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Unit 2
Writing Exercise - Part One
 

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            WRITING

Theme: Responding to a request: 
Organizing information under paragraph headings

Read the model letter below, then click on part 2

Dear Mr. Lorba,                                                                                    18 November 2008

     As you requested, I have gathered some information for our upcoming seminar, "The Organization's Beginnings: where it all started". The paragraphs below offer descriptions of the Organization's six branches as these were outlined in initial meetings of the founding member-states.

     Under each paragraph heading is a brief, concise description of the functions of each branch, as set out in the Charter signed by the original 51 member-nations at the San Francisco meeting in 1945. 

The General Assembly
     The General Assembly was to discuss a variety of issues of concern to the international community. Each of the General Assembly's member-states was to have one vote -- regardless of its size or population. While decisions of the General Assembly would not be binding, its resolutions would carry moral authority in the international arena and spotlight issues there.

The Security Council
     The founding member-states decided that the Security Council would have the authority to make decisions on issues of peace and security and to commit troops to conflicted regions of the world.  According to the original plan, there were to be 15 member-states on the Security Council: 10  were to have rotating two-year terms and 5  were to be permanent members.  The permanent members would be China, France, Great Britain, the Russian Federation and the United States, the allied powers during the Second World War.  Each permanent member was to have veto power.  The Security Council's decisions, taken by a 9/15 vote were to be binding.  

The Economic and Social Council
     The Economic and Social Council would discuss issues of social and economic importance in different societies. 

The International Court of Justice
     The World Court was to rule on disputes between member-states concerning treaties or other international agreements or understandings.  Any member-state could ask the court for an advisory opinion on any issue relevant to its jurisdiction.  Both the General Assembly and the Security Council were to vote separately to elect the 15 judges who would sit on the Court for nine-year terms.

The Trusteeship Council
     The function of the Trusteeship Council was to look after the interests of people living in trust territories or regions ruled by colonial governments. 

The Secretariat
     The Secretariat was to act as the administrative body, serving the other organs of the United Nations. It would administer the programmes and policies put in place by the other parts of the Organization.

Changes in the Organization's Structure in its first 50 years
     In 1994, when the Organization had nearly completed its first 50 years, the Trusteeship Council completed its mission. That was the year the last trust territory, Pelau, gained its independence.
The Security Council has retained its original structure as outlined in the Charter. However, some member-states, have called for a change; they feel the Council's structure better reflects the state of the world following the Second World War rather than its current state.

     I hope the above descriptions will be useful to you.  Please contact me if you need any further information.

Yours sincerely,



Leona Beales
Chief, Staff Education
UNSE
Secare, Terrana


Mr. Charles Lorba

Go to Writing Exercise Part 2

 

Reading Passage Unit One Grammar Practice Unit One