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River Writing Magic Worksheet

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River Writing Magic Worksheet

Explore how writers use sensory details and literary devices to bring a New Zealand waterway to life. Then plan, write and reflect on your own description.

Spot the literary devices

Choose the device that best describes each sentence.

1.“The river stretched its silver arms around the bend.” Which device gives the river a human action?

Personification
Alliteration
Hyperbole

2.“Tiny taniwha-like ripples tickled the tall reeds.” Which device repeats the same starting sound?

Personification
Alliteration
Hyperbole

3.“I could hear that waterfall from a million kilometres away!” Which device uses an extreme exaggeration?

Personification
Alliteration
Hyperbole

Gather ideas for your description

Choose a river, creek or awa in Aotearoa New Zealand. Jot down details you could use to help a reader imagine being there.

4.Which New Zealand river, creek or awa will you describe?

5.Write one detail you might see, hear, feel and smell beside your chosen waterway.

6.Plan three ideas for your description: something the water could do like a person, a phrase with repeated starting sounds, and something you could exaggerate.

Write and reflect

Use your notes to create a vivid description. Include a human-like action for the water, repeated starting sounds and an extreme exaggeration. Aim for at least 150 words.

7.Write a descriptive paragraph of at least 150 words about your chosen New Zealand waterway. Use sensory details and include at least one example each of a human-like action for the water, repeated starting sounds and an extreme exaggeration.

8.After writing your paragraph, name the literary device you think you used most successfully and explain what makes it effective.

9.Write one specific goal you would like to work on in your next piece of descriptive writing.