Descriptive Paragraphs of the Legendary Heroes of the American Tall Tales

After reading the tall tales of their choice, the students listed the character traits and examples from the book.  The students shared them with the class so that they could compare the different traits of the heroes.  Using the T-Chart of the traits and examples, the students wrote descriptive paragraphs.  They worked in cooperative groups.  Here are the following paragraphs:

Mike Fink was a legendary hero of the American tall tales.  Mike Fink was independent.  He ran away from home when he was two.  Mike Fink was powerful.  He raised the prow of the monstrous opponent.  He was hard working.  He handled the chores and cleared the land.
By David and Jack

Sally Ann Whirlwind was a legendary hero of American tall tales.  She is highly skilled.  She could swim under water for an hour without a breath.  She is inventive.  She screamed so loud the bird's feathers blasted off to create the bald eagle.  She was brave.  She played King of the Mountain with the alligators. She is fast.  She ran as fast as a cheetah to win the race with her brother.
By Alexis and Leah and Jada

Pecos Bill was a legendary hero of the American tall tales.  Pecos Bill was eccentric.  He lived with the coyotes.  Pecos Bill was creative.  He used a rattle snake as a lasso.  Pecos Bill was larger than life.  He chased Lightning all around the globe.  Pecos Bill was a problem solver.  He lassoed a tornado to catch his bouncing bride.  Pecos Bill was strong.  He sqeezed out all all of the venom out of a snake.
By Zoe and Emma and Abby

Swamp Angel was a legendary hero of the American tall tales.  Swamp Angel was larger than life.  She hunted Tarnation who was bigger than Tennessee.  Swamp Angel fought Tarnation for more than 4 days.  Swamp Angel ws very courageous.  She hunted the bear even though the men made fun of her.
Sophia

Swamp Angel was a legendary hero of the American tall tales.  She was strong.  She ws so strong that she could throw a log and it would fall right into place.  She was very brave.  She ws so brave that she could fight the biggest bear ever, Thundering Tarnation.  He was so big and mean.  And the people needed someone to kill Tarnation to save the people.  They sent several different men to defeat Tarnation, but they ended up broken and useless.
By Alyssa