Perhaps you mean you want to write an essay about "How to find a good job? Answer: You have an excellent question, and looking at the research on this would be helpful for your work in college. It is important to look for answers to these questions:. Now, example of a problem solution essay, look at your essay once more. What can schools do to make sure that they help students to work together to prevent cyberbullying?
Finding a Solution
Example of a problem solution essay compositionusing a problem-solution format is a example of a problem solution essay for analyzing and writing about a topic by identifying a problem and proposing one or more solutions. A problem-solution essay is a type of argument. In explaining the problem, it may also need to persuade the reader concerning specific causes" Dave Kemper et al. In many types of report writing, the thesis statement is posed front and center, in one sentence. Author Derek Soles writes about how the thesis statement in a problem-solution paper differs from a straight "report of findings" type of text:.
Readers need additional context before you get to your thesis, but that is not to say that the thesis has to be posed as a question in the introduction:. It can be helpful to see completed examples before writing in order to examine what makes for an effective piece. See how these introductions give some context before posing the topic and lead naturally into the body paragraphs, example of a problem solution essay, where the evidence will be listed. You can imagine how the author has organized the rest of the piece. In "Passages: A Writer's Guide, " how to organize a problem-solution paper is explained:. Share Flipboard Email. English English Grammar An Introduction to Punctuation Writing.
By Richard Nordquist Richard Nordquist. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. Learn about our Editorial Process. Featured Video. Cite this Article Format. Nordquist, Richard. Composition Type: Problem-Solution Essays. copy citation. How to Teach Topic Sentences Using Models. Thesis: Definition and Examples in Composition. How to Write a Solid Thesis Statement. Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs. Write an Attention-Grabbing Opening Sentence for an Essay. How to Write an Outstanding College Application Essay. Common Application Essay Option 4—Gratitude.
How to Develop and Organize a Classification Essay.
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For the block structure, all of the problems are listed first, and all of the solutions are listed afterwards. For the chain structure, each problem is followed immediately by the solution to that problem. Both types of structure have their merits. The former is generally clearer, especially for shorter essays, while the latter ensures that any solutions you present relate directly to the problems you have given. The two types of structure, block and chain , are shown in the diagram below. This is for a short essay, which includes the 'situation' in the introduction and 'evaluation' in the conclusion.
A longer essay, for example one of around 1, words, with citations , would probably have these two sections as separate paragraphs in the main body. Below is a problem-solution essay on the topic of obesity and poor fitness. It uses the block structure. Click on the different areas in the shaded boxes to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay, i. Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation. This will highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also for problems and solutions the thesis statement and summary , as these repeat the problems and solutions contained in the main body. Consumption of processed and convenience foods and our dependence on the car have led to an increase in obesity and reduction in the fitness level of the adult population.
In some countries, especially industrialized ones, the number of obese people can amount to one third of the population. This is significant as obesity and poor fitness lead to a decrease in life expectancy , and it is therefore important for individuals and governments to work together to tackle this issue and improve their citizens' diet and fitness. Obesity and poor fitness decrease life expectancy. Overweight people are more likely to have serious illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, which can result in premature death. It is well known that regular exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, which means that those with poor fitness levels are at an increased risk of suffering from those problems. Changes by individuals to their diet and their physical activity can increase life expectancy.
There is a reliance today on the consumption of processed foods, which have a high fat and sugar content. By preparing their own foods, and consuming more fruit and vegetables, people could ensure that their diets are healthier and more balanced, which could lead to a reduction in obesity levels. In order to improve fitness levels, people could choose to walk or cycle to work or to the shops rather than taking the car. They could also choose to walk up stairs instead of taking the lift. These simple changes could lead to a significant improvement in fitness levels. Governments could also implement initiatives to improve their citizens' eating and exercise habits. This could be done through education, for example by adding classes to the curriculum about healthy diet and lifestyles.
Governments could also do more to encourage their citizens to walk or cycle instead of taking the car, for instance by building more cycle lanes or increasing vehicle taxes. While some might argue that increased taxes are a negative way to solve the problem, it is no different from the high taxes imposed on cigarettes to reduce cigarette consumption. In short, obesity and poor fitness are a significant problem in modern life, leading to lower life expectancy. Individuals and governments can work together to tackle this problem and so improve diet and fitness. Of the solutions suggested, those made by individuals themselves are likely to have more impact, though it is clear that a concerted effort with the government is essential for success. With obesity levels in industrialized and industrializing countries continuing to rise, it is essential that we take action now to deal with this problem.
