Discussion

23. Revise all the articles of this Unit and get ready to discuss the following points:

1. What are the basic factors that lead to a rise in crime rate?

8. What criminals present greater danger to society: individual criminals? Maniacs? Large criminal groups? Why?

9. Is crime rate linked with the rate of immigration? Why do you think so?

10. How can crime be fought? By giving criminals harsh sentences and keeping them in prisons? By improving the work of law enforcement bodies?

11. What do you think of the “three-strikes law” adopted in the USA? How do you think repeat offenders should be dealt with?

12. Do you agree that prison can improve the personality of the convicted people or do you think that a person who has served a prison sentence is only too likely to commit a crime again? Why?

13. What is your point of view on capital punishment? How can you explain that the attitude to it differs from country to country?

14. Do you think capital punishment can be approved from a religious point of view?

15. How can justice in courts be ensured?

16. What do you think are the basic causes of miscarriage of justice?

Writing

24. Revise the articles of this Unit and write an essay (not more than 250 words): “Crime and Punishment”. Follow the procedure suggested in the previous Units. While writing the essay try to use infinitive constructions.

Writing a Memorandum

A memorandum (memo) is a message between colleagues. The layout of a memo is generally not strictly determined, but normally at the top of the page the names of the sender and the recipient are given. They are followed by the date and the subject of the message. The language depends on who the memo is written to. It can be rather informal if it is written to an equal and formal if it is written to a superior.

Study the following examples carefully. Determine the relationship between the writer and the recipient in each case.

Memo

To: A. Bernhard

From: C. Dixon

Date: 10/12

Subject: Annual Conference with Shareholders, January 10.

In order to compile the annual finance report for the above event, I need up-to-date financial transactions figures for your department.

I want them on my desk by December 15 at the latest.

Memo

To: Edward K.

From: Melissa A.

Date: 10/12

Subject: Information brochures

I’m writing to remind you that you’ve agreed to help us prepare information brochures for our prospective clients. We’ve been given the go-ahead for this! I’m sure you haven’t changed your mind and will suggest something terrific. The idea is to outline the specific services we can offer. _____________________________________________________________

25. Write a memo in the following situation.

You have a job in “Russian Diamond”, a business which has trade partners in many European cities. At the moment you are working at a jeweler store in Geneva, studying the ways such stores are run. You are interested in every small detail of the business, so last week you asked the manager to let you observe the work of shop assistants, which he allowed you to do.

Three days ago, a VIP client and his wife arrived in a Rolls and said they wanted a diamond necklace. They annoyed you to frustration because they spent nearly two hours in the store trying to choose the jewelry but eventually they left without buying anything.

Today, however, you were reading ‘The Guardian’ and came across the article given below. There was a photo of the person concerned in which you recognized the VIP client who had visited the store.