Writing a transactional letter

Letter of requesting information

https://www.stanagexpert.com/formal-letters-giving-and-requesting-information/

How to write a transactional letter

https://site.uit.no/english/writing-style/letters/

http://templatelab.com/to-whom-it-may-concern/

W Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) - The Relations of Art and Life

 W Somerset Maugham' s Biography (1874-1965) - The Relations of Art and Life



1. Watch this video and be ready to speak on what gives inspiration to W.S. Maugham to write his stories.

Mr Know-All by W.Somerset Maugham

Mr. Know-All

Max Kelada (Nigel Patrick) annoys his fellow passangers by dominating all the onbard social events, vesves by his insistence that he is an expert on all 
Stars: Nigel Patrick, Anne Crawford, Naunton Wayne, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Clive Morton, Bill Travers, Dennis Harkin, Michael Medwin.

1. Watch this video and write a summary.
2. Be ready to give your opinion about this film.
3. Read the review above.

Review of Mr Know-All

In Mr Know-All by W. Somerset Maugham we have the theme of contempt, control, honour, change, ego, appearance and honesty. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed male and from the beginning of the story it becomes clear to the reader that Maugham may be exploring the theme of contempt. The narrator has a strong dislike for Kelada and appears to have firstly formulated his opinion based solely on the fact that he is forced to share a berth with Kelada. Which says a lot for the narrator who unlike Kelada is a very private man. The fact that the narrator also plays patience may be symbolically important as it is possible that Maugham is suggesting that the narrator likes his own space. Something that is made clearer to the reader by the fact that the narrator wishes to choose for himself where he sits in the dining room. It may also be important that Kelada chooses where the narrator sits as this would border on control. Kelada appears to like controlling a situation. Though some critics may suggest that Kelada is only being helpful the fact that he is chief organiser for the many activities on the ship further suggests that Kelada likes control.

Kelada also appears to be thick skinned as it does not bother him that people on the ship call him Mr Know-All. On the contrary Kelada takes it as a compliment. In many ways Kelada is different to the other passengers on the ship. Nothing appears to faze him. However things change when Mr Ramsay suggests that Kelada doesn’t know anything about the business of pearls. Mr Ramsay’s accusation is like a red flag to a bull and when Ramsay issues Kelada with a challenge Kelada readily accepts. It is as though Kelada’s honour is being challenged which would play on the theme of appearance. Kelada does not wish to be seen as a fool which suggests that appearance is important to Kelada. It may also be a case that Kelada for the first time in the story fears losing control of a situation. Prior to being challenged Kelada was in control of not only himself but of others too. Ramsay’s challenge is a direct challenge on Kelada’s dignity.

The fact that Kelada allows Ramsay win the wager says a lot about Kelada. As Kelada looks at the pearls he acknowledges the fear in Mrs Ramsay’s eyes and does the honourable thing and allows Ramsay to win the wager. This says a lot for Kelada as previously many readers might have had a similar view as the narrator when it came to Kelada. If anything Kelada put Mrs Ramsay first as he had previously done with the other passengers on the ship.  Kelada might like controlling a situation but he also knows when it is appropriate to hold back. Something that Kelada does when it comes to the wager. Rather than embarrassing Mrs Ramsay Kelada allows himself to be the one that is embarrassed. Even if it means that he might be viewed upon differently by the other passengers on the ship. Kelada does not allow his ego to rule unlike Mr Ramsay. There is a sense that Kelada unlike Mr Ramsay is able to swallow his pride in order that an individual (Mrs Ramsay) is not offended.

What is interesting about the end of the story is not the fact that the narrator changes his opinion about Kelada. Who the narrator now sees as a man of honour. But what is interesting is whether it was Mr or Mrs Ramsay who decided to return the hundred dollars. If anything it is likely that Mr and Mrs Ramsay had an honest conversation when they returned to their berth and Mrs Ramsay advised Mr Ramsay as to the exact cost of the pearl necklace. Something that Mr Ramsay would have been unaware of due to his being away from home so much. If it is a case that Mrs Ramsay told Mr Ramsay the truth than Maugham appears to be placing the spotlight on the Ramsay’s relationship. Where previously the focus for the entire story had been on Kelada at the end of the story it appears as though there may be frictions within the Ramsay marriage. However it is difficult to say for certain as to what Mrs Ramsay might have said as any conversation she may have had with her husband is private. The reader never knows though Kelada might have an idea as to exactly what happened when he tells the narrator ‘if I had a pretty little wife I shouldn’t let her spend a year in New York while I stayed at Kobe.’ This line may be important as it suggests that Kelada does indeed know what happened between Mr and Mrs Ramsay after Kelada lost the wager. Though being an honourable man Kelada never directly explains his words to the narrator who in reality may not need the line explained.

