ee ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING What Is a Problem-Solution Essay? A problem-solution essay is written to identify and explain a problem and offer one or more solutions. It is a very common essay type on standardized exams and in classroom assignments. While it is simple to organize, it sometimes requires doing some research. ‘Typically, the introductory paragraph presents the problem. This may include background information about the problem or the history of the problem: Is this a new problem? Has the (problem existed for many years? The essay then explains why the problem is significant: Way should the reader be concerned? The writer must get the reader interested in the problem. ‘The body paragraphs offer possible solutions. The information here should explain why or how the solution will be effective. One solution can be presented with two or three points, or two or three solutions can be presented. Finally, the concluding paragraph summarizes the points and may offer a call to action— recommendations or steps for the reader to take to help solve the problem. In summary, the problem-solution essay: Clearly identifies and explains the problem Gives background information or the history of the problem, if needed Offers one or more solutions to the problem J ‘Summarizes the main points and may encourage the reader to take action to help correct the problem Choosing a Topic Ina problem-solution essay, the writer may choose a topic for which there are many solutions. In this case, the writer might choose to write about the dest solution. For instance, ifthe topic is the problem of too much trash going into landfills, the essay can focus on one solution: boycotting plastic products. The body paragraphs then explain how this solution will work. 126 UNITS Problom-Solution Essays‘On the other hand, the writer might choose to provide two or more solutions to this problem: boycotting plastic products and encouraging recycling. In this model, each solution will be a separate paragraph. WRITER'S NOTE Focusing Your Essay One of the most common mistakes that writers make in writing a problem-solution essay is, just listing a number of problems and some solutions. Remember, focusing on one problem and one or two solutions will result in a well-developed essay with strong examples and details. After reading the essay, the reader should have a clear understanding of the issue and how the solution or solutions address it. Organizing a Problem-Solution Essay ‘There are two basic ways to organize a problem-solution essay—presenting one solution or two ‘or more solutions. Cee Paragraph 1: Introduction enue Paragraph 1: Introduction Hook (background information or history ofthe problem) Connecting information Thess statement Hook (backgroune information or history of the problem) Connecting information Thesis statement Paragraph 2: Why the problem is important Paragraph 3: Solution Paragraph 4: Conclusion Paragraph 2: Why the problem is important Paragraph 8: Solution 1 (witha transition from Solution 1 to Solution 2) Paragraph 4: Solution 2 Paragraph 8: Conclusion @ activity 1 | Brainstorming problem-solution topics ‘The following topics are all appropriate for a problem-solution essay. In pairs, choose two of the topics and complete the information on the next page. The final item should be your own original topic. One topic has been done for you. Internet Privacy Homesickness Traffic in Our City Insomnia Homeschooling: Quality Control Noise Pollution ‘The Real Issue of Brain Drain’ Bad Neighbors Cell Phone Addiction ‘Trash on the Beach ‘Trash Troubles on Mount Everest Rising Sea Levels 127ACTIVITY 4 | Analyzing a problem-solution essay Read the problem-solution essay. Then answer the questions that follow. WORDS TO KNOW Essay 1.4 assume: (\) to believe something without having have the means to: (v phr) to have enough the correct or complete information money to do something crisis: (n) an emergency; disaster ESSAY 1.4 Overcoming the Rising Cost of University Studies 1 Ahigh school diploma is not the end of many students’ educational paths. Competition to enter the workforce is fierce’, and without an advanced degree “in hand,” many young people will not succeed in getting adequate employment. With this requirement of a college diploma comes an unforeseen problem: cost. The price tag on studying at a traditional university is growing rapidly, year by year, which leaves many feeling defeated and powerless. Is there a solution to this financial erisis for students? Fortunately, more and more options are available for those students who do not have the means to attend these universities. One such solution in the United States is attending community college. 2 University costs are rising steadily—both in the United States and in other countries. In the United States alone, the yearly tuition at public universities is approximately $35,000. Does this sound like a lot? Im: adding in the cost of housing and books. The yearly price tag can be astronomical”. This dollar amount is for nonresident students—that is, those students who permanently reside either out of state or out of country. However, even local students pay up to $21,000 yearly. This amount more than triples when one adds on housing and textbooks. “Berce intense astronomical: exremely high ‘Stiidents on a community Petetke a .3° Attending a community college is a fine solution to this financial problem. Fees for community college study are half as much as universities. Even better, the quality of education is just as good as, if not better than, a four-year university at a fraction of the cost. While community colleges only offer two-year degrees, many students transfer their credits to a larger university after they complete their coursework. This translates into tens of thousands of dollars saved in the first two years of university study. In addition, community colleges charge less for parking, cafeteria food, and campus health clinic services. No matter how the total bill is calculated or what is included, community colleges are a better value than four-year universities. 