REAL BEAUTY

Beauty is an important criterion in our lives especially for woman. What the real beauty is a question that ca be discussed. Although physical beauty is so important for some, most people agree on the fact that it is temporary and should not be appreciated since it is not people’s choice.

In many societies beauty is important. When we meet new people, our first impression depends mostly on their appearance. Many women spend both their time and money to be more beautiful. Particularly media and television force us to give so importance to physical appearance. New fashions, models and some beauty standards attract people’s attention and cause them to look at people regardless of their thoughts, feelings, and characteristics. It is certain that physical beauty is temporary. Even though some people get old, they still have their beauty, because it is just moved from their faces into their hearts. This shows us that real beauty is inside(1).

To look at beauty from another perspective, it is a feature that people can not choose. We have no chance to decide to be beautiful or to struggle for it. This proves us that it can not be appreciated. On the other hand inner beauty is not like that. You can try to be a better person or you can have better characteristics. People can behave as themselves without their physical appearance.

To sum up, a person can be loved or admired due to their physical appearance. However, it last sometimes a few minutes, hours, days maybe years. But we can live in people’s minds and hearts forever with our inner beauty. This is the real beauty that no mirror can reflect.


(1)“Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces into their hearts. ~Martin Buxbaum” This is my paraphrasing.

NOT SMOKE

Prohibition on smoking in closed areas is a controversial issue. For non-smokers who exposed to smoke it provides a better and healthier life in closed areas and transports whereas it is a real burden for smokers since it makes their lives harder and unbearable, which shows both sides have right points on this issue.

According to this regulation smoking is prohibited in closed areas, which is really appreciated by non-smokers. It is certain that smoking is dangerous for people who don’t smoke as much as for smokers. They are exposed to smoke at work, cafes, restaurants, canteens. This is a big problem for families who children. Most people agree on the fact that this prohibition is very crucial for schools since the teachers who smoke form negative models for students. In addition this, smoking arises as a problem in transports. Travelling becomes unbearable for non-smokers. Just its smell is enough disturbing for them. Non-smokers and even some smokers state that they de how don’t have to stand this situation.

When we look at the situation from the smokers’ window, the situation really changes. Cigarettes are a part of their lives. When they can’t smoke they become really stressful and aggressive especially at work. There should be a special part for them at cafes, restaurants or work. Some suggest that it is a chance for them to give up smoking but they ignore how hard it is for them. In busses or taxis it should be prohibited; however, in that case drivers claim that it affects them negatively in long distances, which may be dangerous. However, to smoke while driving is dangerous as well. It is certain that getting used to this regulation is a burden for smokers.

All in all, prohibition on smoking in closed areas is a useful and effective regulation as long as the smokers are taken into consideration as well. It is sure that all people have the right to breathe, work or travel as they wish. For the best solution everyone should put himself in others’ shoes.

Internet although ıt contributes to our lives, ıt has so many negative effects like seperating us from real life and ıts unhealty effects.

SECOND LIFE

Sometimes we fed up with our lives.We want something new and interesting to avoid monotony.Second life can be one of the ways to do it.It is really an interesting website that can be used for various purposes.You choose an avatar ( a character) and do whatever you would like.You can own a land ,sell and buy things.I asked some people about their purposes to use this website and find out mainly three diffeent things.These are having fun, meeting new people and education.

As we know there are lots of games on the internet which are so enjoying.The main difference between games and second life is creativity.* You can do whatever you want; design a place to meet your friends, hang out with your girl/boy friend in a nightclup, dancing, even flying and walking under the water.You can do whatever comes to your mind.Many people say that they use the second life just to hang around and have some fun.Any human being may sometimes need to be away from the real world.

In second life there are many people from all over the world. Although some may have different purposes, mostly they enjoy meeting new people. You can chat with new people, ask questions to learn about their culture or something else. You can join some social groups.If you are lucky you can have a good friend.

Nowadays education is not anymore only in schools. Second life is one of them. People use different techniques to learn something. There are many universities that set up virtual campuses. Studens attend the classes there. Some students show their projects there. Probably this is the most useful way of the second life.

In conclusion I realized that pepole use this website according to their needs and desires. There are many similarities between the real life and the second life even 'money'. The best is that there is no death, isn't it?

