Language in Use 259-260
This unit is concerned with the way in which organisations try to project an
image of themselves. Its aim is to show that, while such an image is an
essential part of the public identity which an organisation requires, it is
necessarily the product of selection. The unit is worked out in terms of holiday
resorts because the raw material is easy to come by, but it can equally well
be applied to whatever literature of organisations is available to the class.
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[1] For this session, the class should work in small groups, each one with a suitable collection of facts about a holiday resort. They should prepare and write a 500-word article for a magazine holiday supplement. At the same time, they write out in note form the basic factual information that they have drawn upon.
[2] Circulate the articles and let each group choose the one which would most readily persuade them to visit the place it describes. The next stage is to circulate the factual notes and let the groups compare the articles with what they are based upon. They should make notes of what has been left out, what has been given particular prominence, and so on.
[3] In this session, the class should discuss the relationship between
notes and articles, and consider such questions as
(a) what is legitimate selection?
(b) what kinds of facts ought not to be left out?
(c) what did influence their choice?
(d) how far this would be modified by knowing the facts.
Other material which can be used in this unit includes facts about a company to be used as the basis of a share prospectus; facts about a new political party seeking members; facts about a Preparatory or Public School looking for pupils. In addition, the class could go on to study political pamphlets, such as those distributed by political parties before an election or on a topical issue.
This unit may also be used as an introduction to careers literature, and the way in which the facts about a particular career are presented in the available literature. Sources include, beside the pamphlets issued by the Department of Employment and Productivity and professional associations, publications like Careers for Boys and Careers for Girls by Gavin Brown (Pan-Piper), and After School, First Job, Student Teacher.