4 Community colleges are indeed very different from large universities and may not offer the same social or athletic opportunities. Many people wrongly assume that the differences might affect the quality of education. But the quality of the education at community colleges ‘matches that at universities, making the value hard to beat. Beginning at a community college is 1 perfect solution for students looking to continue on their educational path without going into tremendous debt. FEES PER YEAR AT U.S, UNIVERSITIES, commun” | cotagee’ | coger ourt. | Pinot colleges (in-state fees) state fees) Tutionand $3570 s9970 $2560 se4740 Room and bord_| $8400 si0800 | sias00 | siazv0 Total (per year) $11,970 $20,770 $35,420 $46,950 4. Review the chart. What is the most expensive type of college or university in the United States? 2, What is the least expensive? What is the approximate total cost difference between the most and least expensive types? Look at the prices of room and board, which refers to housing and food for students. ‘The two-year colleges cost less. What do you think are some reasons for this? 16 UNIT 1 + Exploring the Essay4, What is the purpose of the essay? Begin with The purpose is... @ 5. Complete this simple outline of the essay. Topic: The Cost of University Studies 1. Introduction (Paragraph 1) ‘Thesis statement: M. Body (Paragraphs 2 and 3) A. Paragraph 2 topic (PROBLEM): a. Tuition for nonresidents 6 & ab B. Paragraph 3 topic (SOLUTION): a. Cost of community college z b. Quality of education 3 . Other services: |. Conclusion (Paragraph 4) Restate thesis Opini uv6. What did you know about this topic before you read this essay? (Check all answers that apply.) @ C1 I knew that university education was very expensive in the United States. Ci I knew that the prices were different for in-state and out-of-state students. Ci I thought that « university was the only option for higher education in the United States. (I did not know much about university education. 7. What do you think about the writer's solution to the high cost of education? Did the writer make a good argument for community colleges? Can you think of other possible solutions for students who want higher education but cannot afford it? Writing the Introduction ‘The introduction is the first part of an essay, usually the first paragraph. During the writing, process, the introduction does not have to be written first, however. Some writers design and write this part of the essay last or at another point in their writing process. ‘There are many ways to write an introduction. Some writers begin with a question. Others give background information about the topic. The kind of introduction you choose depends on how you want to present the topic and the kind of essay you decide to write. What Is in the Introduction? The introduction for most essays is one paragraph. This paragraph often consists of three parts: 1. The hook INTRODUCTION = 2. Connecting information 3. The thesis statement UNIT 1 «Exploring the Essay2. What are two possible solutions to this problem? Solution 1: Solution 2: @ activity 2 | Analyzing a problem-solution essay Read the problem-solution essay. Then answer the questions that follow. WORDS TO KNOW Essay 5.1 automatically: (adv) functioning by itself ‘measure: (n) a procedure, method budget: (n) a financial plan; money for a prominent: (adj) well-known, famous particular purpose trustworthy: (ad)) dependable; honest generate: (v) to produce, create 3 (n) use Integrity: (n) strong morals; honesty widespread: (ad)) covering a large area keep track of: (phrv) to follow the progress of something, monitor Eases) : An Internet cafaie Safeguarding Internet a ents Privacy 1 Time magazine recently reported that— worldwide—more than three billion people use the Internet. Internet usage has increased exponentially!, from metropolitan hubs to rural areas in developing countries. As with most other advances, along with the benefits come the dangers. One of the most widespread dangers has to do with maintaining individual Internet privacy. The risk here is that personal data can be misused on the Internet. Although the danger is real, there are certain ways for individuals to protect their private information. "exponentially: more and more rapidly2 The issue of Internet privacy has gained attention over the last few years. Recently, one of the most prominent technology companies in the world, Facebook, came under fire? when it was discovered that its users’ data was made available to outside companies (third-party companies) without users’ knowledge. It worked as follows: Facebook users would log in to a different app—such as an online game or shopping site—using their Facebook login information. When these users clicked on “agree” to use the app, that company immediately gained access to all of the users’ Facebook information. Then, depending on the integrity of the company, that same information could be illegally sold to third parties, sometimes for as little as $5.00 per login. By this time, users’ private information had traveled to various companies, with most users unaware of this cycle. At best, this stolen personal information can mean a lot of unwanted advertising; at worst, it can lead to identity theft and stolen assets. 