For any aspect of our lives we cannot say that method is very useful and the other is not. When we think about education it is also the same. To teach better and to have an effective learning environment lots of ways are stated by professors and philosophers. Using technology in classes is also one of those ways. When we think of classes, one uses technology so much and the other never does, both are not good ways for me. Both two classes when taken into consideration have some advantages or disadvantages.

All students do not learn in the same way. Teachers need some extra activities or methods. Thus, some visual, auditory elements can be effective according to purpose of the course. In classes where technology never used this is so limited.

Especially when we think about learning a language, listening, speaking practices are so important. In no technologic classes the only person the students are exposed to is the teacher. However, in a technologic class they can watch movies by native speakers. Those can help the students to improve their listening and speaking skills.

We can compare two classes by taking into consideration making the course more enjoyable and interesting. Particularly internet provides lots of interesting items that can be used during lessons. Those can attract the student’s intention. A class atmosphere where the teacher explains the subject and the students take notes is regarded as an ordinary and old style. It is true in some way but the teacher can make some class activities or discussions. The only solution is not full time technology. For instance at high school, in biology classes we used to watch something in which there was a teacher and he was explaining the subject. Our teacher thought that he was making the lessons interesting. In fact we learned nothing. However, the class atmosphere is the best place where students learn effectively. The interaction with both teachers and other students is totally effective .If such methods are used so much not only it reduces the teachers authority but also the students lose their seriousness about lecture. However, in classes where technology isn’t so much both the teacher and the students force themselves to try something new. It can be really enjoying.

In technological classes the students and the teachers can also communicate outside of the classes. The teacher gives some tasks, the students ask questions when they need. It is really a good way. However there can be some students in the class who don’t have access to the internet. Especially if the courses are conducted mostly using the internet they can have difficulties to follow the lessons. Also it would be a big problem if any technologic problem aroused. However in the other class students don’t have such problems.

To sum up as all of us can see, there must be a balance. Using technological devices may be really useful for some lessons. Surely there are other ways for different courses. A teacher should know what the lesson requires, therefore, should use the appropriate techniques effectively.

When we meet new people, we use the expression “nice to meet you” so many times, but is it so? When I consider the first time I meet my best friends or teachers, I realize that what I felt or thought is much more different than now. “First impression” the idea, feeling you get when you meet someone is extremely flexible. Personally I don’t agree with people who trust their first impressions about people’s characters. However, ignoring that is indispensable.
None of us can say that I am not a prejudiced person. Actually, we all are, that is, we all have some good or bad impressions about people that we see for the first time. When we first meet someone, his/her appearance, clothes make us judge about his or her character. We can add the way she speaks or behaves to these examples. Mostly, it happens to us unconsciously .While talking with someone whom I don’t know before for the first time, I expect her to smile or behave candidly. However, she doesn’t have to smile at someone whom she sees for the first time. That makes me think that she is a cold person.
We know that humans are really complex creatures. There are so many things that affect our personality. Environment, family lifestyle there are really so many factors like those. Let’s suppose that we come across one of our friends in the street and there is a girl near her that you meet for the first time. However, it seems that there are some problems with her. When you first look at her unhappy face, you may get a bad impression about her. You may think that she is not outgoing and friendly. However, in the course of time you can have some chance to know each other better and your thought about her character can totally change.
To sum up, first impression is very important for our relationships, but we must try to avoid bad thoughts and prejudice. We shouldn’t forget that people’s appearance and behaviors do not really tell us their personality and characters.

