FOR BEN: Talk is cheap

Practice test Book 2 , prompt 1/ p.42 

 A great deal of controversy surrounds is actions have a tremendous impact on humanity instead of words. There are quite a few different options on this matter if issue whereas it should be considered as guarantee.  There is no doubt in my mind that talk is cheap and it is impossible to be thought as a foundation in order to be built any type of human relationship. 

 There are several reasons why actions are the evidence that relationships should come true. To begin with,  it is popularly believed that upon actions can be the cause of other significant values such as trust , reliability and by extension the so-called love between people. In other words , doing meaningful contributions have a immensely effect in people's temperament on the grounds that they feel that there is an interest of them. Moreover, it is a common belief that a part of majority find it difficult to accept a new person in their life . Apart from they cannot initially believe them they wait to see their actions. A typical example of this is that politicians are always promising to boost the realm of health but when elections finish almost nothing can be true. 

 Advocates of meaningful actions claim that these fully depict a character of a person. As a consequence, it is easy to recognize who has the right qualifications to be accepted in your life . To say something and to do something has completely different meaning - it is not similar . Furthermore, some people maintain that talking can be proved as a useful tool so as to make a friendship easily by introducing each other in a better way. What these people forget is that talking should be considered as a primary means of communication. Under no circumstances is talking powerful weapon to build a real relationship. It is simply a communication. Real relationships can be cast-iron by other values but the main way to can true are actions. 

 Taking everything into account, the obvious conclusion to be drawn is that this matter of issue still cause a debate among people.  There are so many aspects and nobody will reach an agreement.  From my perspective,  I firmly believe that actions play a vital role in human nature. Should we based on this , human relationships will totally have a duration at time. 

Tolerance

"Nowadays, societies worldwide are not homogeneous. In what ways do you think people differ from one another? How can we co-exist and accept difference? Elaborate on your opinion by adding reasons and examples"

     It is an undeniable fact that over the last decades globalization has led people with different cultures , religious or skin color to co-exist in the same place. Thus, it is becoming more and more vital for them to accept diversity and boost tolerance.

     Being tolerant refers to the state which one understands and respects the others' point of view. So grave an issue is this that we do not make unfair judgements without being informed about other people's opinion. Tolerance refers to practices which disapprove of/ are contrary to all kinds of discriminatory behaviour that is to say based on different race, skin color, sexual orientation, age, looks/ appearance or sexism, (comma) to name but a few. People have a social and cultural background, (comma) which is many times profoundly responsible for their behavior/ which this kind of behaviour can be commonly attributed to. These factors (which are these factors?) help them analyze diversity (uncountable) and treat others in a certain politically correct way.

     There are certain steps which should be taken in order to alleviate discriminatory behaviors. To begin with, family, as a pillar of society, plays a main role in shaping children's character. By supporting open-mindedness and acceptance of the different may help the new generation develop skills to fight narrow-mindedness and discriminatory behaviors. In addition, schools and teachers should organise talks and overall foster certain values, (comma) such as equality and tolerance, in their lessons by incorporating special activities. Teachers and school peers exert a great influence on other pupils, meaning that the school environment should employ a distinctive approach in order for children to develop necessary skills. Last but not least, the state carries the main burden of organizing social events and campaigns to promote open-mindedness and condemn discriminatory practices.

     Taking everything into condideration, it is disturbing to think that we fall victims to the different types of discrimination and we stereotype people into categories. We should learn, once and for all, how to be tolerant (refer to the topic) and not to judge books by their cover. 


Well done Vassilis, you did it once again! My comments and additions are only in italics or parentheses this time so that your readers can focus on reading your text with its brilliant explanations as a whole. Some problematic parts in paragraph 2. Gr 3/5, Voc 4/5, Rhet 4/5 --> 11/15 Keep it up! Christina ;-)

GM Crops

  Lately there has been much debate about the use of genetic engineering so as to generate genetically modified crops.  It is a truism that (NO COMMA HERE) the intervention (=ανάμειξη?) of technology (or even better: technological advances) has provided tremendous opportunities to *enable our life less though/ for people to lead a more comfortable life on this planet. From my perspective, I think that genetically modified crops can make a decisive contribution to *come up against adverse realm facing adversity, several of which becomes evident in malnutrition and economy.