3 One way that Internet users can protect their privacy is to hide their surfing habits. ‘This is an option that is available on all major Web browsers, free of charge. Private browsing deletes temporary Internet files, browsing history, and cookies (small files that hold data connected to a website) when users end their Internet session. This, in turn, limits companies’ access to personal information and website preferences. The less these companies know, the less direct marketing clutter will appear on users’ social media, email, and so on. Another way to achieve the same effect is to use a Web proxy, or VPN (Virtual? Private Network). A VPN hides the user's IP address, so when an Internet surfer visits a website, that particular website cannot see where the search is coming from. It is similar to using a longer, more complicated route to get to a final destination. Instead of the direct highway (the actual IP address) of a computer surfer, the company sees a different road 4 Using password managers is another possible solution; password managers protect sensitive information and make it more difficult to hack. Computer users are told again and again to use different passwords for different accounts, but this rule is often not followed. A password manager generates unique passwords for websites that require a login. Not only that, but the password manager keeps track of logins and offers assistance iffa user gets confused or forgets certain passwords. Instead of trying to remember email logins, usernames, and passwords, the user needs to type only one master password into the password manager, and the manager does the rest, automatically filling in all of the required information. Password managers are priced from completely free to approximately $50.00. Whatever one’s budget, there is a password manager to protect sensitive information. 5 These simple tools can be the difference between a safe Web-surfing experience and a serious threat to Internet privacy. There is no excuse for not taking advantage of these simple tools. They are easy to use, free or inexpensive, and completely trustworthy. ‘The next time Internet users complain about a computer security issue, they should be reminded that the safety measures were always there, ready to use. come under fire: be criticized ‘virtual: computer generated 130 UNITS Problom-Solution Essays1, What is the main purpose of this essay? Begin with The purpose is 2. What is the thesis statement? Write it here. 3, In Paragraph 2, the author gives details about the importance of Internet privacy. Why is Internet privacy important? 4, What are the two specific solutions presented in the body of the essay? 5, Reread the concluding paragraph of Essay 5.1. What is the call to action? Developing a Problem-Solution Essay Outlines are usefill methods of organizing the information in an essay. Outlines usually contain the main ideas followed by details that will be included within each paragraph. Read this dictionary entry for “brain drain’ before completing an outline on the topic. brain drain (noun) [singular] situation in which many educated or professional people leave ‘one place or profession and move to another one that gives them better pay or living conditions * Nothing has been done to stop the brain drain of health care providers as more and more doctors and nurses are taking jobs in other countries.@ actwiry s | Outlining a problem-solution essay Read the outline for a problem-solution essay about brain drain. The outline is missing some important information. Use the words and phrases from the box to fill in the missing pieces. research opportunities call to action thesis statement engineering restate the thesis statement low salaries definition the real issue of brain drain Title: _The Real Issue of Brain Drain 1. Paragraph 1: Introduction A. Hook B. C. Background information D. M1, Paragraph 2: Why and how it’s a problem ‘A. Western companies in search of highly skilled workers 1. Health care 2. 3. Technology sector SUPPORT B. Limited job opportunities in native country 1. Overqualified professionals in native countries 2 IML, Paragraph 3: Solution A. Governmental buy-in 1. Increased salaries 2. More ‘SUPPORT B. Private sector buy-in 1, Foreign investment within the country 2. More competition (no more state monopolies) 132 UNITS + Problem-Solution EssaysIV, Paragraph 4: Conclusion A. B. Grammar: Adverb Clauses Sentence variety is an important element in academic writing. Experienced writers do not rely ‘on one sentence type, such as compound sentences, but instead try to use a variety of sentence types within a paragraph and essay. One way to add variety is by using complex sentences with adverb clauses. An adverb clause is a dependent clause that indicates time, reason, concession, contrast, condition, purpose, or refutation. An adverb clause begins with a connector called a subordinating conjunction, such as after, although if, since, and when. In the following sentences, the subordinating conjunctions are circled and the adverb clauses are underlined. ‘Note that when the adverb clause begins the sentence, itis followed by a comma. Although Brazil and the United States are unique countries, there are remarkable similarities in their size, ethnic diversity, and core values. Lenient parents will not become angry or scream[ifja child screams. (When)the Northeast is