PSA: Public Service Announcements for The Crucible: What is a PSA?

What is a PSA?

A PSA is an ad that seeks to persuade an audience to take a specific action or adopt a particular viewpoint on a cause or social issue.  It can be a short video (30-60 second ad), an image, or an audio clip (though for this assignment, please choose between video or image).  

I. Defining and Exploring Assignment

II.  What is a PSA?

• viewing examples together
  • What do you notice?
  • What are the key features?

III. Understanding Persuasive Techniques

• Ethos, Pathos, Logos
• What are 2-3 techniques you would like to try?

IV. Explore Examples

• Who is the audience?
• What is the message?
• What persuasive techniques are employed?
• Pick an image and a video PSA to share with your group.

V. Work on planning sheet

The Crucible Project:   Create a Public Service Announcement (PSA)

What will I do?

You will create a Public Service Announcement (PSA)

• that addresses one of the many social issues raised in the play, and
• that will make a positive difference in the lives of others. 

What are the requirements for creating/producing a PSA?

          A PSA must be PERSUASIVE

• Argue one clear point of view
• Make you want to do (or not do) something

•                   ENTERTAINING

• Engage the audience with a variety of media, such as narration, text, interviews, etc.
• Use Photographs, dramatizes, or music
• Hold your audience’s attention

BASED ON FACTS

• Use and cite data from reliable sources
• Do not rely on rumors or unsupported opinions

CLEAR AND HAVE A REALISTIC MESSAGE

• Prompt viewer to make a positive change in thinking or action

CONCISE

• Get to the point and convince your audience in 30 to 60 seconds

What are my options for completing this PSA assignment?

            There are a few different options for this project: (Hint:  You can use your phones J)

• Video PSA  (must be recorded prior to class)
• Radio PSA    (must be recorded prior to class)
• Print PSA – social media campaign/magazine/ billboard PSA (must be computer generated; NO hand-drawn images or writing)

What written work needs to accompany my PSA? 

Here is a list:

• DRAFT/PLAN of project
• NOTES taken while researching
• WORKS CITED PAGE – listing all of the sources you used to produce your PSA
• A TYPED ANALYSIS explaining how the PSA you created connects to The Crucible and why you decided on this topic.  It must be at 250-350 words in length (don’t forget to double-space).

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Lesson Library Standards: