Now that you’ve read the majority of the textbook, it’s time for you to apply some of that theoretical knowledge to a practical concern. For this assignment, I’d like you to consider the following scenario:
Like the rest of the world, for the past few years the United States has experienced a pandemic that has drastically altered daily life (at least for the short term). Currently, we are again facing uncertainty with the emergence of the omicron variant of COVID. This new strain threatens us within the context of politically-motivated resistance to mask mandates as well as vaccines to help prevent the disease.
I’d like you to synthesize what we’ve learned in our study of communication in relation to this public health crisis. Begin by focusing your attention on Chapter 19: Health Communication (in particular the sections on “Communicating Health and Illness in the Community” and “Communicating Public Health Campaigns”).  Then, use a theory, concept, or model from  Chapter 14: Argument, Persuasion, and Influence to craft a message designed to potentially persuade a target audience of those who are resistant to getting vaccinated or who argue against mask mandates. There are two basic aspects to the assignment:
The creation of a health-related message regarding masks or vaccination. Craft the actual message, then describe the audience for whom the message is designed, and suggest how you might disseminate such a message. Be creative, but realistic, and make sure to understand the seriousness of the issue.
A rationale for the message construction based on a theory, concept, or model derived from the chapter on persuasion/influence. In order to justify its use, you must also give a brief overview of the theory or model and how it work.