Gutterson's No Place Like Home

1.When Gutterson writes, "Green Valley is as much a verb as it is a noun", he means that Green valley is growing and moving just as much as it is a place. Gutterson says," Everywhere on the fringes of its 8,400 acres one finds homes going up, developments going in, the desert in the throes of being transformed in accordance with the master plan of Green Valley's Designer and builder, the American Nevada Corporation (183). This just means that the goal of the American Nevada Corporation is to grow larger and larger, making this word a verb. However, residents have many rules to what they can and cannot do. For example, residents are not allowed to have exterior speakers, whistles, noises, or anything out of the ordinary (187).

2.Gutterson's tone is very casual. He states facts about the community in descriptive language and calm diction. We also see that he has done his research about this place. He has spoken with the mayor, families in the community and even a 9 year old. This fact accounts for his tone because he is confident that what he is saying is correct, so he states it casually. Gutterson states,"Green Valley beckons the American middle class like the fabulous and eternal dream". This is an example of his casual and descriptive tone.

3.Although the suburbs may appear safe on the outside, Gutterson states some astonishing facts about the Green Valley Community. "A November 1991 heist in which two armed robbers took a handcuffed hostage and more than $100,000 from a Green Valley Bank" (188) was just one of the acts of violence Green valley has encountered, along with fires, child molesters and rapings. This supports the fact that although these suburbs may seem safer, crime is everywhere. I believe this is true because in such seemingly safe suburbs like Farragut, TN, where I am from, we still see the occasional bank robbery or even murder such as the one last month at the Days Inn Hotel, just across from where I grew up.

my home

5 things that remind me of home
my dog
my room
my kitchen
my parents bedroom
my backyard

my backyard:
The best memory that reminds me of home is my backyard. Me and my brother and sister used to play in the backyard and pretend that we were running our own restaurant. We would serve my mom lemonade and sandwiches and I would pretend to be a waitress. We used to swing on the swingset and play with my old dog lucy. I also leaned to ride my bike and rollerblade in my backyard. Any chance I would get I would play outside with my brother and sister in my backyard, so looking at it really reminds me of home. Whenever I go back to it, I can hear the same crickets chirping and the train go by, and it makes me feel like I am a kid again.

what i have to know to get this joke:

who sara palin is
who hilary clinton is
their politicol views
where sara palin lives
that she is running for vice president
that she is a hunter
that hilary is no longer in the running


In order for the Sara Palin and Hiliary Clinton SNL skit to be funny, you first must know these two women and what they stand for politcally. You must know that Hilary was in the running to become the first woman president ever. You must also know that Sara Palin is a mayor from a small town in Alaska. She hunts and many people have talked more about her beauty than her vice president abilites. Also you need to know that Palin is a "hockey mom" with lots of chldren with very convervative views. While Hilary is very liberal and is no longer in the running to become president.

a man for a day

If I woke up tomorrow morning and I had turned into a man, I would probably freak out for a few hours and then I might actually get excited. First of all, I wouldn't have to worry about what to wear or how to do my hair or have to put on makeup. I would just throw on clothes and look awesome. Then I would probably decide to do something boyish to see if i like it. Perhaps watch football or go to the gym. I would definately buzz my hair to look like justin timberlake so i could get allof the ladies. I would probably end up gay though, because after all, I would still have a girl's mind. However, at the end of the day, i would probably want to be a girl again because i would get sick of doing boy stuff.

