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Developing a Topic: Facts, Definitions, and Examples in a Formal Style — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 6th Grade informative writing worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet6th Grade · English · Informative Writing

Developing a Topic: Facts, Definitions, and Examples in a Formal Style — Answers

Part A: How is the topic developed?

Writers develop a topic with facts, definitions, concrete details (details a reader can picture), and examples. Read the article, then answer.

The Bats of Congress Avenue Bridge

Every spring, a huge colony of Mexican free-tailed bats arrives at the Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown Austin. In midsummer, the colony can grow to about 1.5 million bats, making it one of the largest urban bat colonies in North America. The bats roost, or rest, in narrow gaps on the underside of the bridge during the day. At dusk, they pour out in long, dark streams to hunt flying insects, including moths that damage crops. In the fall, most of the bats migrate south to Mexico for the winter.

1.In midsummer, the colony can grow to about 1.5 million bats. What kind of development is this?
  1. Aa fact with a number
  2. Ba definition
  3. Can opinion
  4. Da question

Answer: a fact with a number

It is a specific fact that can be checked.

2.The bats roost, or rest, in narrow gaps on the underside of the bridge. What do the words or rest do?
  1. Agive an example
  2. Bdefine a key term
  3. Cstate an opinion
  4. Dshow a cause

Answer: define a key term

They define roost right inside the sentence, so readers do not need a dictionary.

3.Which words give an example of the insects the bats hunt?
  1. Along, dark streams
  2. Bincluding moths that damage crops
  3. Cin the fall
  4. Dthe underside of the bridge

Answer: including moths that damage crops

Including signals an example of the flying insects.

4.Find one concrete detail that helps the reader picture the bats.

Answer: At dusk, they pour out in long, dark streams.

  1. Also correct: they rest in narrow gaps on the underside of the bridge.

Part B: Add a definition and an example

5.Add a definition to this sentence: Mexican free-tailed bats are nocturnal.

Answer: Mexican free-tailed bats are nocturnal, which means they are active at night and rest during the day.

  1. Any accurate definition placed in the sentence (with which means, or, or a dash) is correct.
6.Add an example to this sentence: Many animals hibernate or migrate to survive winter.

Answer: Many animals hibernate or migrate to survive winter. For example, monarch butterflies fly south to Mexico, and some bears sleep through the coldest months in dens.

  1. Any accurate example introduced with for example, such as, or including is correct.

Part C: Relevant and formal

In informational writing, every sentence should be relevant to the topic and written in a formal, objective style: no slang, no "I think," and no exaggeration.

7.A paragraph explains how bats help farmers. Which sentence does not belong?
  1. ABats eat large numbers of insects that would otherwise damage crops.
  2. BFarmers may need less pesticide when bats control pests.
  3. CI think bats look kind of creepy.
  4. DSome bats pollinate plants, such as the agave.

Answer: I think bats look kind of creepy.

It is a personal opinion and does not explain how bats help farmers.

8.Which sentence is written in a formal, objective style?
  1. ABats are super awesome and you should totally love them.
  2. BBats are the only mammals capable of true flight.
  3. CHonestly, bats are kind of gross.
  4. DBats are, like, really important.

Answer: Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight.

It states a fact without slang or personal feelings.

Part D: Revise for formal style

9.Revise in a formal style: Tons of people show up at the bridge to watch the bats fly out, and it's totally amazing.

Answer: Many visitors gather at the bridge on summer evenings to watch the bats emerge.

  1. Any revision that removes slang (tons of, totally amazing) and personal opinion is correct.
10.Revise in a formal style: You'd be shocked how many bugs these guys eat.

Answer: Mexican free-tailed bats eat large numbers of insects each night.

  1. Any revision that names the subject precisely (Mexican free-tailed bats, not these guys) and removes the casual tone is correct.

Part E: Your turn

11.Write a well-developed informational paragraph about an animal, a natural landmark, or a weather event in Texas or your state. Include a topic sentence, at least two facts, one definition of a key term, one example, and one concrete detail. Write in a formal, objective style. Use only facts you are sure are accurate.

Model answer: Palo Duro Canyon, in the Texas Panhandle, is one of the largest canyons in the United States. It stretches roughly 120 miles and is about 800 feet deep in places. The canyon was carved by erosion, the slow wearing away of rock and soil by water and wind. Over a very long time, the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River cut through layers of rock and exposed bands of red, orange, and white stone. Today, visitors can see unusual rock formations, such as the Lighthouse, a tall rock tower that rises above the canyon floor.

Success criteria:

  • A topic sentence that states the main idea
  • At least two relevant, accurate facts
  • A key term defined within a sentence
  • An example introduced with a signal such as for example or such as
  • A concrete detail that helps the reader picture the topic
  • A formal, objective style: no slang, no I think, no exaggeration
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Marking tips

  • Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
  • For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
  • Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.

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