[Company name]
ENG151
7
Assignm
ent 1
Memo |
Due May
user
2025
[Date]
[Document subtitle]
,Question 1 Access the story Why dassies have no tails, via the following link:
Answer the following questions based on the story: Question 1.1 (10 marks)
The age genre of this story is Picture books for 6-to-9-year-olds. Read
through the information in your Tutorial Letter 501 regarding what stories
are suitable for this age group and explain what elements of the story make
it suitable for children of these ages. You must identify one element per age
of the story that makes it appropriate for each age from 6 to 9. Be specific
and justify your answer with close reference to the text. Please note that this
question requires consultation of pages 89 to 90 in Unit 6 of your Tutorial
Letter 501 as well as Study Unit 1.
Question 1.1 (10 Marks)
Topic: Suitability of "Why Dassies Have No Tails" for 6–9-year-olds
According to Unit 6 of Tutorial Letter 501 (pages 89–90), stories for children aged 6 to 9 should
match their developmental stage — balancing simple plots with growing complexity, introducing
basic moral lessons, and encouraging imagination. Here is a breakdown, identifying one specific
element for each age (6, 7, 8, and 9) and linking it to the text:
Age 6: Clear, Simple Plot (Beginning, Middle, End)
At age 6, children need stories with simple, logical sequences they can easily follow.
In "Why Dassies Have No Tails," the story follows a clear structure:
Beginning: All animals prepare for a special meeting with the king.
Middle: Dassie wants a tail but delays in fetching it.
End: Dassie misses out and remains tail-less.
Justification:
The sequence of events is easy to understand and predict, making it ideal for 6-year-olds who are
still mastering the concept of story structure.
Age 7: Engaging Characters and Anthropomorphism
By age 7, children enjoy animal characters with human traits (anthropomorphism).
In the story, animals talk, plan, and feel emotions like excitement, pride, and disappointment.
, Example from the text:
Dassie says, “I will fetch mine soon,” showing procrastination — a human-like behavior.
Justification:
Children at this age love imagining animals acting like people, which helps them connect
emotionally to the characters.
Age 8: Moral Lesson (Procrastination Has Consequences)
At age 8, children start understanding moral lessons embedded in stories.
Why Dassies Have No Tails teaches that delaying important tasks can lead to missed
opportunities.
Example from the text:
Dassie keeps postponing getting a tail ("I will fetch mine soon..."), and because of this,
all the beautiful tails are taken.
Justification:
This moral is simple yet meaningful, helping 8-year-olds reflect on responsibility and
consequences in their own lives.
Age 9: Humour and Critical Thinking
At age 9, children enjoy humorous endings and can reflect critically on characters' actions.
The story’s ending — a dassie embarrassed because he has no tail — is funny but also provokes
thought about why some animals look the way they do.
Example from the text:
“And that’s why, even today, the dassie sits quietly on the rocks, looking a little shy.”
Justification:
The ending offers a humorous, light-hearted explanation for a real animal trait, sparking
imagination and critical thinking — ideal for 9-year-olds.
Summary Table
ENG151
7
Assignm
ent 1
Memo |
Due May
user
2025
[Date]
[Document subtitle]
,Question 1 Access the story Why dassies have no tails, via the following link:
Answer the following questions based on the story: Question 1.1 (10 marks)
The age genre of this story is Picture books for 6-to-9-year-olds. Read
through the information in your Tutorial Letter 501 regarding what stories
are suitable for this age group and explain what elements of the story make
it suitable for children of these ages. You must identify one element per age
of the story that makes it appropriate for each age from 6 to 9. Be specific
and justify your answer with close reference to the text. Please note that this
question requires consultation of pages 89 to 90 in Unit 6 of your Tutorial
Letter 501 as well as Study Unit 1.
Question 1.1 (10 Marks)
Topic: Suitability of "Why Dassies Have No Tails" for 6–9-year-olds
According to Unit 6 of Tutorial Letter 501 (pages 89–90), stories for children aged 6 to 9 should
match their developmental stage — balancing simple plots with growing complexity, introducing
basic moral lessons, and encouraging imagination. Here is a breakdown, identifying one specific
element for each age (6, 7, 8, and 9) and linking it to the text:
Age 6: Clear, Simple Plot (Beginning, Middle, End)
At age 6, children need stories with simple, logical sequences they can easily follow.
In "Why Dassies Have No Tails," the story follows a clear structure:
Beginning: All animals prepare for a special meeting with the king.
Middle: Dassie wants a tail but delays in fetching it.
End: Dassie misses out and remains tail-less.
Justification:
The sequence of events is easy to understand and predict, making it ideal for 6-year-olds who are
still mastering the concept of story structure.
Age 7: Engaging Characters and Anthropomorphism
By age 7, children enjoy animal characters with human traits (anthropomorphism).
In the story, animals talk, plan, and feel emotions like excitement, pride, and disappointment.
, Example from the text:
Dassie says, “I will fetch mine soon,” showing procrastination — a human-like behavior.
Justification:
Children at this age love imagining animals acting like people, which helps them connect
emotionally to the characters.
Age 8: Moral Lesson (Procrastination Has Consequences)
At age 8, children start understanding moral lessons embedded in stories.
Why Dassies Have No Tails teaches that delaying important tasks can lead to missed
opportunities.
Example from the text:
Dassie keeps postponing getting a tail ("I will fetch mine soon..."), and because of this,
all the beautiful tails are taken.
Justification:
This moral is simple yet meaningful, helping 8-year-olds reflect on responsibility and
consequences in their own lives.
Age 9: Humour and Critical Thinking
At age 9, children enjoy humorous endings and can reflect critically on characters' actions.
The story’s ending — a dassie embarrassed because he has no tail — is funny but also provokes
thought about why some animals look the way they do.
Example from the text:
“And that’s why, even today, the dassie sits quietly on the rocks, looking a little shy.”
Justification:
The ending offers a humorous, light-hearted explanation for a real animal trait, sparking
imagination and critical thinking — ideal for 9-year-olds.
Summary Table
