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Rachel Colello

Prof. Fielding

WRTC 103 - 46

13 October 2017

PSA Visual Analysis

In this PSA opposing abstinence-only programs in education, a teenage girl in school

uniform is seen holding her pregnancy bump, showing the consequences of not having

comprehensive sexual education in the school system. The nonprofit I employ in this PSA is The

National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. The PSA is based on an article

from Do Abstinence Programs Work? by Kathrin F. Stanger-Hall and David W. Hall titled

Abstinence-Only Programs Are Ineffective in Preventing Teen Pregnancy. The main claim,

from the article, is that less teen mothers graduate high school before age 22 compared to other

teenage girls. The purpose of the PSA is to show a statistic of the graduating percentages of teen

mothers versus not pregnant teens. It appeals to teens, parents, and school faculty. The focal

point is intended to be the red text Congradulations over the mothers pregnancy bump. I chose

this because it is usually intended to mean congratulations for graduating, but in this sense it is

congratulating the teenager on her pregnancy. The bold, red lettering attracts the viewers eye

to the center of the image. This allows the viewer to read the text and see the image first before

moving onto the other information located below.

The PSA features a teen mother holding her pregnancy bump with a solemn, depressed

look on her face. This is also bold red text, white text, and the logo for a nonprofit. The PSA

evokes sympathy for the mother who, based on the statistic, has a high chance of not graduating

high school before age 22 due to her pregnancy. The image of the depressed teenager with bold
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red lettering showcases this mood. It relates to the article because the article explains that

abstinence-only educational programs contribute to the reason why teen pregnancy rates are

rising in the United States. The issues of teen pregnancy and parenthood are conveyed through

the image of the pregnant mother.

The most persuasive point is the statistic because it is factual evidence from the article

showing how teen pregnancy affects the lives of young women. The authors support this point

through their research and numerous citations located in their bibliography. In the ad, I use the

three rhetorical elements to support the main claim. Ethos is shown through the logo of the

nonprofit, showing that it was sponsored by a credible organization. Logos is shown through the

statistic in white text shown at the bottom of the PSA. This gives factual evidence of the reality

of teen pregnancies. Lastly, pathos is shown through the depressed, glum look on the pregnant

mothers face, evoking sympathy from the viewer and showing the seriousness of the argument.

My design choices are also intended to boost the dominant claim. The red text is bold and

demands the viewers attention. The white text is supposed to be more neutral, asking the

audience a question and allowing them to reflect on it.

The greatest challenge I faced was finding a picture that conveyed the argument from the

article. Many pictures showed smiling teen mothers with their babies, but the reality of teen

parenthood is usually much more somber. Overall, I think this picture worked well to convey a

featured statistic in the article I used for my rhetorical analysis essay. The greatest strength of the

PSA is probably the look on the mothers face because it tells the viewers that she is not happy in

her situation and may be worried for the future of herself and her baby. The PSA shows the

consequences a lack of proper sexual education can induce, pushing for more comprehensive sex

ed programs across the country to reduce teen pregnancy rates.

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Works Cited

Stanger-Hall, Kathrin F., and David W. Hall. "Abstinence-Only Programs Are Ineffective

in Preventing Teen Pregnancy." Do Abstinence Programs Work?, edited by Christine

Watkins, Greenhaven Press, 2014. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010603217/OVIC?u=viva_jmu&xid=ca9f2bf6.

Accessed 12 Oct. 2017. Originally published as "Abstinence-Only Education and Teen

Pregnancy Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S," vol. 6, 14

Oct. 2011.

Waiss, Z. Pregnant-Teen. Flickr, 14 Nov. 2009,

www.flickr.com/photos/44634336@N07/4103775750/in/photolist-7fCVyj-4yLj3L-

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