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PROBLEM – SOLUTION PARAGRAPH

1/ MODEL PARAGRAPHS

* (1) Astronauts face many problems in space caused by weightlessness. (1) One of these
problems is floating around the cabin. (3) To solve this problem, astronauts wear shoes that are
coated with a special adhesive. (4) This adhesive sticks to the floor of the cabin. (5) Serving
food is another problem. (6) It won't stay put on the table! (7) Experts solved this problem by
putting food and drinks in pouches and tubes. (8) It only needs to be mixed with water.
Weightlessness also causes problems when an astronaut tries to work. (9) The simple task of
turning a wrench or a doorknob can be difficult. (10) Since there is no gravity to keep him
down, when he exerts a force in one direction, the opposite force may flip him over completely.
(11) To solve this problem, he must be very careful about how much force he uses to do these
simple tasks. (12) Here on earth, life is much simpler, thanks to gravity.

** (1) On most part, energy is created by burning fossil fuels -- coal, natural gas and oil. (2)
The problem with this is that these resources are finite. (3) At the current rate of use, it is
expected that the world will run out of fossil fuels in thirty to forty years to come. (4) As a
result, it will no longer be possible to generate power to operate factories and vehicles or to
light and heat houses. (5) This world-wide problem can be resolved through the implementation
of two possible solutions. (6) The first solution is to improve conservation efforts. In order to
do this, governments can try to raise public awareness, discourage over-consumption and
encourage recycling. (7) For example, they can encourage the installation of high-efficiency
light bulbs in homes and offices. (8) They can inform the public of the amount of energy saved
by simply turning off lights that are not being used or by using public transport more and cars
less. (9) They can also pass laws mandating the recycling of whatever possible. (10)
Improvements in conservation will surely extend the life of current fuels but they are not
complete answers to what will happen when fossil fuels eventually run out. (11) The second
and better solution, therefore, is to use alternative sources of energy to meet future needs. (12)
The current leading alternatives to fossil fuels are solar energy and fusion, which is the union of
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atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei. (13) Solar energy is directly obtained from the sun so it is
easily accessible and pollution-free. (14) It can be used both to heat water and buildings and to
generate electricity but mostly in countries that have ample sunlight. (15) Fusion, on the other
hand, will make it possible for nuclear power plants to generate enormous amounts of energy in
order to meet the energy needs of the planet indefinitely. (16) In addition, despite public
concern about safety and risk of contamination, fusion is a safe and clean source of energy as
modern power plants take strict safety measures to prevent potential nuclear disasters and leaks.
(17) In conclusion, in order to have sufficient energy for the next century, it will be necessary
to develop and encourage the use of alternative energy sources worldwide.

***   There are certain things which students can do if they suffer from exam anxiety. To
begin with, they should get a good night’s sleep the day before the exam. If they sleep well,
they will be able to concentrate and do well in the exam. If not, this will cause more stress and
anxiety. The second effective solution is to change their poor study habits. If they start to study
one day before the exam, this will cause worry and stress. However, if they change such habits
and start to study regularly, this will give them confidence before and  during the exam. The
last thing they should do is to think positive.  When they think positive, they will get rid of all
their fears and worries. For example, visualizing themselves as a student who has a high mark
before the exam  can make them feel better. In summary, getting a good night’s sleep, changing
their poor study habits and thinking positive are effective solutions to deal with exam anxiety. 

**** (1) Deforestation is a serious problem because forests and trees aren’t just pretty to look
at, they do an important job making the earth’s environment suitable for life. (2) They clean the
air, store water, preserve soil, and provide homes for animals. (3) They also supply food, fuel,
wood products, and paper products for humans. (4) In the past fifty years, more than half of the
world’s rain forests have been destroyed. (5) Today, the forests of the world are being cut down
at a rate of fifty acres every minute. (6) Scientists say that if deforestation continues, the world’s
climate may change, floods may become more common, and animals will die.
(7) One solution to the problem of deforestation is to use less paper. (8) If you use less paper,
fewer trees will be cut for paper making. How can you use less paper? (9) One answer is to
reduce your paper use by using both sides of the paper when you photocopy, write a letter, or
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write a paper for school. (10) A second answer is to reuse old paper when you can, rather than
using a new sheet of paper. (11) The backs of old envelopes are perfect for shopping lists or
phone messages, and when you write a rough draft of an essay, write it on the back of something
else. (12) A final answer is to recycle used paper products instead of throwing them away. (13)
Most schools, offices, and neighborhoods have some kind of recycling center. (14) If you follow
the three Rs- reduce, reuse and recycle – you can help save the world’s forests.

2/ HOW TO WRITE A PROBLEM – SOLUTION PARAGRAPH?

Problem/solution writing first explains a problem and then proposes one or more solutions to that
problem. Often this type of writing requires more than one paragraph. In this unit, you will write
a two-paragraph discussion of a problem and solution.

 How to write a problem paragraph?

A problem paragraph describes and discusses a problem issue. The topic sentence names
the issue you will discuss. The supporting sentences show why this issue is a problem.

 How to write a solution paragraph?

After you have brainstormed solutions to your problem, you need to select the best one or
ones to write about in your solution paragraph. A strong solution clearly and reasonable solves
the problem. A weak solution doesn’t really solve the problem or is not practical or not logical.

3/ ORGANIZATION (Two-paragraph structure)

The first paragraph (the problem paragraph): explains the problem.

The topic sentence of the second paragraph (the solution paragraph) introduces your solution or
solutions. The supporting sentences show how your solution(s) will solve the problem. The
concluding sentence reemphasizes the importance of the problem and the value of your solution

Paragraph 1 = Problem paragraph

Identify the problem. Explain clearly and specifically why this is a problem, and
mention who should be concerned about it.
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Paragraph 2 = Solution paragraph

Offer a concrete solution to the problem, and explain why this is the best one
available. You may want to point out why other possible solutions are inferior to
yours. If your solution calls for a series of steps or actions to be followed, present
these steps in a logical order.

Link the two paragraphs with:

In order to solve these problems, …
To meet this need,…
One answer is …
A second/third/final answer is …
In order to overcome these problems, …
One solution is…
One thing we can do is…

4/ SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR PRACTICE (Brainstorm for main ideas, Practice outlining
and writing topic sentence)

 Air pollution

 Traffic

 Overcrowded classrooms

 Overpopulation

 Unemployment

5/ HOMEWORK: Write a problem-solution paragraph about one of the given topics.

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