After completing Set Induction 1 (showing a
powerful PSA video), you can follow these
steps to smoothly transition into the main
content of your lesson or presentation on
Public Service Announcements (PSAs):
1. Lead a Discussion on the Video (5-7
minutes)
Objective: Engage the audience in a
discussion to explore their reactions and
thoughts on the PSA they just watched.
This will help make connections between
the PSA's emotional and intellectual
impact, and the broader concept of public
service announcements.
Key Questions to Ask:
o "What was the main message of the
PSA?"
o "How did it make you feel? Why do you
think it had that effect?"
o "What actions or behaviors is the PSA
encouraging?"
o "Do you think this PSA is effective?
Why or why not?"
o "What made the PSA stand out to you?
Was it the visuals, the music, or the
message?"
Purpose: This discussion helps students
or your audience analyze the techniques
used in PSAs and begin thinking critically
about their structure, message, and
effectiveness.
2. Introduce the Concept of PSAs (3-5
minutes)
Definition and Purpose:
o "A Public Service Announcement, or
PSA, is a short message in the public
interest, broadcasted across various
media to raise awareness, change
public attitudes, or promote positive
social behavior."
o Explain the difference between PSAs
and other forms of media (e.g.,
commercials, news reports) to
reinforce their unique purpose
(educating and informing rather than
selling a product or entertaining).
Example: "Unlike a commercial, a PSA
doesn’t try to sell you a product. Instead,
it tries to influence your behavior, such as
wearing a seatbelt, recycling, or not
texting while driving."
Purpose: This introduction gives the
audience a clear understanding of the
basic concept of PSAs and sets the
foundation for further exploration.
3. Discuss the Elements of an Effective
PSA (8-10 minutes)
Key Elements of PSAs:
1. Clear and Focused Message:
PSAs focus on one core message to
avoid confusing the audience.
2. Emotional Appeal: PSAs often tap
into emotions—such as fear, hope, or
compassion—to make a lasting impact.
3. Call to Action (CTA): Most PSAs
include a direct message encouraging
the audience to take specific action
(e.g., "Don’t text and drive," "Stop
smoking").
4. Concise Length: PSAs are usually
brief, often under a minute, to ensure
the message is direct and impactful.
5. Use of Multimedia: Strong
visuals, engaging music, or compelling
voiceovers help capture the audience’s
attention.
Activity: Show a few stills or clips from
different PSAs and ask the audience to
identify the key elements in each (e.g.,
the message, the emotional appeal, the
CTA).
Purpose: Understanding these elements
will help the audience critically assess
PSAs and later create their own.
4. Discuss the Importance and Impact of
PSAs (5-7 minutes)
Talk About Real-World Impact:
o Present examples of successful PSA
campaigns and their measurable
impact (e.g., smoking cessation
campaigns, seatbelt usage increases,
reduction in drunk driving incidents).
o Statistics Example: "For instance,
the 'Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive
Drunk' campaign is credited with
reducing alcohol-related accidents by
nearly 25% in the first few years."
Group Discussion or Poll:
o "Have you ever been influenced by a
PSA? If so, which one, and what impact
did it have on you?"
Purpose: Illustrating the real-world
consequences of PSAs reinforces their
significance and helps the audience see
their tangible effect on society.
5. Activity: Analyze a PSA (10-15
minutes)
Instructions: Break the audience into
small groups or pairs. Provide each group
with a different PSA to analyze.
Task:
o Watch a PSA or provide a script and
storyboard.
o Analyze the PSA based on the key
elements discussed earlier: the
message, emotional appeal, call to
action, visuals, and overall
effectiveness.
Present: Have each group share their
analysis with the larger audience, focusing
on what they think made the PSA effective
or ineffective.
Purpose: This activity allows the
audience to apply what they’ve learned,
promoting critical thinking and
engagement with the topic.
6. Optional: PSA Creation Assignment
(Introduce as Homework or Class
Project)
Assignment:
o Ask the audience to create their own
short PSA based on a social issue of
their choice (e.g., road safety, mental
health, environmental conservation).
o Provide guidelines: clear message,
emotional appeal, call to action, and
appropriate visuals or scripts.
Purpose: This hands-on project lets the
audience apply their understanding
creatively, solidifying their learning.
Conclusion:
Wrap Up: Summarize the key points
discussed—what makes PSAs effective,
how they differ from other media, and
their role in influencing public behavior.
Final Thought: "PSAs have a unique
power to influence public opinion and
inspire positive change. When done well,
they can make us rethink our actions,
change our behaviors, and ultimately
improve society."
This structure moves smoothly from the
emotional engagement of the PSA video in
Set Induction 1 into a deeper exploration of
PSAs, fostering critical thinking, and active
participation.
