final Writers at Work: The Paragraph

Answer Key
Part 1   Key Concepts for Paragraphs  (20 points)

1 time 3 importance
2 direction 4 outline

Items 5–10: Answers may vary slightly. Here are some sample answers.
5 Reason 1: entertain you anywhere
6 Support: can carry to every place
7 Reason 2: can find books on any subject
8 Support: fewer movies than books
9 Reason 3: use your imagination with books
10 Support: a richer mental picture than movies

Part 2   Editing  (20 points)

11 b (no comma after building)

12 a (fragment)
13 c (use should be uses)
14 a (the coordinating conjunction and is missing after the comma)
15 b (comma is missing before and)
16 a (incorrect preposition)
17 When you come in the door of the classroom, you see the teacher’s desk at the front of
the room.
18 The teacher’s computer is on her desk, and the TV is hanging to the right of her desk.
19 c
20 b

Part 3   Revising  (20 points)

Items 21–25: Answers will vary. Here are some sample answers.
21 Title: The Importance of Exercise
22 Topic sentence: Exercise is important for many reasons.
23 A third reason, with a transition word: Finally, exercise makes you feel good about yourself.
24 A detail: When you are slim and healthy, you will have more confidence.
25 Conclusion: For all these reasons, exercise is an important part of my life.

Part 4   Writing  (20 points)

Use the Paragraph Scoring Sheet to score students’ answers.

Writers at Work: The Paragraph  Final Answer Key © Cambridge University Press 2007  Photocopiable
Writers at Work Name:
Paragraph Scoring Sheet Date: Score:
Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Content 0 1    2 3    4 5    6 7    8 9    10
Organization 0 1    2 3    4 5    6 7    8 9    10
Language 0 1    2 3    4 5    6 7    8 9    10
Mechanics 0 1    2 3    4 5    6 7    8 9    10
General comments and suggestions for improvements:

Content: ability to produce a clear main idea and to support that idea with specific details
Organization: ability to give your paragraph a clear and logical organization
Language: ability to use correct grammar and vocabulary
Mechanics: ability to use correct paragraph format, punctuation, and spelling

© Cambridge University Press 2007  Photocopiable

Writers at Work Name:

Paragraph Scoring Sheet Date: Score:
Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Content 0 1    2 3    4 5    6 7    8 9    10
Organization 0 1    2 3    4 5    6 7    8 9    10
Language 0 1    2 3    4 5    6 7    8 9    10
Mechanics 0 1    2 3    4 5    6 7    8 9    10
General comments and suggestions for improvements:

Content: ability to produce a clear main idea and to support that idea with specific details
Organization: ability to give your paragraph a clear and logical organization
Language: ability to use correct grammar and vocabulary
Mechanics: ability to use correct paragraph format, punctuation, and spelling

© Cambridge University Press 2007  Photocopiable