Public Service Announcements

A PSA, or Public Service Announcement, is a message broadcasted on television, radio, or other media outlets with the intention of informing the public about important issues, raising awareness, or promoting behavior change. PSAs are often used by government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other entities to address topics such as health and safety, environmental conservation, and social issues. The goal of a PSA is to educate the audience and encourage positive action or behavior.

Assignment Overview: Each student will analyze and write a comparative essay on two different PSAs. They will focus on the rhetoric (including visual rhetoric), and evaluate how ethos, pathos, and logos are employed to convey the PSA's message effectively.

Assignment Details:
Step 1: Analyze Each PSA

- Watch/Read: View each PSA multiple times, paying attention to both verbal and visual elements.
- Identify Rhetorical Elements:
  - Ethos: Assess the credibility and trustworthiness of the message and its sources.
  - Pathos: Analyze emotional appeals, including tone, imagery, and storytelling techniques used to evoke emotions.
  - Logos: Evaluate logical appeals, including facts, statistics, and reasoning used to support the message.
  - Visual Rhetoric: Consider how visuals (images, colors, layout, typography) contribute to the persuasive impact of the PSA.

Step 2: Comparative Analysis

- Introduction: Introduce the two PSAs, briefly summarizing their messages and intended audiences.
- Body Paragraphs:
  - Rhetorical Appeals Comparison: Compare how each PSA uses ethos, pathos, and logos. Discuss similarities and differences in their effectiveness.
  - Visual Rhetoric Comparison: Analyze the visual elements of each PSA. How do the visuals enhance the message and appeal to the audience?
- Conclusion: Summarize your findings and reflect on which PSA you found more persuasive and why. Discuss the overall effectiveness of each PSA in achieving its intended purpose.

Formatting and Submission:

- The essay should be 4-5 pages long, double-spaced, with 12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins.
- Include screenshots or descriptions of visual elements to support your analysis.
- Submit your essay as a printed document or digitally through the classroom platform by the due date.

Evaluation Criteria:

- Analysis: Depth and insightfulness of the analysis of rhetorical elements and appeals.
- Comparison and Contrast: Clear and meaningful comparison of how ethos, pathos, logos, and visual rhetoric are utilized in each PSA.
- Effectiveness: Evaluation of how well each PSA communicates its message and engages the audience.
- Organization: Logical structure, clear introduction, coherent body paragraphs, and a strong conclusion.
- Writing Quality: Clarity, grammar, punctuation, and adherence to formatting guidelines.