Reflection Task 2a

In this reflection I want to talk about technology and how the technological devices are deviated from their aims. First of all, technology is the thing that provides humans to rule the world. We were just conscious animals if we think about thousands years ago. With our intelligence, we invented new tools to make life easier for us but as time passed we started to create tools even we don't need in our lives. Developing technology now aiming to entertain people rather than responding needs. These days, there are many tools in our houses that we wouldn't feel its deficiency if it was never invented. I think, when some of them first appeared, they were not that redundant devices. For example, at first TV was very effective to announce the news and informing people but then its streams have become based upon many things which aim to catch the attention of the audience. By this way it has become a commercial tool.  When it first appeared, it might have been seen like a revolutionary device but these days it's just a worthless ad box. We may add mobile phones in this category as well. They were just tools which are aimed to make the communication easier between people but now it has become a commercial device as well. It has many features which we don't need and everyone pays to buy them even they don't need to. Consequently, I think most of the technological devices have been filled with unnecessary features and presented to the customers like an essential tool.

Reflection Task 3

At first, actually I had no idea who to select as the person of the year. Then I searched it on internet and saw Ebola fighters had been selected as the person of the year by TIME. I watched their videos about them and it really affected me because these people have no reason to be there, they just want to prevent vurnerable people from dying. Before the epidemic some of these people were working in these places as teachers or doctors but after the epidemic started most of these brave people selected risking their lives and saving the people there instead of simply leaving the place. There are also people at least as brave as these ones who are going epidemic regions with leaving their own homes. They are doing theirs best to help the people leaving there but as the population is too much, they can only save a small part of them. Even this makes them very happy as far as I could observe from the video. The people leaving in these regions in very bad situations. I learned while watching the video that Liberia, although its an epidemic region, has only ten ambulances for total 4 million citizens. This simply shows how helpless the people living there. Thanks to Ebola fighters at least they have a hope to be cured and that's why I think they should be the person, actually people of the year.

For the video: http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-ebola-fighters/

Comments on Reflections

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Textual Analysis

MH370: Malaysia formally declares missing plane crash 'an accident'

Malaysia's government has released a statement formally declaring the crash of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident, and its passengers "presumed dead", clearing the way for families to seek compensation payments. (to refer to events connected to the present, without a definite past time)
Ten months after the Beijing-bound flight disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur in what remains one of history's great aviation mysteries.(to refer to events connected to the present, without a definite past time) The statement will also pave the way for Malaysia Airlines to make insurance claims. (to express precise detail)

"It is therefore, with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that, on behalf of the government of Malaysia, we officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident...and that all 239 of the passengers and crew on board MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives," civil aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said in a televised announcement. (to express change or developments/ processes)

The Boeing 777 aircraft disappeared on March 8 last year, carrying 239 passengers and crew shortly after taking off from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, bound for Beijing. (to express precise detail) Despite an ongoing Australian-led search of the supposed crash region - the most expensive search and rescue operation in history - no trace of the plane has yet been found. (to express temporary actions)

"This declaration is by no means the end," said Mr Azharuddin, adding that it will continue with the search for the missing plane with assistance from China and Australia. (For decisions about the future)

 ***

In this article, the writer informs us about the latest developments about the missed plane. That's why it has informative and descriptive tones. As it is about an event that took place months ago, simple past tense is the dominant tense. As to writer, I think he handled the topic very well and gave the important points of the event in an objective way.

I am Yılmaz, King of Ducks

I used to feed the ducks around the lake with stale bread.

I would be happy when they compete with each other to grab the
bread I threw.

Now in the morning I look this lake from my house and see there are others feeding them.

I used to feel very strong as all those animals were only dependant to me

I used to call myself “I am Yılmaz, King of Ducks”

Listen as the crowd would sing “quack, quack, quack”

Now there are two kids feeding the ducks and trying to destroy my realm.

One minute I bought all the bread from a shop

Next threw all of the bread over the children and said “I am Yılmaz, King of Ducks”

Discovered that I was their true king as all of the ducks were attacking to these children and proudly repeated again:
“I am Yılmaz, King of Ducks”.

Anger Management

A- Dave: He has some problems which come from his childhood. He gets angry easily in any situation.

     Dave's Girlfriend: She cares about Dave and in that way tries to help him about his anger management problem.

    Dr. Rydell: He's a professional psychiatrist. He's really good at his work. He does many things to help Dave to beat his problem.

B- In the plane Dave wants to sit his place but since another man sits on his place and doesn't want to stand, he's obliged to find another seat. A man invites Dave to sit next to him. Dave goes there and thanks him. After a short time, this man starts to laugh aloud while Dave is trying to sleep. Dave gets uncomfortable and asks a hostess for a headphone kindly. The hostess doesn't bring that headphone although Dave asks her kindly many times. As he goes on asking, a black police comes and ask him what's wrong. Dave tells him the situation but he misunderstands Dave and calls him racist. Dave gets angry since everyone around him continously acts against him. At last he yells and he and hostess end up in a court.

