Personal and Social Responsibility

ASSIGNMENT 4: Public Service Announcement

Learning Target (Curricular Competencies): Transform ideas and information to create original texts.  Access information for diverse purposes and from a variety of sources to inform writing

A Public Service Announcement (PSA) is a message in the public interest  disseminated without charge, with the objective of raising awareness, changing public attitudes and behavior towards a social issue.

The earliest PSA's were made before and during World War II to focus on the country's needs in times of war such as encouraging the public to invest their savings in war bonds. After the war, they were used to educate the public on a broader range of important issues. Sometimes organizations will enlist the support of a celebrity to read a PSA. One notable example is Crips gang leader Stanley Williams speaking from prison to urge youth not to join gangs. Another example is a public health warning sent from the World Health Organization.

An effective Public Service Announcement should persuade an audience to take a favorable action for social change. PSA's will create awareness, show the importance of an issue, convey information, and promote social change.

Two examples of PSA's that have become a part of our daily life are the ads for fire prevention and not using drugs. These 2 examples show the massive impact PSAs have on our culture.

Only You can Prevent Forest Fires

This is your Brain on Drugs

Now write your own PSA.

Task: 

1. Choose a topic that is important to you. Click this link for some ideas. Keep your focus narrow and to the point.
2. Research convincing and accurate information on your topic. You can use information for your area of focus.
3. Consider your target audience. Who do you want to rally to action? What are their needs and preferences?
4. Grab your audience's attention. You might use visual effects, an emotional response, or surprise.
5. Make sure your message is clear. Develop a script beforehand. A 30 second PSA will typically require about 5-7 concise statements.
6. Submit your PSA in your chosen final format. You could read it as an audio file, film it, draw it. It's your message, so you choose the medium.

Here is another site if you need some help.

Assessment:  Below you will find the exemplary criteria used to assess the assignment.  

Learning Target: (Exemplary 6/6): Exemplary comprehension of the task and clear accomplishment of the objective.  PSA is concise, grabs the audience's attention, and delivers a clear accurate message. 

Oral Presentation: (Exemplary (6/6):  Delivery conveys powerful emotions and appropriate tone using dynamic inflection. Delivery seems natural. Speech is easily understood without mumbling, muttering, or stumbling over words. Appears to have been thoroughly rehearsed. Pronunciation is accurate.

Submission: 

Use the "4.4 Public Service Announcement" link on the main page of this section of the course to upload your assignment to your teacher for marking.