Public Service Announcement
Assignment
What are PSAâs? (Public Service
Announcements?)
A PSA is a message designed to
change public attitudes about a specific issue by
raising awareness about the
issue. PSAâs are often delivered on t.v, or radio as an
advertisement, but can also be
delivered in a different format, such as a brochure or
poster.
What are characteristics of
PSAâs?
‐
Are short
‐
Present one single issue
‐
Inform the viewer of key, relevant facts
‐
Have a clear call to action
‐
Might or might not include people
‐
Sometimes use special effects (black and white)
‐
Aim to have a lasting impact
‐
Can use positive reinforcement to encourage behavior or change
What is the purpose of this
assignment?
The purpose of this assignment is
to design a Public Service Announcement (PSA)
on a particular social issue or
problem that relates to sociology. The purpose of
the PSA will be to bring
awareness to this issue and suggest courses of action.
You many choose your own social
issue/problem to focus on as long as you can
explain how and why it relates to
sociology, or, you can choose from the
following:
‐ Eliminating solitary
confinement
‐ Promoting prison
rehabilitation
‐ Ending poverty
‐ Ending homelessness
‐ Alleviating hunger
‐ Decreasing tuition
‐ Promoting affordable
education
‐ Promoting gender
equality
‐ Demystifying feminism
‐ Eliminating racism
Public Service Announcement
Assignment
‐ Eliminating sexism
‐ Promoting different
kinds of family forms
‐ Promoting religious
freedom
What is the format of the PSA?
For this assignment, you are
asked to prepare your PSA on one side of a sheet of
paper (the paper should be
8-1/2x11inches) OR a brochure (the brochure should be
on a paper that is 8-1/2×11
inches that is folded).
You may use the computer to assist
you with your graphics and message, although
you may also use stickers,
markers and other supplies.
In addition to preparing the PSA,
you should prepare a short reflection. For details
about the reflection see below.
What should the PSA include?
Your PSA should include
information about the issue that is informative and
persuasive. You want to alert
people about the issue and convince them that it is
important. You want to motivate
people to take action. Your PSA should be
captivating and inspiring. As you
prepare your PSA, questions to consider include
the following:
‐ What do you want
people to know about the issue?
‐ Consider the âWâ
questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why?
‐ Include helpful
resources such as website addresses, contact information
and important statisticsâif you
include statistics, remember to cite
correctly according to APA or MLA
‐ Include a catchphrase
or logo.
‐ Remember to convince
people about the importance of the issue!
What should the reflection
include?
Your reflection should be
approximately 2-4 pages, double-spaced. Please use
Times New Roman font, size 12.
Please ensure that you attach your reflection
along with your PSA, and ensure
that your name and student number are included
on the first page. Ensure that
you attach a works cited page with your reflection
that includes all information
cited in your PSA and reflection.
Public Service Announcement
Assignment
Your reflection should respond to
the following:
‐
What issue did you focus on? Why are you interested in this issue?
‐
Why is the issue important? Who is this issue important for?
‐
What do you want people to know about the issue? Think about the âwâ
questions (who, what, where,
when, why)
‐
Who is the target audience?
‐
What is general background information about the issue?
‐
What are specific examples to illustrate and support details about the issue?
‐
Why did you choose particular symbols/visuals?
‐
What do you think can be done to help/prevent/change the social
issue/problem?
‐
What kinds of other campaigns/organizations/forms of activism exist that
currently address the issue?
‐
How and why does your chosen issue relate to sociology? Specifically,
explain what theorists from 3
theoretical frameworks in sociology would say
about the issue (choose from
Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Feminism,
Symbolic Interactionism
Grading criteria for the PSA
includes following:
‐
Is the PSA informative without being too wordy?
‐
Does the PSA explain who/what/where/when/why?
‐
Does the PSA clearly state the target audience and course of action?
‐
Is the issue clearly stated?
‐
Is the PSA creatively designed? Did the student add to/change images that
were found rather than simply
cutting and pasting images from the internet?
‐
Does the PSA include a catch phrase or logo?
‐
Is the PSA original? (in your own words with information chosen by you)?
‐
Is the PSA convincing?
‐
Does the PSA grab the readerâs attention?
Grading criteria for the
reflection includes following:
‐
Did student follow page-length and other format guidelines (including MLA
or APA to cite sources and
examples that were mentioned about the issue?
‐
Did the student use effective grammar and writing mechanics (spelling,
sentence construction,
appropriate word choices)?
‐
Were all questions logically and coherently organized and addressed?
‐
Did the student use quotes and/or specific examples to illustrate and support
details about the issue?
Public Service Announcement
Assignment
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PSA IS WORTH
10% AND THE
REFLECTION
IS WORTH 15%