Problem Solving Essay

  The following instructions were copied from the following website: https://owlcation.com/academia/How-to-Write-a-Propose-a-Solution-Essay Finding a Good Topic Start by thinking about things that bother you or problems that you find irritating. If you have thought, “ I know how this could be done better!” you have a great idea for this essay assignment. Step One: Think about groups that you belong to and problems that those groups have. Make a list of groups you belong to like: • School • Hometown community • Clubs • Sports teams • Hobby groups • People groups (teenagers, high school students, college students, family, males, females, race, culture, or language group) Step Two: Make a list of problems you have encountered in some of these groups. Sometimes, there is a plan for a solution but it isn't working, or maybe the plan isn't being enforced. The problem doesn't have to be a big one, but it has to be something you can convince other people needs to be and can be solved, or at least made better. Step Three: Decide on the best solution. Great solutions are easily implemented, effective at solving the problem, and cost effective. Ways to Solve Problems Solution How It Works Assumes Cause of Problem is Example Add something Give more money, people, equipment, or stuff Lack of resources More teachers in schools, more money for fire department Take something away Remove source of problem One thing or person causing problem Fire bad teachers, get rid of poor textbooks Educate Give information about the problem and solution People don't know what to do Say No to Drugs campaign Make laws or rules Create a new law or rule, or reform existing rules Current rules don't solve problem School dress code revised to require uniforms Enforce laws or rules Provide a way to enforce or else provide more resources (like more police or money for regulators) to enforce existing rules or laws Current rules are adequate but aren't enforced School calls parents if students don't adhere to dress code Change method or procedure Change the way something is done or organized Something isn't being done the right way Change meeting time from Tuesday morning to Saturday to get more people to come Motivate Use advertising or emotional appeals to get people to do or not do something People know what they should do, but don't do it Anti-smoking ads Build something new Give new facilities or organization More buildings or a new organization is needed because nothing currently existing will solve problem Build a new football stadium to encourage fan support Work out a compromise Get opposing sides together to work out a mutual agreement Problem is mostly lack of agreement Trade agreement talks between countries Adapt a solution that works Take a solution that worked somewhere else and apply it to this problem Current solution does not fit problem Adding taxes on cigarettes decreases smoking, so put a tax on unhealthy snack foods Change leadership Get rid of current leadership and put someone new in charge Leader is the problem Fire college football coach Change attitudes Present information or incentives to change the way people feel about situation Attitudes are causing problem Parents give children money to do chores To write a persuasive problem solving essay, you need to organize carefully. Your main goals are: 1. Interest your reader in the problem 2. Convince your reader that the problem is important and needs to be solved 3. Explain your solution clearly 4. Convince the reader that your solution is cost-effective and feasible 5. Convince your reader that your solution is better than other solutions Introduction In the introduction, you need to describe the problem and explain why it needs to be solved and then give your thesis solution. Remember: • If it is an unknown problem, you will need to explain in detail. • If it is a familiar problem, then you need to paint a vivid picture. • In both situations, you will need to convince the reader that it is an important problem. Creative Introduction Ideas 1. Tell a true-life story about the problem. 2. Give a personal experience story. 3. Use a scenario or imagined story illustrating why this needs to be solved. 4. Give statistics and facts about the problem which make it vivid for the reader. 5. Do a detailed explanation of the problem with facts that show why it needs to be dealt with. 6. Give the history of the situation and explain how this problem developed. 7. Use a frame story which gives an example of the problem in the introduction and then a return to the problem being solved in the conclusion. 8. Use a vivid description with sensory details that makes the reader see the situation. 9. Use a movie, book, T.V. story or news story to show the problem and why it is important. Thesis At the end of your introduction, you can ask your thesis question and then give your solution idea as the thesis statement. Here are some tips: 1. State your solution clearly in one sentence. 2. Usually, your thesis sentence will come after your description of the problem. 