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Writing
Strategies ~ 6+1 Traits of Writing by Ruth Culham
Epossumondas is a silly tale about a possum who
doesn’t have the sense he was born with! In the story,
Epossumondas travels from his auntie’s house to his mama’s
house, day after day, delivering goodies that auntie sends
home with him. But Epossumondas has trouble getting the
goodies home, and his mama fusses at him every time! It’s a
great story to illustrate the writing traits of Word
Choice and Organization.
* Teaching Word
Choice: Natural Language ~ Making it Sound Authentic *
In Epossumondas, Colleen Salley carefully selected
words that continually remind us of the background of this
story. Ms. Salley grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
listening to the noodlehead stories of Epossumondas. Many
of the words and phrases in her story echo that southern
history, and enhance the sound and feel of Epossumondas.
Some words to ponder…
-
Epossumondas
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Patootie
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“loved him to death”
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“most everyday”
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“nearly always”
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“went along home”
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“you don’t have the sense you were born
with”
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“don’t look much like _______ to me”
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bedraggled
Some characters that are authentically southern…
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alligator
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raccoon
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nutria – n. another word for coypu; the
soft, thick, velvety fur of the coypu, often dyed to
look like beaver (coypu: a large South American rodent
that lives near water, closely resembling the beaver)
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Armadillo
Lesson Idea for Natural Language: Your Personal Top Ten
(from 6+1 Traits, pg. 168)
1.
Ask students pairs of students
to create lists of at least 50 words they like. (G-rated
words, of course.) Younger students may need to create
shorter lists. Words may be those that sound delicious, are
tricky to read, or are just old favorites.
2.
Challenge each pair to pare
down its list to the top ten personal favorites. Share the
lists with the class.
3.
Then, have students create
their own individual “Personal Top Ten” lists, including
words that are interesting, textured, and tasty – words that
a reader might enjoy reading. They should keep their lists
in a handy place where they have easy access to them when
they’re writing.
*
See 6+1 Traits, pgs. 168 – 170 for more lessons about
Natural Language.
* Teaching
Organization: Developing a Core that is Logically
Organized *
Though the story flows smoothly, our sweet possum
Epossumondas is very confused! Each time he brings home
another goodie from his auntie’s house, he does it all
wrong! If only his auntie and mama would give him the
instructions BEFORE he heads home, he wouldn’t have made so
many mistakes! As writers, we need to also do the same in
our own writing. When we are unclear, or when our own
information is out of order, we leave the reader to make
his/her own assumptions. Epossumondas was confused, but
really meant well. Each time his mama gave him an
instruction, he followed it perfectly. But he didn’t know
that the instructions changed for each treat he was given.
Our own writing needs to be clear and concise, with a
logical pattern that leads the reader carefully from one
idea to the next.
Lesson Idea for Organization: Helping poor Epossumondas!
1.
Let’s help Epossumondas do
everything RIGHT this time!
2.
On strips or pieces of paper,
write down each item that auntie gave to Epossumondas (a
piece of rich, gold cake; a pound of freshly churned butter;
a sweet little puppy; a freshly baked loaf of bread).
3.
On another piece of paper,
record the directions that mama gave Epossumondas AFTER he
took the item home (…put it on your head, put a hat on your
head, and come along home).
4.
Have students retell the story,
this time putting the directions BEFORE the items so that
Epossumondas doesn’t make so many mistakes and all the
goodies get home safely!
*
See 6+1 Traits, pgs. 91 – 95 for more lessons on
Developing the Middle of the Paper.
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