Biography

Writing task: Describe a famous person

Think of a person from your country’s history and prepare to write a short Useful language
biography (around 100 words). Complete the table with their information. Useful phrases
• … was born in (Paris) in
Use the Useful language and the notes you made in the Engage task to help you
(1899).
prepare.
• He / She is famous for
(inventing / writing /
Name: painting / discovering)…
• When he / she was (18)
When and where was he / she born? years old, he / she…
• He / She was
What is he / she famous for? married to…
• He / She died in
What was his / her early life like? (Washington) in (1743),
at the age of (71).
What were his / her successes? • His / Her (music /
work / books / poems)
When did he / she die? is / are popular all over
the world now.
What do people think of him / her now? • There was a (film /
book) about his / her life
Tip A description of a person uses neutral language. Make notes in the table but in (2001).
don’t write complete sentences yet. Just write words or phrases to help you plan. Use
the internet to find some information you don’t know about the person. Use an English
website.
Follow this structure:
• Paragraph 1: Give the person’s name, say when / where he or she was born and
what he / she is famous for.
• Paragraph 2: Write about the person’s early life and his / her successes.
• Paragraph 3: Say how and when the person died and what people think of him /
her now.
Check it! Did you use past verbs to talk about the person’s past? Did you use
present verbs to talk about what people think now?

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