C- In my opinion he's not guilty because not he but all the people around him acts strangely. These people don't do the things Dave says and on the contrary misunderstand him repeatedly. All the same, dave could be more patient and treat them more calmly.

Editing Activity On Parallelism

1. What great and healthy shape she is in!

2. The doctor wanted to find out why Linda was underweight and what her blood sugar level is.

3. Following a regular program of exercise is more beneficial for me than being on a fad diet.

4. What I like best about my fitness center are the modern Lifecyle machines

5. Not only is Jim healthy, but he's also athletic.

6. Due to his son's persistence and his willing to lose 10 pounds, Frank decided to join a fitness center.

7. When Richard realized that his eating habits were the cause of his illness, he began to plan his meals in a more conscientious and careful way.

8. Julian decided to try a homeopathic treatment as well as changing his diet.

9. Shari really enjoys ocean kayaking and going hiking in the desert.

10. This is a combination of vitamins that build up the immune system and prevent infection from spreading.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Reflection 2b

The good, the Better, the Best! I will introduce you(if you haven't watch this great work yet) one of the greatest western ever made. Actually, it is called as "Spagetti Western". The difference between a western and a spagetti western is spagetti westerns are filmed in Europe while original westerns are filmed in America and all directors of spagetti westerns are European, usually Italian. It was filmed in 1966 by Sergio Leone who is the director of many famous spagetti western movies. Although it was filmed like half-century ago, I still really enjoy watching it and find it more enjoyable than many of the comedy films in these years. As well as we can understand from its title, there are three main characters in the movie. The good one is played by Clint Eastwood, one of the greatest actors in western history and he is the one who is still alive today among them. The bad is played by Lee Van Cleef. I think he is the most suitable man for this role because he really has that bad-guy face. The last one, the Ugly is played by Eli Wallach who died last year at the age of 98. Briefly story is, these three men try to find a treasure and film is about the events during this search. It takes place in the course of American Civil War, so this makes the events more interesting. The thing making this movie more valuable for me is its soundtrack. It's composed by the great Italian composer Ennio Morricone. Even though you are a kind of person who doesn't much like western movies, I can make you sure that you will enjoy every second of this masterpiece.

Further Exercise on Parallelism

1- We must either raise revenues or reduce expenses.


2- Stoics deny the importance of such things as wealth , goog looks, and good reputation.


3- In his farewell address to the army, the general praised his soldiers for their unsurpassed courage and their devotion.


4- The crowd that had gathered outside the court was loud and angry.


5 - The police have a duty to serve the community , safeguard lives and property,protect the innocent against deception , and respect the constituonal rights of all.


6 - Sir Humphry Davy , the celebrated English chemist , was an excellent literarycritic as well as he was a great scientist.


7 - The Johnsons were cheerful , knowledgeable and generous traveling companions.


8 - The delegates spent the day arguing withone another rather than working together to find common solutions.


9- My sister's promotion means that she will be moving to another state and taking the children with her.


10- A company is not only responsible to its shareholders but also to customers and employees as well.


11- Examples of aerobic exercises are distant running, swimming, cycling, and long walks.

12- Consuming too much of a fat-soluble vitamin can be as harmful as not consuming enough.


13- The gyrocompass not only points to true north at all times but is unaffected by external magnetic fields.


14- Everything that could make a sound was either removed or taped down.



15-  If you hire a contractor to make home improvements, follow these recommendations:
       - Find out if the contractor belongs to a trade association.
       - Obtain estimates in writing.
       - The contractor should provide references.
       - The contractor must be insured
       -Avoid contractors who ask for cash to dodge paying taxes.

16- The new instructor was both enthusiastic and demanding.


17- Annie's dress was old, faded, and wrinkled.


18- By the time she was two, the child was not only active but also well coordinated.


19- It is a truism that giving give is more rewarding than getting.


20- A battery powered by aluminum is simple to design, clean to run, and inexpensive to produce.

Reflection Task 1b

 Hi everyone, this week I would like to write about Vsauce in my column. Vsauce is a Youtube structuring consisting of four different channels. First Vsauce channel Vsauce1 is hosted by Michael Stevens who is the founder of the whole channel. In Vsauce1, topics about science, philosophy and daily life is covered. The thing making this channel interesting is videos' being generally about the questions which every people think at least once in their lives but can't answer. For example there are videos called: "What color is a mirror?'', '' What if everyone jumped at once?", "Will we ever run out of new music?" and even "What does human taste like?". Each channel is presented by different hosts. Vsauce2 is a very interesting channel as well. It consist of different sections. For example there is MindBlow section in which generally the significant and funny latest inventions  are introduced. There are also best of and trivia sections which are pretty absorbing. Vsauce3 is a channel that might attract the attention of the people interested in video games or fictional world. There is also a channel called WeSauce which comprises the videos sent by fans. I generally follow Vsauce1 because of the originality of the topics. Each video lasts like 8-15 minutes and I find every part of it entertaining. Anyway, If you are looking for a way both funny and informative to spend time, I strongly reccomend these channels.

