The Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa is perhaps Leonardo DaVincis most famous of paintings. It is an oil painting, painted on popular wood. The painting is most famous for the smile of the woman, which people have been trying to decipher for a long time. Many believe that the portrait of DaVinci himself, while many also place a lot mystic connections with this painting. The portrait depicts a womans but, with a distant landscape that visible in the backdrop. Leonardo used a pyramid design to install the woman in a simple and calm manner within painting. The woman is shown with her hands folded, with her breast, neck, and face painted the same color as her hands. The light is diffused so that the various curves and geometrical shapes on the painting are made visible through it. Perhaps the most important thing about the painting is the womans smile. Many believe that it is innocent and inviting, while others believe it is that of smugness and is a smirk. Many scientific studies have been undertaken to determine the exact nature of the smile and the real reason remains a mystery. It is believed that every person sees the smile differently because of the changes in the lighting that Leonardo presented. The woman is shown seated in an open area, and behind her is a vast landscape, which recedes to an icy mountain. Some winding paths and far away bridge is also perceptible in the background. The painting is an amazing one and one should definitely take a look at it in order to appreciate its fully beauty. The painting is currently on display at the Musee du Louvre, in Paris.

Huntington Beach

The place that I feel most comfortable is my home town of Huntington Beach. Huntington Beach is in California about forty miles south of Los Angles. It is known as the surfing capital of the world and the best beach in Orange County. I relax as I watch the surfers gently glide over the tumbling ocean waves. Seeing the tall palm trees sway in the wind is calming to me as I watch the rolling sand dunes. As I lay on the sand, I see kites rise above the clouds and soar gracefully in the wind. The fishermen cast their line off the pier hoping to feel a tug and reel in a big fish. The sounds of Huntington Beach are that of harmony. Seagulls peacefully chirp as they soar overhead searching for food. The howling wing whistles through the beach like an arriving train. As the crash of the waves thunder to my ears, it brings me back to reality while I day dream. The sound of oil rigs across Main Street sound like a steady drum keeping the beat in a orchestra of sounds. Everything on Huntington Beach has its own unique feel. The salty air blowing on my face feels wet and cool as it passed by. The feeling of the grainy sand is comforting to my feet as I walk across the shore. When I plunge into the oceans salt water, it feels refreshing to my skin like a glass of water on a hot day. Huntington Beach is most my comfortable place mainly because the sights, sounds, and unique feel of everything are amazing. When Im there, I feel totally relaxed as if Im in my own little world. Most of all Huntington Beach is the best place that I really admire because it is my favorite place to be on the earth.

Explanation I. Introductory paragraph (Subject : Mona Lisa) Thesis Statement : The painting is most famous for the smile of the woman, which people have been trying to decipher for a long time. Point 1 in Body (Point: Overview Description) Topic Sentence : The portrait depicts a womans bust, with a distant landscape that is visible in the backdrop. A. Leonardo used a pyramid design to install the woman in a simple and calm manner within the painting. B. The woman is shown with her hands folded, with her breast, neck, and face painted the same color as her hands. C. The light is diffused so that the various curves and geometrical shapes on the painting are made visible through it. Point 2 in Body (Point: Her smile) Topic Sentence: Perhaps the most interesting thing about the painting is the womans smile. A. Many believe that it is innocent smile and inviting, while others believe it is that of smugness and is a smirk B. Many scientific studies have been undertaken to determine the exact nature of the smile and the real reason remains a mystery C. It is believed that every person sees the smile differently because of the changes in the lighting that Leonardo presented.

II.

III.

IV.

Point 3 in Body (Point: The Full Picture) A. The woman is shown seated in an open area, and behind her is a vast landscape, which recedes to an icy mountain B. Some winding paths and far away bridge is also perceptible in the background.

V.

Conclution Paragraph (briefly summarize what you have said in the essay The painting is an amazing one and one should definitely take a look at it in order to appreciate its fully beauty.

A Close Friend

Jacques has been my close friend for two years. I first met him on a school exchange trip to Calais, France. I asked him the way to the library and we started talking. We've been friends ever since. Jacques is quite good-looking. He's tall and slim, with olive skin and curly dark hair. Like many French people, he has a great sense of style, so he always looks well-dressed even in casual clothes. Jacques is very outgoing. He is always friendly and loves to have fun. He's got a fantastic sense of humour and he always makes me laugh. However, he can be a bit immature at times. For example, when he doesn't get what he wants, he acts childishly and stamps his feet. Jacques is very keen on water sports. He likes sailing and he spends a lot of time on his boat. He enjoys scuba diving, too, and loves exploring life under sea.

All in all, I'm glad to have Hacques as my friend. It's a pleasure to be with him and I really enjoy his company. I'm sure we'll always be close friends.

Gregory Gregory is my beautiful gray Persian cat. He walks with pride and grace, performing a dance of disdain as he slowly lifts and lower each paw with the delicacy of a ballet dancer. His pride, however, does not extend to his appearance, for he spends most of his time indoors watching television and growing fat. He enjoys TV commercials, especially those for Meow Mix and 9 Live. His familiarity with cat food commercials has led him to reject generic brands of cat food in favor of only the most expensive brands. Gregory is as finicky about visitors as he is about what he eats, befriending some and repealing others. He may snuggle up against your ankle, begging to be petted, or he may imitate a skunk and stain your favorite trousers. Gregory does not do this to establish his territory, as many cats experts think, but to humiliate me because he is jealous of my friend. After my guests have fled, I look at the old fleabag snoozing and smiling to himself in front of the television set, and I have to forgive him for his obnoxious, but endearing, habists.