Create the Why Section

LESSON 2.11
Create the Why Section

Grades 1-3

Now plan out the bad things the troublemaker does.

Starting the Why Section

Begin the Why Section by starting a new paragraph and repeating the What/Why Statement.

LH VP RH Because Why
Main Character Verb Phrase Troublemaker Because Problem
I had a problem with a talking dog it made prank phone calls in Athabascan
1st sentence I loved Jackson, my golden retriever. Then one day I (verb) a troublemaker. I had a problem with a talking dog because it made prank phone calls in Athabascan

Keep Your Story Simple!

  • Have very few people. 2-3 is best.
  • Have very few actions that the troublemaker does. 1-5 is best.
  • Have the story take place over a short time. A day or two, or even a few hours, is best.

Example

Pretend you take the dog home. Your mother doesn’t like dogs indoors. You sneak him in.

  • That night, you catch him making calls and talking in Athabascan. He is saying things like, “Is your refrigerator running? It is? Well, you better go catch it!”
  • The next day, the village police officer visits your house. You are the only person who speaks Athabascan, so everyone thinks you were making the calls.
  • The next night, the dog calls the police officer’s home. “Do you ever catch any bad guys?” the dog asks her in Athabascan. And before she can answer, he says, “You couldn’t catch the flu!”
  • The next day, the police officer visits your house again. She recorded the call. She knows it wasn’t you talking, but she has figured out that the call came from your house.

Task 2.11.1 – Small Group

Four things have happened since you met the troublemaker. So make four columns on a chart. They should look like grocery lists. List things. List everything you can; voices, sounds, smells, taste, people’s looks…

Prank calls Police officer arrives Prank calls to police Police officer returns
Refrigerator running
Dog was curled up on his blanket under a desk.
Sorrowful eyes when you caught him. 		Officer Wallaby is a woman about 30 years old. Blond. Ponytail.
You're afraid to tell her about the dog. She won't believe you.
She smells like perfume.
"You're the only person who speaks Athabascan!" 		I put the phone way up high where my books are, so the dog wouldn't reach it.
A thunk in the night.
Sorrowful eyes again.
Bad guys? Flu. 		Officer Wallaby sees me with the dog.
Her uniform is ironed.
"It can talk?"

What did you see or hear first?  What was second? What action happened first? What was second?

Use numbers to show what happened in what order. Put each column’s information and actions in order.  Use numbers.  If you make mistakes, then use numbers or letters to add in things.

You will probably think of more things you want to add to your story. Let’s say you and your mom meet Officer Wallaby beneath a big tree.  The dog keeps looking around the tree at you.

Task 2.11.2 – Small Group

What did you see or hear first?  What was second? What action happened first? What was second? Use numbers to show what happened in what order. Put each column’s information and actions in order.  Use numbers.  If you make mistakes, then use numbers or letters to add in things.

Example

Prank calls Police officer arrives Prank calls to police Police officer returns
  1. Refrigerator running
  2. Dog was curled up on his blanket under a desk.
  3. Sorrowful eyes when I caught him.
  1. Officer Wallaby is a woman about 30 years old. Blond. Ponytail.
  2. She smells like perfume.
  3. "You're the only person who speaks Athabascan!"
  4. You're afraid to tell her about the dog. She won't believe you.
  1. I put the phone way up high where my books are, so the dog wouldn't reach it.
  2. A thunk in the night. The dog had knocked the phone down.
  3. Bad guys? Flu.
  4. Sorrowful eyes again.
  1. Officer Wallaby sees me with the dog.
  2. Her uniform is ironed.
  3. "It can talk?"
  4. "We'll be rich!" – Mom.

You will probably think of more things you want to add to your story.

Let’s say you and your mom meet Officer Wallaby beneath a big tree.  The dog keeps looking around the tree at you.           

Prank calls Police officer arrives Prank calls to police Police officer returns
  1. Refrigerator running
  2. Dog was curled up on his blanket under a desk.
  3. Sorrowful eyes when I caught him.
  1. Officer Wallaby is a woman about 30 years old. Blond. Ponytail.
  2. She smells like perfume.
  3. "You're the only person who speaks Athabascan!"
  4. You're afraid to tell her about the dog. She won't believe you.
  1. I put the phone way up high where my books are, so the dog wouldn't reach it.
  2. A thunk in the night. The dog had knocked the phone down.
  3. Bad guys? Flu.
  4. Sorrowful eyes again.
  1. Officer Wallaby sees me with the dog.
  2. Her uniform is ironed.
  3. "It can talk?"
  4. "We'll be rich!" – Mom.