David Stevens June 2, 2014 English PSA Dissection The intent of this video is to permanently change people's minds on the issue of climate change. Rather than whip the audience into an emotional frenzy, this PSA aims to let the viewer draw his or her conclusions thoughtfully—and thus to make the effect more lasting. As such, I relied mostly on ethos and logos in my video; that way, the audience will be more likely to have a real change of heart. There was some pathos included, because the issue of global warming tends to heat things up. In order to develop my project's ethos, I tracked down the most credible sources and made sure everything was cited properly. My sources were: NASA, the EPA, NOAA, the White House's National Climate Assessment, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, a bona fide theoretical astrophysicist. By using these third-party sources, I attempt to paint climate change as not a partisan issue, but a humanitarian one. The logos in this PSA lies in the straightforward presentation of evidence to the viewer. "Climate Change and You" sticks to the facts, which matter-of-factly illuminates the reality of our global situation. It follows that if these facts are true, then the argument they favor must be true as well. As Tyson pointed out, science is beautiful because it does not depend on "whether or not you believe in it." The pathos in this video is more subtle, but effective. The sequence of "slides" focuses in, moving from the planet to the United States to the Southeast region to Kentucky. This magnification brings the issue into focus for the viewer; all of a sudden, global warming is not on the ice floes of Antarctica, it's in his or her backyard! By forcing the audience to realize the immediacy of the crisis, they vest a greater personal interest in its outcome. More pathos also lies in the call to action at the end, with an appeal to patriotism. The song is "Such Great Heights" by the Postal Service. It portrays a couple who appear perfect from afar, but collapse under closer scrutiny. This is a perfect metaphor for the crisis of climate change. The great blue-green marble continues to spin, while stronger and stronger storms rage on the surface.

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