 There are several reasons why genetic engineering can chip in the rising of the economy/ boost or enhance economy. To begin with, it is known that farmers , who are in the bottom of social ladder**,are using this method (subject+verb+object) more and more this method in order for their yields fields to produce oodles of yield. The more the farmers produce ,the more they receive financially. Furthermore,  what production companies really prefer is a great amount of yields in order to *have the highest brands' generation generate/produce large quantities in very low prices . Not only does IS all this process of production be on the rise, but also consumption should occur three times more than usual. Last but not least, genetically modified foods are much more resistant through time. As a consequence, they should be used as materials in stock in case of an emergency.

  Another beneficial advance of genetic engineering is the alleviation of malnutrition***.  It is known that in some non developing nations, there is a huge part of the population who cannot merely make for a living , staying malnourished. Genetically modified foods may be deemed as an ally ti this issue of the poorer families due to the mass production of fundamental goods/ basic necessities. Some people, however, may claim that these methods of production are going to spawn detrimental effects into on the human body causing fatal ailments, COMMA such as cancer. So/ therefore/ consequently (=more formal equivalents of so), it is clear that mortality rates will absolutely increase. However,  in reality what these people forget is that GM (no dash in-between) foods provide the chance of a self- sufficient life. Not only does do GM foods not aim at elevated mortality rates,  but they also endorse people's complete adequacy/ self-sufficiency/ independence.

 Taking everything into account ,the obvious conclusion to be drawn is that the advance of genetic engineering has been crucial to humanity. But for it, percentages of shortages would be high and wounds' of whole world remain at the bottom (UNCLEAR HERE- don't think in Greek!) . To my mind , if we let technology interfere completely in some fields/ if technology is put into good use, then the future will probably/ definitely/certainly seem brighter.

-----------------
*If you translate these parts of the sentence in Greek, will they make sense? 
** Please avoid statements such as this one- they are unnecessary and politically incorrect. 
*** This should be your first argument in paragraph two, in my opinion, as it is the most important one.

Charalambos, I totally appreciate your attempt at elaborating on a very difficult topic we have not discussed in class yet. There are certainly areas that need more improvement (vocabulary used incorrectly, some grammatical errors, some unclear sentences), but I can see you are trying, which makes all the difference! If you have written this essay on your notebook too, you can copy my corrections and let me know which parts you found confusing. You are very close to passing! We can do this, adults' team! Christina 💟😎💪

Genetically modified crops

     It is a truism that over the past decades the earth' s population has increased dramatically. There has been heated controversy between proponents of genetically modified crops and detractors of transgenic foods (or: detractors of them- save the useful paraphrase for later) about whether it is reprehensible to adopt such a method. Personally speaking, I think that it is a moot point and we should shed some light on it/ some light should be shed on it- use the passive preferably.
     A sound argument in favor of genetically modified crops is that it is a significant means to tackle the world hunger. It is evident that many  people the world over suffer from malnutrition. By developing transgenic foods may lead to alleviate these problems. Furthermore, advocates of transgenic foods claim that crops are bound to give better yields resulting in low prices which will be beneficial for the consumers globally/the world over. Another point that they adduce is that genetically modified plants enable farmers to use powerful pesticides in order to protect their fields from unwanted weeds, meaning that their workload and expenses will diminish.
     On the other hand, opponents of transgenic foods argue that this phenomenon may result in many thorny issues which should be taken into account. First off, some people are profoundly convinced that consuming genetically modified foods may trigger health issues. Not only is the scientific research about these plants poor, but also there are already concerns from scientists who suggest that there are more to it than meets the eye. Moreover, there are those who believe that tampering with the DNA of organisms is not in the right direction. In other words, it is maintained that such a practise goes beyond the ethical boundaries and humankind is surpassing limits beyond their nature. Another point (unnecessary: of others) is that the root of the problem is not the amount of the yields but the fact that the majority of people who starve cannot afford to buy foods. That is to say, COMMA they urge the state to find different ways to address the world hunger, as giving incentives to young people to cultivate land and support them financially.
     By a way of conclusion, it should be reiterated that adopting genetically modified crops is a profoundly debatable issue and all aspects should be taken into consideration. It is a matter of life and death and we must be tentative in our judgements. I am totally  convinced that the state should fund scientists to conduct experiments and provide scientific results. Thus, they will enable us to choose wisely the best solution wisely. (verb+object+ adverb of manner)


Vassilis, wow! That is an amazing piece of writing on a topic we hardly had  any time to discuss! Also, the way you handled the issue was very clever and at no point did it confuse the reader, which is a feat in its own right.