3. Sometimes, you may not want to state this thesis until after you have shown that the present solutions aren't working, especially if your thesis is something simple. Body The body of your paper will be three or more paragraphs and must: 1. Explain your solution clearly 2. Give details about how this solution will solve the problem 3. Explain who will be in charge and how it will be funded 4. Give evidence that your solution will work (expert opinion, examples of when it has worked before, statistics, studies, or logical argument) The body of your paper will also seek to argue that your solution: 1. Will solve the problem. 2. Is cost-effective. 3. Is feasible to implement. 4. Is a reasonable solution to the problem. 5. Can stand up to possible objections. 6. Is better than other solutions. In order to make a convincing argument, you will need to consider objections to your plan carefully and refute them logically with argument and/or evidence. Conclusion Your conclusion will be one or more paragraphs. For an excellent ending, you want to clinch your argument and convince your reader that your solution is the best. Here are some effective ideas: 1. Tell the reader what should happen. 2. Give a description of how the situation will change if your plan is adopted. 3. Use the end of the frame story to show how the solution is needed or how it will work. 4. Give a real-life example or scenario showing adoption of your plan and how it works. 5. Cite convincing facts, statistics, or expert testimony on the solution or the problem. Effective Writing Tips Tone: Tone is important in this sort of paper. You want to have a tone that is reasonable, convincing, appealing, and logical. Point of View: Because you are trying to convince the reader, this is one paper where the second person point of view (“you” or “we”) might be used effectively. However, first person or third is also appropriate. Audience: Considering the reaction of your reader is very important in writing this paper. You need to address a reader who can actually implement your proposal. You need to think about how you can convince the reader who has the power to act on your suggestions, not just someone who already agrees with you but can’t do anything about the situation. How to Convince Your Audience In order to build an effective argument or proposal, you need to find common ground with your audience. While there is some value in arguments which “preach to the choir” and “rally the troops” to support something they already strongly believe, most arguments are more effective if you seek to persuade an audience which is undecided or not strongly in favor of your position. Here are some questions that can help you define your audience for your position paper and also find out what common ground you have with them: 1. Who is your audience? What do they believe about your issue? 2. What do you want them to believe or do after reading your paper? 3. What are the warrants (values or strong beliefs) your audience holds about this type of subject? 4. How are your warrants (values or strong beliefs) different or the same as those of your audience? 5. Where do you and your audience have common ground? What basic needs, values, and beliefs do you share? Examples of needs and values that motivate most audiences: basic needs, health, financial well-being, affection and friendship, respect and esteem of others, self-esteem, new experience, self-actualization, and convenience. 6. Which of these needs and values could be effective for you to appeal to in your paper? Problem Solution vs. Argument Papers Argument essays often lead to position or problem solution papers, since once someone agrees with your argument, they often want to know, "What should we do about it?" As I explain in my article How to Write an Argument Essay, argument or position essays might talk about a solution, but they won't give a detailed plan. Both argument and problem solution essays: • Vividly describe a problem or situation • Have a viewpoint they want to convince the reader to understand • Want the reader to believe, do, or think something • May want the reader to take action Problem Solution Essays Give a Detailed Plan: What makes a problem-solution paper different is that it gives a detailed plan for how the problem needs to be solved and argues for a specific action. The body argues for your solution and explains: • What needs to be done • How it needs to be done • Why it will work • Why it is feasible and reasonable as a solution • Why it is cost-effective • Why this solution is better than other solutions Rules for Problem Solving Essay 1. Essay must be at least five paragraphs in length. You may use more, if necessary. a) Introduction with thesis statement—first paragraph. b) Body will be at least three paragraphs in length. Again, you may require more. c) Conclusion—brief summary of what you have written about in your essay. 2. Do not use you or your (second person) anywhere in your essay. You may use first person (I, me, we, etc.) or third person (he, she, it, they, them, etc.) 3. Essay must be double spaced and no more than four pages in length. (It can be shorter.) I will use the following criteria to grade all your essays: 1) Content—worth 25 percent 2) Organization—worth 15 percent 3) Voice, Tone, Diction—worth 15 percent 4) Sentence Structure—worth 15 percent 5) Punctuation—worth 10 percent 6) Usage, Mechanics—worth 10 percent 7) Spelling, Readability—worth 10 percent Write your essay in Microsoft word. Attach the document to the assignment page, and click the submit button. The assignment must be submitted no later than the assigned due date.