HOW TO RENDER THE ARTICLE 2

How To Render The Article

Plan for Rendering an Article
1. The title of the article.	a) The article is headlined .... b) The headline of the article I have read is ...
2. The author of the article; where and when the article was published.	a) The author of the article is ... b) The article is written by ... c) It is (was) published in ... d) it is (was) printed in ...
3. The main idea of the article.	a) The main idea of the article is ... b) The article is about ... c) The article is devoted to ... d) The article deals with ... e) The article touches upon ... f) The purpose of the article is to give the reader some information on ... g) The aim of the article is to provide the reader with some facts/material/data on ...
4. The contents of the article. Some facts, names, figures.	a) The author starts by telling (the reader) (about, that ...) b) The author writes (states, stresses upon, thinks, points out) that ... c) The article describes ... d) According to the text ... e) Further the author reports (says) that ... f) The article goes on to say that ... g) In conclusion ... h) The author comes to the conclusion that ....
5. Your opinion of/on the article.	a) I find/found the article topical=urgent (interesting, important, dull, of no value, too hard to understand ...) because .... b) In my opinion the article is worth reading because ....

HOW TO RENDER AN ARTICLE 1

HOW TO RENDER AN ARTICLE

PLAN AND USEFUL STRUCTURES

       I.            INTRODUCTION

1.      The headline of the article.

·         The headline of the article is ... The article is headlined ... The article goes under the headline... The article is entitled...

2.      The author of the article; where and when the article was published (*if this information is given).

·         The author of the article is ... The article is written by ...

·         The article is taken from the newspaper... It is (was) published in ... It is (was) printed in... The article I’m going to give a review of is taken from… 

·         The publication date of the article is... The article is dated the first of October, 2013… The article is printed on the second of October, 2013…

II. MAIN BODY

1.      The topic/subject matter of the article.

·         The article deals with the topic... The article is about ... The article is devoted to ... The article touches upon the topic of... The key issue of the article is… The basic subject matter of the article is...

·         The article describes the situation... The article assesses the situation... The article informs us about… / comments on…

·         The article deals with / is concerned with / describes / examines / reveals / exposes / dwells on / explains / addresses / discusses / presents / covers / outlines / states / offers / considers / looks into / treats…

2.      The purpose/ aim /the problem and the main idea of the article.

·         The purpose of the article is to give the reader some information on ... The aim of the article is to provide the reader with some facts/material/data on ...

·         The article addresses the problem of... The article raises/brings up the problem...

·         The main idea of the article is ...

3.      The contents of the article (facts, names, figures).

·         The author starts by telling (the reader) (about, that ...) … At the beginning of the article the author describes / depicts / touches upon / explains / introduces / mentions / recalls / makes a few critical remarks on … The article begins (opens) with the description of / introduction of / mention of / analysis of / summary of / the characterization of / author’s opinion of / author’s recollections of / the enumeration of …

·         Further/next/then the author reports (says) that ... The article goes on to say that ...

·         In conclusion ... The author comes to the conclusion that .... In conclusion the author says / makes it clear that … At the end of the article the author sums it all up by saying … The author concludes by saying that… / draws a conclusion that / comes to the conclusion that  …

III. CONCLUSION

Summarize / restate the message (main idea) of the article. Comment on the way the author managed to convey it. Say whether or not you agree with the author's point of view. State your own opinion of the article and the problem discussed.

·         In conclusion I’d like to … To come back to what I was saying… The message of the article is that … / The main idea of the article is ...

·         I fully agree with / I don’t agree with …

·         From my point of view… As  far as I am able to judge… My own attitude to this article is…

·         The article is... / I find this article interesting / entertaining / exciting / gripping / amusing / enjoyable / funny / witty / banal / dull  / outdated / boring /of no value / too hard to understand... because .... In my opinion the article is worth reading because ...The author's opinion is subjective / objective because... I would / would not recomemmend to read this article to ... because...