Like the website? Try the books. Enter your email to receive a free sample from Academic Writing Genres. Below is a checklist for the main body of an essay. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer another student to help you. Find out about writing definitions and definition essays in the next section. Scroll to Top. Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn. Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour. Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation.
I'd always suggest that you read the teacher's instructions and ask your child what they remember about the directions first. However, if you still aren't sure, here is how I would interpret that instruction:. Write the topic idea in the middle of a piece of paper. I usually tell my students to frame this as a question. By the way, expository is usually an argument essay and one kind of argument essay is a problem solution. For example: How can we solve the problem of students being absent too often from school? Draw a circle around that question and then draw lines out from the circle looking like you are starting a spider web. Each of the lines should be an answer to the question.
Example: make them go into detention, call the parents, give them incentives for having good attendance, give them a chance to not take the finals if they have good attendance, etc. Then draw a circle around each of those answers and draw lines off again. This time, you will give examples, reasons or objections that relate to that answer. Question: For a problem solution essay, should the problem be in one paragraph and the solution in a different paragraph? Answer: My students generally write essays that have at least five paragraphs, often more. I would suggest that you do something like this:. Explain and describe the problem and why this should be solved. End with a question which is asking how the problem can be solved.
Example: How can we solve the problem of school shootings? Then in the next paragraph, you would give your solution idea. If your idea is easy to explain, then you would spend the rest of your paper refuting objections and explaining why your idea would work and be cost-effective, feasible, and effective. On the other hand, if your idea is complicated to explain, you will need to spend a longer part of your paper making sure the reader understands it. In both cases, you will need to refute any objections and help the reader to see how important it is to do this solution. Answer: An easy way to use a quotation is to start with "According to.. Here are some examples of different ways to do this:.
According to Jamie Jones in his article "Cats are Crazy Creatures," the reason more people like dogs is "quote goes here" page number. Jamie Jones, in his article "Cats are Crazy Creatures" points out that "quote goes here" page number MLA style. Question: What if we had a topic that someone chose for us and we don't know anything about the topic, but we can't change it? Answer: If you need to find a solution to a problem someone else has chosen, you will need to research the problem and all of the solutions that other people have thought about or tried. After you have looked up the ideas that other people have considered, you can choose the one that you think would work the best, or maybe you will come up with your own idea.
Question: What do you think of, "How can we prevent the bad consequences of online dating? Answer: 1. How can a person safely use online dating to find a good marriage partner? Question: How can I fix this thesis to my problem solution essay? My thesis: Inner-city schools have less educational value than suburban schools, causing students in impoverished areas to have a less successful academic career due to a lack of proper educational resources. Answer: Students in impoverished inner-city schools have fewer educational resources than students in wealthier suburban schools; therefore, students at inner-city schools have less success in academic endeavors.
Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a problem solution essay? Answer: A problem solution essay is a type of argument essay. In fact, solving a problem is the last step in thinking about any issue and is often the most important and complicated step. The advantage of choosing this sort of essay is that you get a chance to explain in detail how you think a problem can be solved. In an essay that argues for a cause, you can talk about what created the problem and then discuss some possible solutions at the end of the essay, but in a Problem Solution essay, you get to spend a lot of time talking about the details of the solution and arguing for why that solution is the best, most efficient, and most feasible.
On the other hand, the disadvantage of a Problem Solution essay is that the reader may have a lot of objections to your solution and you need to think about how you are going to refute those objections. Answer: Finding a solution is always the hardest part of this sort of essay. I suggest that you follow a three-pronged approach:. Research the problem and solutions that others have tried. One trick my students taught me is that you often can find a solution that has been tried in a different location and adapt that to your situation. For example, when we had problems with people biking on campus and causing accidents, my students researched a nearby campus and found a solution that had been done there.
