Oxford University Press
Headway Plus ELEMENTARY Writing Guide
2011-12
UNIT 8
Writing Task: Write about an old friend
Worksheet 1: PRE-WRITING
Exercise 1: Brainstorming and gathering information
Answer the following questions about an old friend:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
How long ago did you meet your friend? .........................................................................................
Where did you meet? .......................................................................................................................
What did you do together? ...............................................................................................................
What is his/her name? .....................................................................................................................
How often do you see each other now? ............................................................................................
Why did you become friends? ..........................................................................................................
Exercise 2: Check your vocabulary
Write the time expressions with the correct preposition.
Write the times and dates (not years) in words beside the correct preposition.
3.00
the morning
January
Sunday
preposition
in
2005
National Day
23/09
Eid
9.30
the 20th century
night
time expression
at
on
Exercise 3: Extend your vocabulary
Write the time expressions below in the correct order in the table.
Add information about something you did at that time.
last summer
this afternoon
PAST








NOW
eight years ago
three months ago
time expression
the week before last
in 1998
information
yesterday morning
last night
Oxford University Press
Headway Plus ELEMENTARY Writing Guide
2011-12
UNIT 8
Worksheet 2: PRACTICE
Exercise 1: Sentence building 1
Use your answers to Exercise 1 / Worksheet 1 to write complete sentences about your old friend.
Use time expressions from Exercise 2 & 3 / Worksheet 1.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
Exercise 2: Linking words – but, so, because
Read the information about Omar and Rashid. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate linking word –
but, so, because:
1.
2.
3.
3.
Omar and Rashid met 18 years ago ___________ their families lived next door.
Omar liked Rashid very much ___________ they were interested in the same things.
They saw each other every day ___________ they went to the same school.
They started playing football at the same club in 2003, ___________ they saw each other in the
evenings too.
4. In 2006 Rashid started college ___________ Omar decided to get a job.
5. After that, Rashid and Omar didn’t see each other much ___________ they called each other a
lot.
Exercise 3: Linking words – when, until
Complete the sentences.
1. Omar and Rashid met when ..........................................................................................................
2. They saw each other every day when ...........................................................................................
3. They didn’t see each other in the evenings until ..........................................................................
4. They were together a lot until ......................................................................................................
Exercise 4: Sentence building 2
Rewrite the sentences from Exercise 1 / Worksheet 2. Use linking words to write longer sentences
and add extra information. Make sure you put the sentences in a good order.
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
Oxford University Press
Headway Plus ELEMENTARY Writing Guide
2011-12
UNIT 8
Worksheet 3: WRITING
Exercise 1: Writing a First Draft
Write a paragraph about your old friend. Start with a topic sentence. Use the Past Simple and use
linking words (because, when, until, so, but). Write about 50 words.
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……………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………..
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……………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………..
Read your paragraph and check:

Topic sentence
Past simple, positive and negative
Linking words: because, when, until, so, but
Sentences in a good order
Spelling (use a dictionary)
Capital letters at the start of sentences
Full stops at the end of sentences
Exercise 2: Writing a Final Draft
Make corrections and write out the paragraph again neatly.