Reflection Task 1A

Hi everyone! I'd like to introduce myself to you. My name is Yılmaz and I was born on 31 December 1996.

 I'm studying English language teaching at METU now. Until this time I was living in Samsun with my family. In my family I've two brothers which are younger than me. I spent my eight years studying at 23 Nisan Primary school and after the exams started studying at Canik I.M.K.B. Anatolian High School which is an average school in Samsun. One of my brothers is still studying there.

                            My Foreign Language Class In High School

After a tring studying process, I finally became a student of METU. Actually being a teacher wasn't my top aim, I was thinking of studying interpretership but here I am and not regretful for that. I passed the proficiency exam and directly joined the department. Maybe it would be easier for me to study at prep school and leave me more time because here at METU there are many opportunities for spending time. Here, I like hanging around with my friends and discover different places. I really love listening music by the way. I generally listen classic-psychedelic or indie rock and classical music. R.E.M., Pink Floyd, The Smiths and The Rolling Stones are the bands that I listen most. By the way, I like watching TV series as well. Recently, I watch the shows like The Walking Dead, Game Of Thrones and I find them really absorbing. Anyway I'm here at METU now and happy to be here. Message me anytime you want :)

Run-on Sentences and Fragments

Exercise 26

1) Benjamin Franklin was an important political figure during the period of the American Revolution; he was a man of many other talents as well.


2) He lived in Boston as a young man. There he learned the printing trade.


3) Franklin published an almanac; he also experimented with electricity.


4) Franklin started university, in Philadelphia. He also started a lenging library.


5) Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He was also one of the singers of the peace treaty that in in 1783 formally ended the A merican Revolution.


Exercise 27

The earliest known zoo was the Park of Intelligence in the province of Hunan. It was started by a Chinese ruler about 1150 B.C. Today zoo facilities are limited and zookeepers cannot keep every animal on display year-round. In the winter in colder climates, most birds must be bought indoors, but zookeepers cannot always keep each bird on view for the public. Many visitors are suprised to see that some animals remain outside all year. Penguins, polar bears and timber wolves are happy outdoors in wintertime. Some animals are always indoors in northern areas; reptiles and small desert animals always have indoor displays. Zookepers must provide indoor shelters for large animals such as elephants. How large those shelters must be! Today zoologists understand much more about animal behavior and zoos are being designed that are similar to the animals' natural habitats. Viewers can closely observe animals at animal parks, animals roam free. Zoo kitchens keep a wide variety of foods, and these foods are used to prepare meals that meet animals' nutritional needs. Zoos contribute to wildlife conservation, and they nurture species that are in danger of becoming extinct.



Exercise 28 

The biggest and the most popular of all Chenese festivals, The Chenese New Year is an exciting and colorful holiday which falls anywhere between January 21 and February 19. The New Year is celebrated by Chenese people all over the world. They prade through the streets, set off fireworks, and pay visits to friends; they wish them luck and prosperity with a greeting that means ''happy greetings, and may you gather weath.'' On the final day of the year, preparations are made for a great New Year's Eve supper. All doors are sealed with paper strips and no one may leave or enter until the next morning. Businesses are closed for days after the new years begins. Children receive presents of money in red envelops. No wonder they look forward to this festival.

Transitive - Intransitive Exercises

1- The birdcage swung from a golden chain.  -->   Intransitive

2- Margaret angrily crumpled her letter in her fist.  -->  Transitive

3- Someone answered that question. -->  Transitive

4- He shuddered with fright  during the scary part of the movie. --> Intransitive

5- The rats chewed their way into the old house. --> Transitive

6-  Acorns drop from the trees every fall. -->  Intransitive

7- Charlie combed his hair nervously before the dance. --> Transitive

8- We bought paper napkins for the picnic. --> Transitive

9- Zelda smiled at the thought of a parade in the snow. -->  Intransitive

10- Fish and potatoes sizzled in the pan. -->  Intransitive

Sentence Examples

Declarative: Sun is shining outside.

Compound: People are wandering and having a great fun.

Complex: Although your friends invited you for having a meal i have no idea why are you still trying to sleep.

Imperative: Don't stay in this boring room.

Interrogative: Are you following me?

Exclamatory: Get the hell out of here!

Simple: You better die.