argument.

Managing the two and a half hours

Your rough draft is not marked: do not write everything twice. A detailed outline is enough on the draft; write directly on the answer sheet.

How to practise

• Once a week, write a complete synthesis under timed conditions, then count your words.
• Build up a stock of linking phrases: « Les deux documents convergent sur… » (both documents agree on…), « À l'inverse de… » (unlike…), « Tous deux soulignent… » (both stress…).
• Practise the essay in the different genres: an article, a letter, a contribution.
• Check your work against a list of your usual mistakes, and add to it with every piece of writing.