Well done and keep up the effort! 

Grammar 4/5
Vocabulary 4/5-- possibly 5/5
Rhetoric 5/5

Total score: 13/15 at the very least! Christina 👍💪😊

GM food!

  Nowadays a problem of genetically modified food is widespread all over the world. More and more genetically modified food appear in our life. Gm foods designed to cover people's consumption.These products have high nutrional values and have the privilege of long duration. However, thera are opinions about potential risks and ethical concerns which have still debaded. So, should genetically modified crops advance in agricultural?
   In my opion, the genetically modified foods are beneficial in our life. Such a population increase, so the consumption icrease too. The agriculture can not afford this consumption.Genetically modified foods can replace the genuine foods.There are products that are modified crop, like soya. Soya originated from bean with icludes high protein. Most people choosing to eat meatless foods and soya helps for it. If people consume soya, the consumption will reduce.The food do not enough for all population.If there are abundant products, hunger and hamine will reduce! People go hungry either because they can not afford or because they do not have access to land on which they could grow it themselves.
   There is an another people's category believe that genetically modified foods should be banned,because these products are prone to diseases cause health problems and allergies.The modified DNA cause health problems because the human do not absorb them and it is dangerous to eat these products. Some products have different shape and taste with full of growth hormones. The most drawback of genetically modified foods is hormones. All diseases are caused from hormones and this is the reason for people choosing biological products.
   In sum up, the genetically modified food contribute in abundance products. Most people die from malnutrition which is serious problem from humanity.Even people bevieve that modified foods are unhealthy, we hold the production of these foods. Trangenic crops will make a decisive contribution to winning the war against hunger!


-------- Now here are my corrections:

  Nowadays, COMMA the problem of genetically modified food is widespread all over the world. More and more genetically modified food appears in our life. GM foods are designed to cover people's consumption rates.These products have high nutritional values and have the privilege of a long duration because of the changes scientists have made to these plants' genetic code. However, there are opinions about potential risks and ethical concerns which have are still being debated. So/ Therefore, should genetically modified crops continue being used in agriculture?

I have now broken down your paragraph in parts to better explain what I mean.

   In my opinion, the genetically modified foods are beneficial in our life. FIRST ARGUMENT The population increases, so do the consumption rates. The agriculture cannot satisfy the rapidly increasing needs of consumers worldwide. Therefore, genetically modified foods can replace natural products to some extent.There are products that are from modified crops, like soya.

SECOND ARGUMENT Soya originated from a bean with includes high protein. Most people are now choosing to eat meatless foods and soya helps cover their natural need for protein. If people consume soya, the consumption of other products will reduce.

NOW YOU GO BACK TO THE FIRST ARGUMENT - why? This needs to be done immediately, as the food is not enough for all the population.If there are abundant GM products, which can easily be produced in mass quantities, hunger and famine rates are expected to fall. (NO EXCLAMATION MARKS IN ESSAYS)

THIRD ARGUMENT- WHERE IS THE LINKING WORD? People go hungry either because they cannot afford or because they do not have access to land on which they could grow it themselves.  ---> YOU NEED MORE EXPLANATION FOR THIS ARGUMENT

 The reader must easily understand the whole structure of the paragraph, so be careful! 💟

   There are some other people who believe that genetically modified foods should be banned no comma because these products are prone to diseases are likely to cause health problems and allergies.The modified DNA causes health problems there is no way to predict how the human organism will absorb it; consequently, it might be dangerous to eat these products. Some products have a different shape and taste and are full of growth hormones. The most significant drawback of genetically modified foods is hormones. All diseases are caused by hormones and this is the reason why people choose organic products.