MY ESSAY

Mostly I get so surprised when I met new people. However new cities, new schools force us to get used to this. All people have really interesting characters, habits or obsessions. Sometimes I think ‘that must be the most interesting person that I can meet in my life’. But after a while I see that I am wrong. However when you look yourself from a different aspect you can easily realize that you are also an interesting person. For instance, I can say that I am also interesting from these perspectives: my sense of direction problem, being afraid of revolving doors, elevators, escalators and writing acrostics nearly about everything.
It can be really funny or incredible for most of you but my sense of direction is really very bad. I can lose my way so easily. I may have difficulty in finding a place even I had been there many times. It is a bit dangerous as well. Unexpectedly you can find yourself in trouble. It is much more difficult if the time is late because of darkness. I sometimes can not understand to which direction the building I am in looks. It really irritates me.
For many years I was afraid of revolving doors, escalators and elevators which made lots of my friends laugh at me. Now I got used to escalators since I have to use them many times. When it comes to revolving doors they still annoy me. I always find revolving doors useless. I force myself to be so careful when getting through them. And I am still afraid of elevators. Once I was stuck in an elevator and that made my existing phobia much more unbearable. After that, whenever I get in an elevator, this event comes to my mind. Sometimes those which are made to make our lives easier can make it harder.
I don’t know the exact reason and I know it has nothing with a special talent but whenever I try to write something I find myself writing an acrostic. I wrote many form my friends on their birthdays at high school. The firs letters would be ‘happy birthday or something like that. They liked it. When I am bored during lessons I try it as well. I must say that I am not good at writing acrostics. It is just for fun. Although I most enjoy it .it prevents me from writing a real poem. I can not explain my feelings in a serious way.
The appearance is really not related to the characters or habits. You can come across a huge man who is afraid of a small mouse. You know as human beings we are complex creatures.

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

THESIS STATEMENT: Mostly I get so surprised when I met new people. However new cities, new schools force us to get used to this. All people have really interesting characters, habits or obsessions. Sometimes I think ‘that must be the most interesting person that I can meet in my life’. Nevertheless, after a while I see that I am wrong. However when you look yourself from a different aspect you can easily realize that you are also an interesting person. For instance I can tell for myself; my sense of direction problem, being afraid of revolving doors, elevators, escalators and writing acrostics nearly about everything.


BODY PARAGRAPH 1

TOPIC SENTENCE: It can be really funny or incredible for most of you but my sense of direction is really very bad.

· I can lose my way so easily.
· I may even have difficulty in finding a place where I had been many times.
· I sometimes can not understand to which direction the building I am in looks.
· The problem can be much bigger for me especially when it gets dark.

BODY PARAGRAPH 2

TOPIC SENTENCE: For many years, I was afraid of revolving doors, escalators and elevators. Now I got used to elevators since I have to use them many times. When it comes to revolving doors, they still annoy me. And I am still afraid of elevators.

· Once I was stuck in an elevator and that made my existing phobia more unbearable.
· I force myself to be so careful while getting through a revolving door.
· Sometimes those which are made to make our lives easier can make it harder.

BODY PHARAGRAPH 3

TOPIC SENTENCE: I don’t know the exact reason (it has nothing with a special talent) but whenever I try to write something I find myself writing an acrostic.

· I write acrostics for my friends on their birthdays.
· Also when I am bored and someone annoys me, I do it.
· I must say that I am not good at writing acrostics, it is just for fun.
· Although I usually enjoy it, it prevents me from writing a poem.

CONCLUSION
The appearance is really not related to the characters or habits. You can come across a huge man who is afraid of a small mouse. You know as human beings we are complex creatures.

I have been asked so many times to tell about myself during my school days either in English or Turkish.But now, although it is not my first try I, have great difficulty.I don't know the exact reason but it can be for fear that it might be so ordinary.
My name is Ayşe.I suppose most of you are already so much familiar with this name.Nearly in all my classes so far I have at least one friend whose name is Ayşe.I am from Trabzon.Naturally my favorite football team is Trabzonspor.My hometown where my family lives now is Tonya.It is famous for guns:)Since I have grown up in a village in which you can see green whereever you look, I have great difficulty in getting used to living in Ankara at the beginning.I hope being in METU will make it different.So I look forward to spring.
To tell a little about my family, I have an elder sister and a brother with whom I don't have a good relationship.Being in the middle is really very difficult.My sister is studying nursing in Konya.My brother is a high school student in Trabzon.My father is retired and my mother is a housewife.
I like watching tv so much.Sometimes it can be much more than normal.I enjoy reading .Especially politic and psychological books.Unfortunately I don't read much.I like listening to music especially Turkish Classical Music.
My English knowledge is not enough to tell my thoughts about this course. I totally got shocked.Since I am really bad at using computer and writing (both in Turkish and in English)I am not optimistic.I hope it will change.Writing essays every week will be hard but really beneficial.I hope this term will be good for all of us.