The company man

The author Ellen Goodman is an American original. She has been an innovative force in American journalism. Her abundant talents -- intellect, wit, style, news judgment -- set her apart with an é lan uniquely her own. Her Pulitzer Prize winning commentary appears in more than 375 newspapers.

She graduated from Radcliffe College in She is columnist for the Boston Globe,and her column is now carried by newspapers throughout the country. The company man is from her book Close to Home, a collection of her columns published in 1979.

Health or wealth, which one would you prefer?

The vocabulary 1 obituary:death notice 讣告 2Type A:personality type,intense competitive person 3conceivably:possibly e.g.The disease could conceivably be transfered to humans

4 extracurricular:referring things or activities outside of school or work 5 deceased ： a person who has died 6 to staighten sth out:to deal with a confused situaion by organizing things that are causing problems

The passage.Structure analysis of the text Paragraph 1 This is an introductory paragraph. Paragraphs 2-6 This part reports how devoted the man was to his work. Paragraphs 7-13 This part describes Phil’s role in his family. Paragraph This is the concluding part. After the cause of Phil’s death being restated, the author goes on to report the company president’s inquire for his successor.

This passage tells us a story about a workaholic named Phil.He is one of six vice-presidents and worked himself to death finally and precisely at 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning. After Phil's death,his eldest son went around the neighbourhood researching his father,asking the neighbours what he was like,but no one really knows.

At the funeral,Phil's boss,the company president told Phil's wife that he meant much to the company and would be hard to replace. In the afternoon of the funeral,the company president made inquiries about his replacement. He asked around:''Who's been working the hardest?"

Some proverbs about work 1. work while you work play while you play this is the way to be cheerful and gay 2. Never put off the work till tomorrow what you can put off today. 今日事，今日毕 3. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. 只会用 功不玩耍，聪明孩子也变傻 Work smarter, not harder. 更有技巧地 工作，而不是更 努力地工作。 Work has a bitter root but sweet fruit.--German proverb 工作虽苦, 果实却甘 -- 德国 谚语 Many hands make light work. 众人拾柴火焰高 ; 人多好办 事。 Work makes the workman. 熟能生巧。

My thoughts This passage deals with a common issue- work. It makes me to think more about our way of living and our values. I think what seems important to Phil is his work not his family. In fact,it isn't unusual that many children are left alone while their parents are at work.

Children need parents'love, those material things can't meet their spiritual needs, so we really should learn to balance between work and family, which are equally important to all of us..

Thank you!