   To sum up, the genetically modified food contributes to an abundance of available products. Most people die from malnutrition which is a serious problem for humanity.--> THIS IS AN ARGUMENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN THE MAIN BODY: GM CROPS ARE A WAY TO FIGHT WORLD HUNGER Even if people believe that modified foods are unhealthy, governments should not disrupt the production of these foods. Transgenic crops will make a decisive contribution to winning the war against hunger. (no exclamation marks)

You ended with an argument which should have been analysed more in the main body. It is a difficult topic which you understood completely alone, so that is a solid effort! Keep studying, wonderful athlete and blogger! I am also going to post some slides which will help you all to understand this topic a little more. Christina 💘

National Tolerance Day 16 November

The links to all the material we used during Friday’s presentation:

http://markaki-students.blogspot.com/2018/02/celebrating-black-history-and-tolerance.html

Note down useful ideas on your phrasebook by thoroughly reading the slides. Do not forget to enjoy the music videos and contemplate on the message their creators were trying to convey. 

Rebel Without a Cause?

Why are adolescents rebellious? Why do they find themselves at odds with their parents and teachers so often? Is this a natural, healthy part of growing up or a potentially dangerous tendency? In preparing your thoughts for Essay Topic 1, Test 2 in Practice Tests for the ECPE (Book 1), it may be helpful to read the following:

 Some thoughts on the benefits of rebelling, by an Australian counsellor on teenagers.

A more conservative view by an American psychologist, arguing that there are more constructive alternatives to rebellion.

Remember: articles such as the above ones are great sources of ideas, vocabulary and expressions, but whole passages should never be copied directly. Happy hunting!

Children's TV: How good and how much?

Thinking of the first essay topic in ECPE Practice Test 5, here is some food for thought on the subject of children's TV.







1. Research-based guidelines for parents from Stanford University on how much TV children should watch.

2. A course blog post from Penn State University on the positive and negative effects of TV on  children and adults, with plenty of links to other sources.

3. An article from The Washington Post on the positive effects of the highly popular children's show Sesame Street.

4. A letter to the Guardian newspaper in response to Australian proposals to advise parents on children's TV habits.

"Zoothanasia": Is it ethical for zoos to kill healthy animals?

In preparing for the second essay topic in ECPE Test 5, here is a selection of links to discussions triggered by the culling in 2012 of a healthy male giraffe named Marius at Copenhagen Zoo.





 1. The Wikipedia entry for Marius, giving the background to the issue.

2. A 10-minute radio presentation from CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, on the reasons given for killing animals bred in captivity, and possible alternatives.

3. A 2012 article from the New York Times, looking further at the issue, and the difference in approaches taken by zoos on both sides of the Atlantic.

4. Another article from the popular science magazine Scientific American (an excellent source of reading material!), with detailed argumentation on the pros and cons of 'euthanasia' versus birth control in zoos, plus links to further information.

Appearances: ECPE Tests Book 1, Test 3, Writing topic 1

To get us thinking about what effect our appearance has on others, and why people often go to extremes when creating their own personal style, here are two newspaper articles (with a bonus vocab exercise added to the second!):

1. Yes, Looks Do Matter  

from The New York Times gets the ball rolling by discussing the case of Susan Boyle, a very plain looking Scottish woman who became an internet sensation in 2009 after appearing on "Britain's Got Talent", which launched her highly successful international career. Unsurprisingly, she has since made major changes to her appearance. We all know that we tend to make snap judgements of other based on their looks, but why do we do so?

2. Body piercing revival is ‘rite of passage’ as well as fashion

The Independent (www.independent.co.uk), Saturday 8^th March 2003

The practice has been described as self mutilation, a violation of socially defined standards of beauty and a "fashion-caused infringement of physical immaculacy". Now a new theory has been advanced to explain the growing popularity of body piercing – it is a rite of passage and a way of marking significant life events, especially traumatic ones.

The proliferation of body piercings in the past decade has worried doctors and puzzled psychologists. From the traditional site of the female earlobe, jewellery has spread across the body and is now proudly displayed in the eyebrow, nose, lip, tongue and belly button – to name but a few of the possible sites – and by both sexes.

Its popularity is growing around the world and is expanding across social and age groups, says Aglaja Stirn, a psychiatrist at JW Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, who has made a study of the practice.

There are few reliable statistics for the number of people who have had piercings but one US study of college students found 42 per cent of the men and 60 per cent of the women had them. An Australian study of 10,000 people aged over 13, found 8 per cent had some form of piercing. Writing in The Lancet, Dr Stirn says body piercing has been a common practice in almost every society around the world but the reasons for its sudden growth in the West remain disputed.

