A letter to a newspaper

You are going to write a letter or email expressing your own opinions in reply to
this letter written to a newspaper.

a As you read the letter, decide whether you basically agree or disagree with the opinions
expressed.

In these days of equality between the sexes, it seems to me perfectly reasonable that, in wartime, women soldiers should be expected to fight alongside their male counterparts on the front line. Unlike your reporter (Ref Why we should continue to protect our women, The Evening Times, Friday 13 April) I firmly believe that, given the right training and experience, women are as physically and mentally tough as men.
In my view, those who claim that women are not capable of fighting effectively because of their emotional make‑up are guilty of simple, old-fashioned sexism.
Jenny Lavender (Manchester)

b make a list of points to include in your email or letter.
‑ if you agree with the writer, think of two additional points to support her argument.
‑ if you disagree, think of two arguments expressing the opposite point of view.
c Plan your writing paragraph by paragraph. Example:

Paragraph 1 State your basic position on the subject, referring to the original letter. Include reference to any relevant experience you have had.
Paragraph 2 Present your first argument.
Paragraph 3 Present your second argument.
Paragraph 4 End with a summary of your views or an additional thought in support of your point of view.

Sample answer
I am in complete agreement with Jenny Lavender. In general, I believe that the majority of women are as well equipped as men to fight on the front line in wartime.
Although I have no direct experience of this myself, several members of my family, men and women, have spent time in the arm forces. With this in mind, I can honestly say that in some the women were better able to cope with the emotional pressures than the men. I have no reason to believe that this would be any different in a wartime situation.
The main reason for my point of view is this: women have been been fighting for equality with men for decades now. In many countries, they have achieved equal pay with men for the same work. Their arguments have always been that the work they did demanded the same skills and abilities as their male colleagues. If we have been convinced by their arguments for equal pay for equal work, how can we possibly deny women the right to fight on the front line in times of war? Secondly, and this may be a controversial point, I believe morale generally would be higher among armies if women were allowed to fight on the front line.

In this situation, which is stressful for everyone concerned, it seems to me that a "normal" mix of men and women could only raise morale.
In conclusion, I believe, as does Jenny Lavender, that the arguments against women becoming front‑line fighters are based on old-fashioned sexist attitudes. Men may want to protect us from the horrors of war, but we need to prove that we are strong enough to fight alongside men.

From Real Writing ed. Cambridge English Skills