rhetoric scavenger hunt

observations:

shoes are main picture

blue

converse sneakers

"walk this way"

very big sign/poster

informs you not to walk alone at night and call the t link

inferences:

college students are the main audience 

the tone is casual but also serious

the text persuades the audience to call the t

pathos- blue, casual shoes that everyone can relate to 

ethos- we all know it is dangerous to walk on campus sponsered by PRECAUTIONS

logos- it is logical to call the t instead of becoming an easy target

I took a picture of this poster outside of the Hodges Library. It was standing up and atleast 3 feet when  I walked in. It catches you attention because of its size and also because of the large image of a pair of sneakers. These sneakers appeal to college students because they are a casual, popular style worn mainly by students in our age range. The purpose of the poster is to try to get students to take the t link, walk in groups and remain alert at night. If you are distracted, you may unknowingly be telling a bad guy to "walk this way". This poster also catches your attention because the main color is blue, so the numbers for the t link stand out and catch your attention as well. Of course we are going to listen to this poster without a lot of ethos because we know UT is a dangerous campus. The writing in this poster is mostly using logos because we all know it is logical to call the t when we are alone, and it also explains you may become a target if you are not aware. Pathos are used in the color of the poster and the picture of the shoes. I believe the rheteric used in this advertisement is very effective in getting students to call the t link.

my weekend

Dear Courtney,

Hey I just wanted to tell you about my weekend! Although we are roommates and we do a lot of things together, I still want to share with you. Well on Friday I didn't get out of class until 5:30, so when I got back to our dorm, I took a nap. After that we met up and went to some frat house, it was sort of lame, but I know you had a good time. Later that night I ran into my friend Lindsay who I am sitting next to right now in English class! Anyways I don't remember what time we got home but then we went to bed. On Saturday, I woke up super late and I went back to Farragut to eat dinner with my ma. She made me spaghetti and it was delicious. After I got home, we met up and went to Stephen's house. Then I left you there to go to Jimmy John's because I was hungry. On Sunday, we watched fireworks for a while and then we went to Nick and Jesse's house. You spent the night there, but I decided to go back to the dorm. On Monday I went to a Labor Day party at my parent's pool. It was very fun but I got a little burnt. Then on Tuesday, it was back to school. I love you!

Peace,
Amanda


Hey Mamasara!

This weekend was very fun, and I am glad that I got to see you! On Friday, I went out with my roommate Courtney to a frat house. On Saturday, I came home and I got to see you. We ate spaghetti with my ma. After I left my house I went home and went to Stephen's house. We didn't stay long, but after that we went back to the dorm. Sunday was Boom's Day so me and Court watched fireworks and then went to our friend's house. We both went back to the dorm that night pretty early. On Monday, I went to mom's pool party and then took a long nap. When I got back to my dorm, I studied for a quiz I had on Tuesday and went to bed early.

I love you,
Amanda

your brain on drugs

video number 1

observations:

simple

egg in frying pan

oil in pan

deep voice speaking in background

short

any questions?

inferences:

the oil symbolizes drugs while the egg is your brain

this shows that by doing drugs your brain will be fried

it is simple and to the point

reaches a broad spectrum of people

doesn't focus on one drug, but all

video number 2

observations:

Rachael Leigh Cook stars in it

focuses on heroine

she breaks things

is more specific on what things will happen if you do heroine

smashes the egg

inferences:

this ad is more focused on heroine

the young actor speaks to the youth

the violence almost scares you into not doing heroine

longer so perhaps the viewers believe it more

analysis:

The intended audience for video number one is anyone who has ever considered doing or who has ever done drugs. It reaches a broad audience because it is a very simple and to the point commercial. Video number two has a more specific audience. This audience is perhaps young people who do or have thought about doing heroine only. The tone in the first video is more subtle. The speaker's voice is calm and is not threatening. The tone in the second video is much more intense. This ad is violent and scary, as the actress lists the things that will happen to you if you do heroine. You do not need to know anything in specific to understand the first video. The second however, stars actress Rachael Leigh Cook. Knowing that this is a famous actress may change the video's ethos. By seeing that a famous actress is speaking about heroine, the audience may want to listen more. The purposes in these videos are the same: to keep people off of drugs, however it is more specific to heroine in the second video.  The second video is more effective rhetorically because it uses more pathos. The actress is upset which makes you think maybe she has been through the pain of doing drugs before and the audience sympathizes for her. She also has more ethos because she is a famous actress.