Look at my "Ways to Solve Problems Chart" on the "How to write a problem solution essay. Think about each type of solution and how that could create a solution for your problem. For example, what could you add to the situation? What could you take away? Would changing leadership help? Could money solve the problem, and if so, how could you get the funds? Finally, when you have some solution ideas, check to see if they are feasible can you do them? Answer: A "Solution" essay is just another name for this sort of paper assignment. Before you start to explain the solution, you will need to describe the problem in a paragraph or two, giving examples. Then you need to explain how you would solve that problem, step-by-step. Finally, you will need to argue against any objections and explain why your idea is feasible, cost-effective and a better solution than other ideas.
To find ideas for solutions, you can research other people's ideas, ask friends or family for their ideas, or just think about how it could be done better. Answer: The first thing to do is to do some thinking on your own. I call this brainstorming. Take out a sheet of paper or use your computer and start by listing everything you can think of that might cause this problem. After you've made a list, take a look at it and circle or bold print the causes and divide them into some groups. Here are some ideas of how you can categorize them:. Most important causes the ones which, if solved, would make the biggest dent in solving the problem.
Then, starting with the easiest to solve and most important to solve, think of some ways that it can be solved. Look at my list of how people can solve problems to get some idea. After you've really thought this out as much as you can yourself, it is time to do some research and see what other people have already done, as well as to get some ideas. Here is how to research:. Look for what has already been done to try to solve the problem. If it hasn't worked, you need to find out why. Sometimes, you can find a solution to the problem that has worked in another location.
That can be a great starting place for your solution. Question: How do I write an essay showing personal interest in solving a problem concerning selling expired drugs to the poor and less knowledgeable? Answer: Start with a description of the problem and then describe your reaction to that problem as you give your solution. Finish with an impassioned plea to the reader to follow your advise and give them reasons for that using emotional appeals. Answer: You need to make the reader understand the problem clearly by describing it vividly. An interesting and, if appropriate, dramatic description will also make your reader want to solve the problem and think it is an important one that is worth the effort to try to solve.
Giving one main example or a series of examples is a great way to start. You can also describe a recent news event dealing with the problem, or refer to a movie or other situation the reader already knows about. If people have already tried to solve the problem but failed, you could explain what has been done that hasn't worked. All of these things should lead up to the body of the paper, which is your solution idea. The bottom line, start with a story or a detailed description of the problem. Then end that introduction with your question about how to solve the problem. Question: How should I write the introduction for an essay about child pornography?
Answer: Start with some real-life stories about children who have been abused in this way and then give some statistics. Hi Ron--Whether or not you need to provide solutions depends on the type of argumentative essay you are writing. This article is about a problem solution essay, where the main point is to give a solution. A cause essay is probably what you are writing. In a cause essay, your main point is to explain the cause behind something and sometimes the effects. Of course, if what you are explaining is a problem and you pinpoint the cause, you might want in your conclusion to suggest a possible solution or a direction that leads towards finding a solution.
However, you wouldn't have to give a detailed plan. Likewise, in a problem solution essay, you would probably need to begin the essay talking about what different people think the cause of the problem is because you need to explain why you think a particular cause is the most important. Do you need to provide solutions for an argumentative essay? I was trying to focus on the why mainly? Hi Arianna, I don't exactly know what a "field trip essay" is. If you could tell me more about the assignment, then maybe I could write an article. However, I think what you may be talking about is a Personal Experience paper and I do have an article about how to write one of those, so you might want to check that out.
it was really helpful for me, but it would be good if at the end write total plan, then it will be easier to understand. I saw someone underline their thesis statement in the introduction. Is this recommended in an MLA problem-solution essay? I'm confused and still learning these writing styles any help would be appreciated. it really helped me pass the test. I by hearted the whole article. and u know my result: 10 out of For an introduction, I find here possible solutions in my quest for publication in the web pages and I have developed a little bit of confidence in my abilities as a writer.
I think I can go ahead and find a problem and solutions that I throw open. Good beginning. I congratulate myself. Joe--so glad I could help you. I hope that you will check out all of my other "how to" essay help. Many English instructors in colleges are graduate students who are new to this job. I like to be able to provide them and their students the information I've gathered over many years of working as an English instructor. Most of what I've written has come from my experiences with students, not a teacher's manual or textbook. If it is helpful, you are welcome to show these to your teacher and invite them to share my articles with students online not copying out hard copies--that is a violation of copyright.
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