Writing Write a follow-up letter

Ex.4.24. Complete the following dialogue by filling in the missing prepositions from the chart. Underline any fixed expressions which you think may come in useful. With your groupmates, compose a similar dialogue and act it out.

over between out from round with across

of to in about for up on

A. Charles?

B. Yeah?

A. I wonder if I could have a word (1) …… you (2) …… that job in C&A?

B. Yeah, sure. What’s (3) …… your mind?

A. Well, you know that Susan McDowell’s applied (4) …… it, I suppose?

B. Naturally. I interviewed her. In fact, she and Ferris Bushnell both came (5) …… extremely well, I thought. To tell you the truth, we’re going to find it pretty difficult to choose (6) …… them.

A. That’s what I thought. Only I think I should warn you (7) …… Susan.

B. Oh, really?

A. Yeah. I mean I don’t want to interfere (8) …… your selection procedure, or anything. It’s (9) …… to you to make (10) …… your own mind (11) …… the sort of person you want for the post.

B. Paul, will you just get (12) …… the point? What’s Susan been (13) …… to?

A. Oh, it’s nothing like that.

B. Because I know she’s got a reputation (14) …… being a bit over-assertive at times.

A. Yeah, but it’s not that that I object (15) …… so much. I reckon she believes (16) …… what she’s doing – even if nobody else does. No, it’s just that I know you want to make our internal training more cost-effective and I really don’t think you can rely (17) …… someone like Susan McDowell to carry (18) …… your programme of economy measures, that’s all.

B. I see. And what makes you think that, Paul?

A. Well, for one thing, she’s always insisting (19) …… bringing (20) …… outsiders to run most of the seminars. You know how expensive that can be. And for another, she’s all (21) …… setting (22) …… some sort of joint venture with MP Associates – more outsiders! I’ve been opposed (23) …… this all along, as you know. And so has David. He’s quite capable (24) …… running things himself.

B. Ah hah. That’s what this is all (25) ……, is it? You don’t like the idea (26) …… Susan taking control away (27) …… you and David. Well, I’m glad we had this little chat, Paul. I’ll certainly bear it all (28) …… mind when we make our final decision (29) …… who gets the post.

A. Thanks, Charles. I knew you’d come (30) …… to our way of thinking on this. I mean Susan’s very talented. I’d be the first to admit it. And I’d hate to think anything I’d said had spoilt things (31) …… her.

B. Oh, don’t worry, Paul. It hasn’t. You can bet (32) …… that.

DISCRIMINATION

Discuss: How are people appointed in many companies? Are there clear guidelines on how to come to a decision about who to recruit?

Study the following table. Would you accept or reject the applicants described? Give your reasons; compare your decisions with those of your group mates.

	Accept	Reject	Call for second interview
1. SYSTEMS ANALYST The applicant is a 36-year-old woman returning to work after giving up her previous job in order to start a family three years ago. She is well qualified for the post and much more experienced than any other applicants. She is, however, a little out of touch with the latest developments in the industry you work in and would require some re-training. Most of the other applicants are young men.	Reasons	Reasons
2. MARKETING DIRECTOR The applicant is a 29-year-old woman. On paper she looks impressive and at interview she came across very well indeed. In terms of experience and expertise, she is clearly the best person for the post. There’s only one problem: the job is in a country where women do not have equal status with men and where very few women hold management positions at all, let alone senior ones such as this one.	Reasons	Reasons
3. PRODUCTION MANAGER The applicant is a 44-year-old woman. You have recently interviewed twenty people for a very responsible post within your company and she is one of the two in your final shortlist. The other most promising candidate is a 29-year-old young man. On balance, you think the man would probably be the better choice but, at present, your company has appointed only three female managers out of a total of thirty-two and you are under a lot of pressure from the personnel department to exercise ‘positive discrimination’ in favour of women.	Reasons	Reasons
4. MANAGEMENT TRAINER The applicant is a 31-year-old young man. The company you represent runs assertiveness training courses for women in management and at the moment you have an all-female staff. Whlist the applicant has an excellent track record in management training with mixed groups, you have some doubts about his credibility running seminars exclusively for women, some of whom tend to see male managers more as an obstacle rather than an aid to their progress. You’re also concerned about how the rest of the staff will react to him.	Reasons	Reasons

Choose one of the situations above where you decided to reject the applicant and write a letter to the person concerned explaining your decision. You may find the notes below helpful.

Dear …………………,

Thank / application / this post.

Whlist / impressed / qualifications and experience / and / performance / interview / regret / inform / this occasion / not successful.

As you know / large number / applications / this post / and / standard / applicants / extremely high.

Should not feel / non-selection / due / failings / on your part.

I wish you every success / future career. We / put / details on file / shall consider you / suitable.

Yours sincerely,

…………………………

Ex.4.25. Discuss the following quotations about Women and Women’s Role in Society with your groupmates. Try to guess which of them belong to men or to women. Say which of them are pro- and which anti-feminist.

1) I heard a man say that brigands demand your money or your life, whereas women require both

2) I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist wherever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute

3) Women do not find it difficult nowadays to behave like men, but they often find it extremely difficult to behave like gentlemen

4) When women kiss it always reminds one of of prize-fighters shaking hands

5) ‘Always be civil to the girls, you never know who they may marry’ is an aphorism which has saved many an English spinster from being treated like an Indian widow

6) We are becoming the men we wanted to marry

7) I blaim the women’s movement for 10 years in a boiler suit

8) The only options open for girls then were of course mother, secretary or teacher. At least that’s what we all thought and were preparing ourselves for. Now, I must say how lucky we are, as women, to live in an age where ‘Dental Hygienist’ has been added to the list

9) It used to be almost the first question (just after ‘Can you type?’) in the standard female job interview: ‘Are you now, or have you ever, contemplated marriage, motherhood, or the violent overthrow of the US government?’

10) A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle

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