Article: A Festival in My Country
Write a magazine article describing a festival or celebration in your country for international readers.
- Time
- 30 min
- Length
- 100-150 words
Writadia · B1 · Articles
NameClassDate
The situation
You see this notice in an English-language magazine for young people:
Festivals around the world! Tell us about a festival or celebration in your country. What do people do? What do you like most about it? We'll publish the best articles.
Your task
Write your article in 100–150 words.
Writing toolkit
Open these only when you need them. Try the first draft on your own.
Plan it in steps
- Give your article an interesting title.
- Start with a question to the reader.
- Explain when it is and what people do (present simple).
- Describe your favourite part with adjectives.
- End with an invitation to the reader.
Useful phrases
Opening
Describing
Favourite part
Ending
Tap a phrase to add it to your text. Gaps (…) are selected so you can type over them.
Vocabulary
- take place
- happenIt takes place in spring.
- traditional
- done in the same way for a long timetraditional food
- decorate
- make something look niceWe decorate the streets.
- atmosphere
- the feeling in a placeThe atmosphere is amazing.
Model answer (114 words)
Read it after you’ve written your own version. Notice the highlighted parts. The numbers explain why they work.
Kites, Food and Spring: Hıdırellez
Have you ever made a wish and tied it to a tree?1 That's exactly what thousands of people do every year at Hıdırellez, a spring festival in Türkiye.
It takes place on the night of 5th May and the following day.2 People go to parks, the countryside or the seaside, have picnics and play music. Many people write their wishes on small pieces of paper and tie them to rose trees. Some people even jump over small fires for good luck!3
What I love most is the atmosphere: everyone is outside, the weather is warm and there's music everywhere.4
If you ever visit Türkiye in May, don't miss it!
- Question hook.
- When.
- A surprising detail keeps the reader interested.
- Personal opinion.
Teacher notes
Cultural sensitivity: students can choose any celebration, local or international. Encourage specific details over general statements.
Extra challenge
Add a short "Top tip for visitors" box (30 words).
Lesson plan
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 10 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: take place, traditional, decorate, atmosphere.
- 12 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “Have you ever heard of ...?”, “Imagine a day when ... .”, “It takes place every year in ... .”.
- 38 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. (100-150 words)
- 10 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 5 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
Assessment rubric
| Criterion | 4 · Excellent | 3 · Good | 2 · Developing | 1 · Beginning | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task and content | All points covered in detail; purpose and reader clear. | All points there, one is thin. | One point missing or some off-topic content. | Task mostly not met. | |
| Organisation and flow | Clear paragraphs; varied linking words. | Paragraphs present; linkers repetitive. | No paragraphs or jumpy flow. | Ideas scattered. | |
| Vocabulary | Topic-specific, varied vocabulary. | Adequate; some repetition. | Limited; some wrong word choices. | Very limited. | |
| Grammar and accuracy | Range of structures, few errors. | Some errors, meaning clear. | Frequent errors affect meaning. | Errors block understanding. | |
| Total | / 16 | ||||
Each criterion scores 1–4 (total 16). Use the task checklist below to tick what the student actually did.
Task checklist
- My article has a title.
- I started with a question.
- I described what people do and gave my opinion.
Teacher comment
Peer-review sheet
Students swap texts and give each other feedback with this sheet.
Before you finish
Before you finish
- My article has a title.
- I started with a question.
- I described what people do and gave my opinion.
Writadia · B1 · Articles
Assessment rubric: Article: A Festival in My Country
| Criterion | 4 · Excellent | 3 · Good | 2 · Developing | 1 · Beginning | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task and content | All points covered in detail; purpose and reader clear. | All points there, one is thin. | One point missing or some off-topic content. | Task mostly not met. | |
| Organisation and flow | Clear paragraphs; varied linking words. | Paragraphs present; linkers repetitive. | No paragraphs or jumpy flow. | Ideas scattered. | |
| Vocabulary | Topic-specific, varied vocabulary. | Adequate; some repetition. | Limited; some wrong word choices. | Very limited. | |
| Grammar and accuracy | Range of structures, few errors. | Some errors, meaning clear. | Frequent errors affect meaning. | Errors block understanding. | |
| Total | / 16 | ||||
Each criterion scores 1–4 (total 16). Use the task checklist below to tick what the student actually did.
Task checklist
- My article has a title.
- I started with a question.
- I described what people do and gave my opinion.
Teacher comment
Writadia · B1 · Articles
Peer-review sheet: Article: A Festival in My Country
WriterReviewer
Read your partner’s text carefully. Be kind and specific: say why, not just “good”.
Task checklist
| Yes | Partly | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| My article has a title. | |||
| I started with a question. | |||
| I described what people do and gave my opinion. |
Questions
- Does the text cover every point in the task?
- Are there paragraphs? What is each one about?
- Write two linking words the writer used.
- Is there a sentence you had to read twice?
Two stars and a wish
★ Something I liked
★ Another thing I liked
→ One suggestion
Writadia · B1 · Articles
Lesson plan: Article: A Festival in My Country
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 10 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: take place, traditional, decorate, atmosphere.
- 12 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “Have you ever heard of ...?”, “Imagine a day when ... .”, “It takes place every year in ... .”.
- 38 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. (100-150 words)
- 10 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 5 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
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