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ПОСОБИЕ ПО АНГЛИЙСКОМУ ЯЗЫКУ ДЛЯ СТУДЕНТОВ ГУМАНИТАРНЫХ ВУЗОВ

91

ADDITIONAL

^EXERCISES

PART I

1. In a magazine or a newspaper, find a piece of writing that you think is out­standing. Write a 500-word critique on the style'and effectiveness of this piece. What principles and concepts of good writing does it illustrate?

2. A company employee asked a manager whether a company-requested early retirement would affect the amount of his pension. Here is the answer he received from the manager.

Lack of work in many shops due to decreased programs has caused the Company to ask some employees to take an early retirement. It is regretful that so many people have been hurt — in terms of their career, and in terms of their finances — by the economic stresses we have undergone during the past few years. To maintain a profitable business, however, we cannot afford to keep people on its roll when the jobs are not available. In spite of the unfortunate circumstances which compel the Company to initiate early pensions, it will pay only those benefits to which the employee is eligible under the present contract. Rewrite this message, making it shorter and clearer. Be tactful, that is, consid­er the feelings of the employee

3. Although the content of a message remains the same, the nature of the audi­ ence often determines the writing style. A public health agency, for example, wants to tell people how to avoid winter colds and the flu. It has been decided that three kinds of messages will be prepared:

1. A simple note that can be distributed to children in grade school.

2. A news item in a local newspaper for a general adult audience.

3. An item for a hospital newsletter that provides medical information in lay terms for past, current, and prospective clients of the hospital.

Write a 50- to 75-word article for each of these audiences. PART II

1. Review three advertisements in a magazine. In what ways do the advertise­ments use persuasive concepts to sell the products?

2. Persuasive communication uses words and phrases to paint pictures. Select a magazine article, and write down examples of sentences and phrases that the author uses to paint pictures.