Dr Stirn says it is important to combat prejudice by recognising the "often intense motivations" behind the activity. One view is that piercing is undertaken to increase self esteem. "The need for even young adolescents to improve their appearance and self-esteem with extreme and even risky measures can be viewed as evidence of a regressive trend in Western culture," she writes.

Others believe fashion drives piercing. One study found that piercers wanted to "create something different, individual and lasting on themselves".

But from her own study of 104 people who had piercings, Dr Stirn concluded that the motive ran deeper and often marked triumph over adversity. "These individuals got their piercings at special moments in their lives, to commemorate positive experiences or to mark the end and overcoming of negative ones. There is a strong relation between tattoos and piercings and personal events, especially if traumatic."

Body piercing can also be seen as therapeutic because the procedure is followed by weeks or months of self care, involving bathing and cleaning the pierced site. This "forces the individual to be concerned with their body and themselves during the healing process". Dr Stirn says better regulation and understanding of the reasons behind body piercing are the best way to protect those choosing this method of "conveying ... a sense of identity and a coherent self".

The pleasures and risks of adornment

Addie Chinn, at 23, has four piercings – three in his ears and a tongue stud – and a tattoo. He works in a bar in east London and is planning his next. "Lip, nose – I'm not sure. I'm thinking about it," he said.

As a 16-year-old with long hair and an instinct to provoke, he got his ear pierced for the first time mainly because it was forbidden by his school. "It was more of a rebellious impulse. I would do anything to assert my independence," he said.

His next came two years later during A-levels. "It wasn't planned but I was finishing school and I wanted to mark the event in some way. It seemed the right thing to do." At 21, he had his tongue pierced. "It was overcoming another barrier that attracted me. It hurts."

'Like banging a nail in wood'

The dangers of body piercing were highlighted by the case of Katrina Healey who lost part of her ear after a piercing gun instead of a specialist needle was used to insert a gold stud.

The gun shattered the cartilage and she lost the top of her ear after it shrivelled and died – the gun should only be used on the lobe. Katrina had three operations and needs plastic surgery to rebuild her ear. She was awarded almost £14,000 in damages. Her mother, Karen Hudson, had refused permission so Katrina, then 12, had had the piercing behind her back. When the piercing developed an abscess she was in agony.

The Body Piercing Association said: "Using a gun is a mistake. It's like banging a nail through a piece of wood."

Find words in bold with the following meanings

1. round part at the bottom of the ear: ____________   11. damaging the body: __________

2. sudden desire to do something: ____________           12. obstacle: ____________

3. fight against something negative: ____________       13. demonstrate: ____________

4. well organized and coordinated: ____________ 14. helping you to recover: ____________

5. state firmly and stand up for: ____________      15. hitting very hard: ____________

6. money paid as compensation: ____________   16. very difficult conditions: ____________

7. celebrate the importance of an event: ____________ 17. controlling: ____________

8. showed: ____________           18. debated, the subject of disagreement: ____________

9. decoration: ____________       19. propose, put forward (idea etc.): ____________

10. break into small pieces: ____________  20. sudden increase in number: ____________

Writing links

General structure of an essay
http://fullspate.digitalcounterrevolution.co.uk/advanced-efl-essay-writing/ecpe-essay-writing-advice.html

3 Sample essays on intriguing topics:
http://fullspate.digitalcounterrevolution.co.uk/advanced-efl-essay-writing/model-advanced-essays.html

Useful essay phrases:
http://fullspate.digitalcounterrevolution.co.uk/advanced-efl-essay-writing/advanced-essay-phrases.html

