- Summary- A teenage girl is driving in her car, when a text message comes through on her phone. She picks up her phone to look at the text and begins veering into the oncoming lane. The video freezes and the girl gets out of her car where she is met by a woman who had gotten out of an oncoming car. The woman begs the teenage girl to put the phone down, but the teenager responds that she has to text back. Both return to their cars and the video unfreezes. The two cars collide and the video ends.
Observation- Although the girl apologizes to the woman when she gets out of the car, she still has to finish her text. Because she has to finish her text, she ends up hitting the oncoming car.
Rhetorical Appeals- Pathos- The PSA appeals to the emotions of the audience by placing an innocent woman and her children in the incoming car.
Argument- The argument made within this PSA is that nobody should text and drive. After all, texting and driving is dangerous. People should always avoid dangerous acts.
Evaluation- This video is clearly aimed towards teenage drivers. By appealing to emotions, this PSA is very effective in expressing the point that texting and driving puts not only your life at risk, but also the lives of innocent people around you. - Summary- A group of teenager are in a car driving. The girl in the passenger seat is playing a game on her phone and is distracting the driver by asking her questions. Then, a text comes through on the driver’s phone. She looks down at the text and drives through a stop sign. A large truck coming in through the intersection drives directly into the side of the teenagers’ car and sends it flying.
Observation- The teen driver is distracted in multiple ways in this PSA. Her friend in the passenger seat is playing a game on her phone and asking the driver questions. Also, the obvious text message that causes the accident is a major distraction.
Rhetorical Appeals- Pathos- This PSA just like many surrounding texting and driving, appeals to its audience’s emotions. After the car stops flipping, a message appears saying “If you’re texting, you’re not driving”, and saddening music begins to play.
Argument- The argument within this PSA is that distracted driving results in a very disastrous outcome. If you are texting then you are not driving, so do not text and drive.
Evaluation- This video is also aimed towards teenage drivers. Through the violent crash between the car and truck and also the somber music at the end of the video make the audience very emotional. - Summary- The PSA opens with pictures remembering a teen that had passed away. It then transitions to typing on a computer screen. A girl’s voice begins reading a letter that is being typed. It is a letter from a girl who had passed away to her parents apologizing for driving distracted. She says that she wants her parents to spread the word about how dangerous distracted driving is and that if people just shut their phone off, it could save their lives.
Observation- This is another perfect example of why texting and driving is such a bad idea. Not only do you put your own life at risk, but if something terrible happens, you leave those who love you behind to pick up the pieces.
Rhetorical Appeals- Pathos- This PSA appeals to its audience’s emotions through the sad, somber music that plays throughout the video. Also, all of the candles, pictures and blood give you a true sense of reality.
Argument- The argument in this PSA is that when you drive distracted, not only are you risking hurting yourself, but you’re risking hurting the people around you. You ought not to text and drive. After all when you do, you risk hurting yourself and others. No person should want to hurt themselves or others.
Evaluation- This PSA, which was likely intended for an audience of almost anyone but mostly teen drivers, is very emotionally moving. By utilizing pathos, it is able to clearly convey the message that by driving distracted you risk hurting yourself and others. - Summary- A mother and son are driving in a car. The car stops, a woman and a boy get out and the woman, the boys mother, tells him that she is so proud of him. The boy then walks over to a coffin and aids in carrying it to a burial site. The man in the coffin was the boy’s father and the woman’s husband. While final words are being said for the man, the boy walks, very sad, and takes out his phone to watch a video of his family. His mother joins him and they both mourn over the death of their loved one.
Observation- This video is extremely moving. It shows a widow and her son after her husband died in a car crash resulting from distracted driving. You can clearly see the pain that is left behind for his wife and son.
Rhetorical Appeals- This PSA is loaded with pathos, or appeals to the audience’s emotions. The entire video the viewer feels extremely saddened for the woman and her son, who have lost their husband and father. Because it takes places at a cemetery, it makes the video that much more solemn.
Argument- The argument in this video is similar to that of the previous videos. Do not drive distracted. You ought not to drive distracted. After all if you do, you risk getting hurt and causing pain to those you love. Nobody should desire to cause pain to those that they love.
Evaluation- This video is more than likely intended for a more adult audience. It focuses more on the consequences of distracted driving for an adult rather than a teenager, but it still very effective in expressing the lesson.