Public Service Announcements

From APEC HRDWG Wiki

Businesses, small or large, thrive by earning profits. They sell ideas, services, or products, all with the goal of consumption by the end-user. Some products can be harmful to our health, and yet people still consume them. Public service announcements (PSAs) are used by companies to improve their corporate images and create awareness about the services they provide to the community/country/world. PSAs can also be used for advocacy on issues such as drinking & driving or suicide.

1 Content Objectives
2 Language Objectives
3 Activity
4 Materials
5 Category
6 Learning Theme
7 Resources
8 Author

Content Objectives

To evaluate PSAs and discuss how they help create awareness about corporate responsibility, corporate image, and social responsibility
To create a PSA and present it to the class

Language Objectives

To decide what makes a persuasive argument by critically analyzing a number of PSAs
To enhance persuasive writing skills by creating/writing PSA scripts
To practice use of present tense to indicate the ongoing nature of the event/situation
To choose specific words that have emotional appeal to influence the target audience to feel compassion, guilt, sympathy, or some other emotion
To use action words to relay exactly what the viewers have to do and how to do it
To use vocal variety and appropriate pacing when delivering the voice-over

Activity

Many of the tasks below refer to slides at the following wiki pages: PSA Presentations and PSA Final

Brainstorm for possible topics: Problems that exist in society today
- illegal drugs
- drunk driving
- use of helmets for motorcycle and bicycle riders
- domestic violence– child abuse– battered wives/partners– sexual abuse
- foreign brides– help/assistance– social acceptance– children's welfare
- suicide prevention
- assistance for victims of fraud

Ask students to critique the student-produced PSAs below using the language objectives above.
No Drunk Driving
Child Abuse
More examples are given in the Resources below.

PSAs could be made by individuals or groups. Students can decide on a topic or one can be assigned. Give students ample time to work on this project.

Use the following format when writing your PSA script:
Visual:
Headline:
Subhead:
Body Copy:
Slogan/Tagline:
Logo:
Contact Information:

You can use any of the following tools in creating your PSA print ad or PSA video:
Word
PowerPoint
Graphics (See www.brainybetty.com/MENUGraphics.htm)
Photos (See www.google.com/imghp)

Oral Presentation Guidelines:
1. Describe the PSA theme and creative approach (how you came up with your ideas).
2. Play the PSA or show the advertisement.
3. Discuss how a PSA print ad is different than a PSA TV ad.
4. Discuss the language objectives listed above. In what way does your PSA meet the language objectives?

Enhancement:

Ask students or the groups to create blog entries commenting on their classmates’ PSA work. They can even embed the videos in their blogs. Use the following guide questions:

Blog Entry

What is the group’s PSA theme?
Comment on the PSA TV ad. Was it appealing to you? In what way? Did it move you?
Look at the students' print ads. Are they connected with the group’s PSA TV ad? If so how? If not, how do they differ from the PSA TV ad?

Materials

Computer with PowerPoint software installed
Windows Movie Maker
Digital Video Recorder

Learning Theme

Learning to live together; learning to work together

Resources

Examples of student-produced print ads:

Cellphones & Driving
Water Conservation Corporate Social Responsibility

Don't Use Drugs
HOPE Sexual Harassment

Yeh, A. (2010). Blending digital media and web 2.0 in an English advertising class. In J. Nordmeyer and S. Barduhn (Eds.) Integrating language and content (pp. 175–192). Alexandria, VA: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (TESOL).