Stress and how to cope with it

  There is no doubt that people nowadays are members of an extremely stressful world with a lot of problems that each individual has to deal with."Stress" is one of those words that provokes a considerable nymber of discussions. Why are people, in our era, so anxious and stressed about everything? I am inclined to believe that the main cause of stress is the constant mind-wandering thoughts. Every human being is worried about different things, in particular living up to expectations, being competitive or planning the future. Needless to say that the intensive and demanding daily routine makes people feel inundated and overwhelmed. A stressful way of living can have many effects on people who try to cope with it in different ways.
  Stress might have perilous effects on a person. To start with, many psychological problems, such as depression, can be caused by this way of living. People's mind whizzes like a washing machine without stopping to appreciate the present moment,which causes unhappiness and makes people feel lost in thoughts about their problems. Consequently, they feel depressed and agitated. Secondly, being stressed distract a person and do not allow them to focus, due to continuous thinking of problems. Hence, even the easiest problem, like what to cook for dinner, is magnified and seems to be very difficult.
  Individuals try to deal with this higly debatable issue in many ways. However, sometimes they do it mistakenly. A striking example of this is resorting to  taking medicine in order to become calm and relaxed. To make matters worse, some people, who cannot find an effective treatment, turn to drugs or alcohol for escaping from their problems and their thoughts.Apart of this way of dealing with stress some people just do nothing. They try to omit and forget the things that cause them stress by burying themselves in work or pretending that they are mindful.Although they might get rid of stress, it is unfortunately temporary.
  As far as positive ways of facing anxiety are concerned, I am convinced that everyone could find an effective way. Meditation could be a succesful way to solve this problem. In fact, with meditation people learn how to pause their mind and being appreciative of the present moment, this is where happiness stems from. It is obvious that it is preferable to learn how to be mindful as a prevention and not as a remedy. Last but not least, other steps could be suggested. This is clearly illustrated by discussing with their family, friend or even with an expert.
  In the light of this evidence, there is no absolute answer to the question of why people nowadays feel stressed and how they can deal with it successfully. From my poiont of view, every idividual has a different way of facing stress which would be effective. I streongly believe that all of us should find it, in order to make world a less stressful place to live in.

GM crops

         Nowadays, with the technological advances it is easier for scientists to increase food production by altering the genes of basic foods. Proponents of this issue usually claim that it is the only alternative to remedy hunger which torments all the world. However, opponents of this issue doubt whether the benefits are worth the possibly disastrous consequences of interfering with nature. Personally, I believe that this is an ambivalent plan and many parameters should be considered to reach a final conclusion.
         To begin with, suporters of GM crops claim that with them we can face the essential problem of malnutrition and hunger. A huge amount of people are starving and the list of these people keeps rising. Due to this, proponents of genetic modified crops believe that is the only solution to this problem. Their opinion is mostly based on predictions that were made saying that the following years more than four billion people will starve and that our planet does not have the necessary land which we will need to feed everyone.
         On the other hand, GM foods are usually a subject of protests in which many organizations and opponents of them take part. The key areas of these protests are not only the effects of GM crops on human health but also on environment. Many people argue that not enough tests have been done to identify the long-term effects of GM food on our health. Some of them fear that certain GM crops may cause health problems ranging from allergies to kidney and liver damage. Only if this is true, will a vast majority of people be opposed to it. Furthermore, another reason for critisizing this new crops is that for some people it is unethical to tamper with the DNA of organisms even if we talk about humans' DNA or vegetables'. Last but not least, hunger and famine can, and often do, occur when food is abundant. People go hungry either because they cannot afford food or because they do not have access to land which they could grow themselves.
          Takig everything into consideration, I am inclined to maintain that genetic modified crops  should not be used until more researches are done in order to see the effects they have on humanity's health and also on our environment, No sooner will more researches have been done than more people will accept GM crops and, as a consequence, hunger and malnutrition will be surpassed.

What is education?

                  Nowadays, a debate has been going on about whether education is about learning or about teaching people to get along in society. Personally, I maintain that it is an ambivalent issue and many parameters should be considered to reach a final decision.
                  First of all, it is undeniable that learning from school is one of the most vital factors in children's or young people's lives. By learning about facts and figures we can be fully prepared for our adult life in many ways, such as, managing money or teamwork between people or companies. Another significant reason is that we need to have the basic knowledge to understand the current events and issues. As a result, we may improve our objectivity and have clear opinions about crucial issues. For example, we may have a more clear view about politics or who to vote in the elections.
                  There is, however, another side to consider: that is, society's role in people's education. Many people support the view that the most knowledgeable person may be in the future the worst person. According to this, educated person is not the one with more degrees but the one who behaves better to the other people. Moreover, we can learn how to behave in different situations, how to be an active citizen and how to deal with all the responsibilities, For a large amount of people this is an example of behaviour.
                  Taking everything into consideration, although there is no absolute answer to the question of what is education, I am inclined to believe that education is about both learning about facts and figures and teaching people how to get along with each other in our society. We should all be educated but also well beahaved to all other people, so both forms of education sre necessary.

