Ambassador Suffrage Centennial Activity
Videos to Persuade
Make a public service announcement (PSA) or a vlog for your community.
Activity Details
Time needed: 60 minutes
Materials Needed:
- Phone or camera with video capability
- Cable/software needed to download the video to a computer
- A computer with video software, like Microsoft Photos or iMovie. If you don’t have access to this software, you can still write a script for your PSA. Don’t forget to describe what would be happening on screen as we listen to the words!
Background:
By 1916, suffragists had grown tired of waiting to gain voting rights, so they began to protest and picket in front of the White House. They wrote letters and made speeches arguing for the right to vote.
Activity:
Watch some PSAs on YouTube to understand the format and how the creators built their stories. What do the PSAs have in common with each other in terms of structure?
Consider things that are happening in your town, school, or community. What do you think about the issue? What can you say that will persuade others that your view needs to be listened to?
Write the script for your PSA or vlog. If you have the ability to tape the PSA and edit the pieces together the way you would a movie, do that. If not, just be sure your script explains all the things someone filming your PSA would need to know. These include what the camera would be capturing, who would be speaking, what kind of emotion they would be showing, and what music might be playing in the background. You can also act out the PSA or vlog if you don’t have the ability to tape it.
