EXHIBIT 10.1


[date]

[Participant Name]
[Address]
[City, State  Zip]


Re:     1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan Performance Award -
        Targets for 3-Year Period Ending May 2010


Dear Participant:

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Worthington  Industries,
Inc. (the "Company") has granted to you a Performance  Award under the Company's
1997 Long-Term  Incentive Plan (the "Plan") on the terms  described  below.  The
Performance  Award is designed to provide  incentive  payouts to certain  senior
managers based on the attainment of stated financial  performance targets over a
three-year period.


In an  effort  to  focus on both the  quantity  and  quality  of  earnings,  the
Performance  Award  incorporates both an earnings per share ("EPS") and economic
value added ("EVA") component.  EPS targets are for corporate EPS for the fiscal
year  ending  2010.  EVA  targets  are for  cumulative  corporate  EVA  over the
three-year  period  ending May 31, 2010.  For  corporate  officers,  half of the
possible  Performance  Award is  allocated to the EPS target and half to the EVA
target.  For business unit  executives,  the  Performance  Award is structured a
little differently;  half of the possible  Performance Award is allocated to the
same  corporate  EPS and EVA  targets  as the  corporate  officers  and  half is
allocated to business unit operating income targets.

Your target Performance Awards for the three-year  performance period ending May
31, 2010 are: (a) a Cash Award of $______ and (b) a  Performance  Share Award of
__________ common shares of Worthington Industries,  Inc. ("Company Stock"). The
specific  performance  targets, and the related Cash Award and Performance Share
Award, are set forth below:


                                                          Performance
EPS Targets             2010 Corporate EPS   Cash Award   Share Award
- -----------             ------------------   ----------   -----------

        Threshold          $________         $________    _____ shares
        Target             $________         $________    _____ shares
        Maximum            $________         $________    _____ shares


                        Cum 3 Year Corporate
EVA Targets               EVA Ending 2010
- -----------             --------------------

        Threshold          $____ million     $________    _____ shares
        Target             $____ million     $________    _____ shares
        Maximum            $____ million     $________    _____ shares



Performance  falling between threshold and maximum will be pro rated on a linear
basis.

No  payments  will be made if  performance  falls below  threshold.  Each of the
performance measures is free standing so that you will be able to earn a pay-out
based upon the  achievement  of one measure,  even if the threshold  performance
level is not achieved in the other measure.

Calculation of the Company  results and attainment of performance  measures will
be made solely by the  Compensation  Committee based upon the Company's  audited
consolidated  financial statements.  The Compensation Committee has the right to
make changes and  adjustments in calculating  the  performance  measures to take
into account unusual or non-recurring  events,  including,  without  limitation,
changes in tax and accounting  rules and  regulations;  extraordinary  gains and
losses;  mergers and acquisitions and purchases or sales of substantial  assets;
provided  that,  if  Section  162(m)  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code  would  be
applicable to the pay-out of the Performance  Awards hereunder,  any such change
or adjustment must be permissible under Section 162(m).

The determination of the attainment of performance  objectives and the amount of
the Performance  Awards payable will generally be finalized  within a reasonable
time after the applicable  consolidated  financial statements of the Company has
been  completed.  Payments  will then be made  within a  reasonable  time  after
finalization by the Committee, unless there is a need for a delay.

Unless the Committee  elects a different  form of pay-out,  payments of the Cash
Award will be made in cash.  Payment of the Performance Share Award will be made
in Company Stock. The Committee may adopt provisions  permitting the deferral of
a portion or all of the pay-out into a Deferred Compensation Plan, provided that
a timely  deferral  election is made. The Company may require payment of, or may
withhold from payments,  amounts  necessary to meet any federal,  state or local
tax withholding requirements.

In general, termination of employment terminates Performance Awards. Termination
of employment  for reasons of death,  disability or retirement  will result in a
pro  rata  pay-out  for  performance  periods  ending  within  24  months  after
termination based on the number of months of employment  completed by you during
the performance period before the effective date of termination. No pay-out will
be made for  performance  periods ending more than 24 months after  termination.
Termination of employment for any other reason, voluntary or involuntary,  prior
to the Committee's determination of the attainment of performance objectives and
finalization  of the  Performance  Award amount will result in the forfeiture of
all Performance Awards from the Plan.

The  provisions of the Plan are  incorporated  herein by reference and a copy is
available at your request.

If you have any questions about your Performance  Awards,  please direct them to
me.


Very truly yours,