20895 ACE Language (Yr 6) Structures and Language Features

The solitary troll and the three skinny goats – 1
1. Once upon a time, in the land of Scandia, there was
an extremely ugly troll, with protruding eyes and a
nose as long as a tree trunk. His name was Trevor.
2. His unpleasant features deterred others from
approaching him. He had no troll friends and spent
most of his time in solitary occupations. Unlike the
others of his species, Trevor was a vegetarian. His one
dream was to find a place of his own and live his life
without censure.
3. After much searching, Trevor found a comfortable
abode beneath a bridge. It had a sturdy roof of
wooden planks, and was close to cool, clean drinking
water. The hillside nearby was coming to life with
lush, green grass and other edible delights.
4. The first few nights spent in the new dwelling were rather uncomfortable. Spring had
yet to take a firm hold on the weather. The nights were still bitterly cold and Trevor
had yet to fill his home with his possessions or decorate it to his satisfaction. It was
draughty and chilly instead of warm and cosy. As a result, Trevor soon found himself
with a runny nose, scratchy throat and a rumbling voice. Trevor had troll flu, and was
feeling far from happy. Each day, he laboured to finish decorating his home and fell
into a fitful, feverish sleep at night. Gradually, his home began to feel ’lived in’ and his
flu improved. His voice, however, remained rough and scratchy.
5. One day, just as he was waking, Trevor heard a noise on his roof. ’Trip! Trap! Trip!
Trap!’ went the bridge.
6. ’Who’s that tripping over my bridge?’ roared the troll, in his raspy voice.
7. ’It is only I, Junior Billy Goat Buff’, said a timid voice. ’I’m going up to the hillside to
make myself fat.’
8. ’Wait! I’ll hobble up and go with you!’ said Trevor, eager to meet his new neighbours.
9. ’Oh, no! Please don’t gobble me up!’ replied Junior Billy Goat Buff. ’I’m too little! Wait
for the Intermediate Billy Goat Buff! He’s much bigger!’
10. ’I’m not going to gobble you up!’ roared the troll. ’I’ll come with you!’ But the staccato
of tiny hooves could be heard above, skipping across the bridge heading towards the
hillside.
11. ’Perhaps Intermediate Billy Goat Buff is less skittish!’ Trevor contemplated. ’I’ll wait for
him.’
12. Shortly afterwards, Intermediate Billy Goat Buff began to cross the bridge.
13. ’Trip! Trap! Trip! Trap!’ went the bridge.
14. ’Who’s that tripping over my bridge?’ roared the troll, in his raspy voice.
Australian Curriculum English – Language: Text structure and organisation (Year 6) www.ricpublications.com.au R.I.C. Publications ®
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Understand how authors often innovate on text structures and play with language features to achieve particular aesthetic, humorous and persuasive purposes and effects (ACELA1518)
© Australian Curriculum: Assessment and Reporting Authority 2012