Microchip implants

                For some time now, a debate has been going on about whether people should have implanted microchips. All their personal data will be contained in them in order for people to be scanned when they go into a public service or other places where the traditional ID is now needed. Personally, I maintain that the scheme will gradually eliminate our personal identity and our rights. It violates human rights and freedoms and makes humans a consumable item without personal lives. 

                To begin with, the use of this device renders people to items which you can scan and know everything about. Thus, people will know more things for us than they should. For example, a doctor is not interested in our assets. This may lead to violation of our personality, personal freedoms or privacy. Furthermore, another fear of people is that it is not difficult for criminals to use concealed scanners to retrieve information on people's chips. It would then be quite straightforward for them to write their own chip and begin pretending to be someone else. Health is another vital point which people focus on. It is believed that these chips may emit radiation which can affect our health system. Last but not least, if the democratic polity of a country gives way to dictatorship, the dictator will be delighted that everyone has a chip and all the citizens' personal data are kept on a computer.

                On the other hand, if the tranditional ID cards are replaced by the microchips, people will not be able to lose them and also chips are more convenient. Chips may open up possibilities for technology such as automatic security doors for the home and keys may no longer be necessary. Moreover, it will be more difficult for people to commit fraud.

                Taking everything into consideration, my firm belief is that microchips will have detrimental effects on people's lives. Instead of using microchips, countries should provide citizens with a registration code where all their data will be kept. We shouldn't forget that human rights and freedoms are supreme values that should never be violated.

Death penalty

          Capital punishment is being used for serious crimes in many countries such as, the USA, China, the Phillipines and Iran. Some people believe that is a retribution to the offenders, but others say that is the ultimate punishment and it is unfair for the criminals. Personally, I think that it is an ambivalent issue and many parameters should be considered to make a final decision.
            First of all, as a large number of people claim, the death penalty is what a doer of serious crimes, for example, terrorism, homicide or arson deserve. They took a life, so their life should be taken too. Furthermore, advocates of capital punishment insist that without the death penalty as a deterrent, more lives will be lost because the murder rate will go up. Therefore, if the issue is saving lives, we ought to have capital punishment, even if a few innocent people lose their lives. In addition, this punishment may satisfy the family of the victim.
             On the other side, opponents of this view say that is the worst punishment which violates the right to life. Moreover, it cannot be used as a deterrent because countries where this ultimate punishment is approved, have a bigger murder rate than those who do not. The real purpose of all the punishments is penal, so the criminals can understand their mistake. What is more, opponents of capital punishment say that as the death row increasing the convicted people have to wait for years until they finally be executed. As a result of this, they may suffer from psychological problems.
            Taking everything into consideration, I believe that this issue has significant advantages, but also important disadvantages. As I see it, the best option is to develop a better judicial system in which the death penalty will be approved only with the confirmation of the Minister of Justice for very serious crimes such as, massive terrorist attacks.

Pop and rock music

   
                  For some time now, a debate has been going on about whether pop and rock music exert harmful influence on adolescents and whether they should be banned.
                   To begin with, one of the reasons why music is important for young people is that teenagers are trying to explore the new world of adulthood through music. They choose songs whose lyrics can express the problems that they have in their everyday life. Furthermore, music and especially pop and rock music is one of the most famous and accessible to all people. Teenagers see the singers and musicians as the perfect idol, so they become familiar with them. Except from this, most of pop and rock songs convey very positive messages about the world around us and people's mentality, which help them form their identity. Also, listening to pop and rock music helps them become familiar with literature, as many songs of these types of music are based on poetry turned into music.
                    Secondly, another beneficial influence of music is that is an outstanding way to relax. In recent years, young people's lives have been dominated by an increasingly hectic schedule and it has become more and more difficult for them to relax. By listening to music, they are free to relax, they can easily fall asleep and also they can express their feelings because most of songs seem to ease their pain that they may feel because of the identify crisis. Lat but not least, music is worldwide used as the best entertainment. If you go to a cafe or shopping, you will listen to music in the shops so their outing may be more entertaining and interesting.
                     Taking everything into consideration, I firmly believe that music should not be banned and neither the versions of it. Pop and rock songs convey very positive messages that might contribute to making the world a better place. Also, music helps adolescents to form and strengthen their character.

