ENG1517
Assignment 1 2025
Unique #:
Due Date: April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1
1.1.
The story Why Dassies Have No Tails is categorised as a book suitable for 6- to
9-year-olds, aligning with the developmental expectations outlined in Unit 6.
Below is one literary element per age (6 to 9) that makes the story appropriate;
Six-Year-Olds (Grade 1)
At this stage, children are transitioning into formal education and still enjoy
repetition, familiar settings, and predictable narratives. They are also beginning to
distinguish between fantasy and reality. The story's use of repetition and simple
sentence structures (e.g., “Don’t worry, I’ll follow you!”) makes it accessible for
children at this age. The moral lesson at the end—Dassie’s laziness leading to his
lack of a tail—also aligns with the type of simple, instructive narrative structure
recommended for this age group (Evans et al., 2017:89).
Seven-Year-Olds (Grade 2)
Seven-year-olds begin to appreciate more developed plots and understand
cause-and-effect relationships. The story presents a clear sequence of events
and consequences, such as when Dassie chooses to stay home and later regrets
not fetching his own tail: “I should have gone myself!” This direct link between
action and consequence enhances comprehension and supports the child’s moral
development—an important focus for this age group (Evans et al., 2017:90).
Eight-Year-Olds (Grade 3)
Children at this age enjoy action, fantasy, and moral lessons, and they can
differentiate between real and imaginary events. The fantasy element in the
story—animals receiving tails from a tree by order of the Creator—caters to their
vivid imagination, while the moral lesson about laziness and responsibility adds
value. Dassie’s regret serves as a relatable emotional response that invites
Varsity Cube 2025 +27 81 278 3372
Assignment 1 2025
Unique #:
Due Date: April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1
1.1.
The story Why Dassies Have No Tails is categorised as a book suitable for 6- to
9-year-olds, aligning with the developmental expectations outlined in Unit 6.
Below is one literary element per age (6 to 9) that makes the story appropriate;
Six-Year-Olds (Grade 1)
At this stage, children are transitioning into formal education and still enjoy
repetition, familiar settings, and predictable narratives. They are also beginning to
distinguish between fantasy and reality. The story's use of repetition and simple
sentence structures (e.g., “Don’t worry, I’ll follow you!”) makes it accessible for
children at this age. The moral lesson at the end—Dassie’s laziness leading to his
lack of a tail—also aligns with the type of simple, instructive narrative structure
recommended for this age group (Evans et al., 2017:89).
Seven-Year-Olds (Grade 2)
Seven-year-olds begin to appreciate more developed plots and understand
cause-and-effect relationships. The story presents a clear sequence of events
and consequences, such as when Dassie chooses to stay home and later regrets
not fetching his own tail: “I should have gone myself!” This direct link between
action and consequence enhances comprehension and supports the child’s moral
development—an important focus for this age group (Evans et al., 2017:90).
Eight-Year-Olds (Grade 3)
Children at this age enjoy action, fantasy, and moral lessons, and they can
differentiate between real and imaginary events. The fantasy element in the
story—animals receiving tails from a tree by order of the Creator—caters to their
vivid imagination, while the moral lesson about laziness and responsibility adds
value. Dassie’s regret serves as a relatable emotional response that invites
Varsity Cube 2025 +27 81 278 3372