Time capsules

      
                 As the second millennium drew to a close, many people made their own personal time capsules-that is, they put items they believed were typical for their life and times into a waterproof container, which they buried in hopes that it would be found by future generations. But what picture would I want to give future generations? 
                 To begin with, the first item I would include would be a magazine or a newspaper's front pages with major headlines to see the covers of this age and learn about the news and current affairs. People would be very interested in learning about the past historical and sports affairs and awards that worldwide famous people have won.
                  Other items I would include would be an encyclopedia as a reminder of their descent, but as a reminder of the past too. In an encyclopedia you can learn a variety of new things such as the customs and traditions of your country or major historical points that shocked our society. Moreover, another idea is writing a letter in which we can express our opinion about our social life. In this way whoever found the capsule would understand our try for a better future.
                   Taking everything into consideration, I can only hope that future generations will also read everything that people put into these time capsules.

Fame and Public Recognition

Since  the dawn of civilization, some individuals reckon that fame and public recognition are the most primeval and powerful stimuli, especially when they strive to surpass their expectations and achieve something outstanding. Nevertheless, I am inclined to believe that this kind of success is not the most important virtue in life, although it is rewarding for a personal feat.

Albeit the fact that the way media treat famous people indicates that the price of fame has peaked, it is an undisputed fact that being publicly acclaimed for an admirable achievement contributes to elevating a person's self-esteem levels. That is, the elation a person feels when they are hailed as paragons of virtue is priceless, especially when those people have experienced an ordeal. On the contrary, people are generally poor judges and their opinions are quite easily swayed by ostentation; subsequently, people who seek fame and public recognition are vain and quasi proud of their career. So, it is crucial we comprehend that achieving something and being modest about it should be our top priority instead of yielding to fame, which is directly related to being in the limelight and having almost no privacy. 

Moreover, it is a fact of contemporary life that fame is no longer contingent on real and substantial achievement; thus, it has been devalued. A case in point is that fame and public recognition are for a tiny minority, when millions of people living, for instance, in unsanitary urban slums struggle to keep the wolf from the door. So, real heroes who deserve to be paid tributes to are simple people who fight with their own demons. Apart from that, far more satisfying than the transient enthusiasm of an audience, is the more permanent love of a partner and family. More specifically, not only does domestic sphere constitute the most honest means of feeling that true value is really recognized, but it is also the only place where true happiness and mental triumph, which are extremely important virtues, can be attained. 

Taking everything into consideration, there is no doubt in my mind that fame and public acclaim actually disgrace the importance of an achievement and should not be the objectives of people. Only if we endeavor to understand what is really crucial in our lives, will we be able to make the greatest achievement, without involving fame. 

Education system

Ever since the earliest days of our education system there has been a great deal of heated debate about whether education is about book learning or preparing children to be part of society. It is an undisputed fact that school concentrates on fact and figures instead of socialisation (i.e. the means by which social and cultural continuity are attained).

Although the curriculum is teemed with mandatory academic subjects and vocational training, few people would deny that such a solid basic education is required t gain significant qualifications. That is, future employees will be good and ready for the job they wish to apply for. Apart from that, facts and figures contribute to elevating literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy skills, since emphasis is laid on History and Mathematics; subsequently, critically thinking students will be created. last but not least, basic knowledge which helps students comprehend contemporary events, for instance the evolution of technology, is provided. However, this educational method remains always the same and its only purpose is to generate machines.

On the other hand, though, there is another side to consider: that is, education's role in socialisation. First and foremost, since the school is one of the most predominant agents of socialisation, it is vital we comprehend that not only does it offer students moral principles, such as co-operation, respect, good manners and compromise, but it also teaches them how to behave in different situations. That is, schools have the formal responsibility of imparting knowledge in those disciplines, which are most central t adult functioning in democratic societies. Lastly, apprentices are provided with the opportunity to assimilate society's rules better. Thus, the shaping of future civilians'  character is a contingent on education. 

Taking .all this into consideration, there is no doubt in my mind that too much emphasis is placed on facts and figures and not enough on socialising students. Only if education creates a balanced curriculum embodying both vocational training and socialisation, will the world be a much better place to live in.