experiencing snowstorms, cities ike Houston, Texas can have temperatures over 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The workers will go on strike Gnless)their demands are met. ten Ta time after wnt ‘As soonas the lecture ended, the as when students left the auditorium, as soon as whenever before while reason / because Because the class ran long, they did not cause since have time to get lunch, concession / although ‘Though some might argue that counterargument | even though messaging on social media can lead to though face-to-face interactions, there is no data to support this claim. contrast although while Although punctuation is ignored in even though texting itis important in academic writing, condition even if unless If more people cared about the it when ‘environment, there would be far less provided that pollution. purpose inorder that ‘Good writers add examples se that their so that points are clear. refutation despite the fact that ‘The presentation was not rescheduled despite the fact that most students ‘could not attend it. 133@ activity 6 | Analyzing a problem-solution essay Read the problem-solution essay. Then answer the questions that follow. WORDS TO KNOW Essay 5.2 ) to add up, increase gradually : (n) a partnership; working together disposal: (n) removal; the process of getting rid of something enforce: (v) to make people obey; apply offical: (n) an authority in an organization; officer 4 Eee propose: (V) to make a suggestion recognition: (n) praise for doing something well regulation: (n) a rule (usually rom government or other organization) resource: (n) a supply; available amount use up: (phrv) to consume, deplete The Great Mount Everest Clean-Up Effort 1 Edmund Hillary made history on May 29, 1953. The New Zealand native gained recognition as the first climber to reach the summit of Mo Everest in the Himalaya ‘Mountains of Nepal. At that time the feat seemed almost impossible, yet, as the years went by, more and more climbers achieved the same goal. In 2017 alone, 648 adventurers successfully climbed Mount Everest. Along with an increase in the number of Everest mountain climbers is the increased problem of litter left behind on this natural wonder. Fortunately, Nepalese officials are working to fix this potential environmental disaster. 1382 It is true that Mount Everest has brought much-needed income to Nepal, but it is also true that a lot of waste has accumulated as a result. Hikers require a lot of equipment to successfully climb the mountain. A typical team of hikers can easily use up hundreds of oxygen cylinders and as many as 15 plastic tents and other equipment during the climb. In addition, there is the issue of human waste. This has been a growing problem and has reached life-threatening levels ‘The waste problem now extends from the base camp to the watershed below, polluting the local water supply. Not only does all this waste ruin the beauty of what was once an unspoiled peak, but the risk of disease to Mount Everest communities grows with each passing year. In 2014, the Nepalese government tried to solve this pollution issue by implementing a law stating that climbers must bring back 18 pounds of garbage on their way down the mountain. This solution did not work for a number of reasons, especially logistics", Officials hope that new strategies prove more successful 3 A combined effort between Mount Everest officials and the city of Kathmandu has been proposed. Garbage disposal sites have been installed along the mountain paths. These sites are sturdy enough to survi aks rummaging—or digging through—the garbage. Because the animals would destroy plastic bins, the new containers are made out of stone. In addition, heavy fines will be given to hikers who pollute the mountain. These hikers risk losing their $4,000 waste deposit if they are caught throwing things on the mountain. In this way, the careless throwing away of items will definitely be reduced. The final step is removing the garbage from. the mountain. This is where a local airline comes in. It has agreed to transport the waste from the mountain to the capital city, where it will be recycled. T to have a positive effect on the environmental problem. 4 The problem of environmental waste on Mount Everest is serious, with more and more climbers leaving a nasty stain on the natural beauty of the mountain. Now, with these new regulations in place, the mountain should see a return to its former self: There are no more excuses as the government has provided adequate resources to reduce pollution on the mountain, The world’s highest peak deserves to be visited, but as with all wonders of the world, it should be respected. As a local Nepalese school official stated, “Tourists are not fully abiding by our rules. Itis time to enforce the law.” logistics the organization of complicated tasks Te1. What is the main purpose of this essay? Begin with The purpose is.. 2, What type of hook is used in this essay? 3. What is the thesis statement? 4, According to the author, why is pollution on Mount Everest a serious problem? Where did you find the answer? 5, Review Paragraph 3. The topic sentence states that the best solution is to have a combined effort between the officials of Mount Everest and the city of Kathmandu. What are the three specific actions presented in the paragraph? 6, Review the final quote in the concluding paragraph. Rewrite it in your own words,@ activity 12 | Combining sentences Combine the ideas into one sentence. You may change the word forms, but do not change or omit any ideas. There may be more than one answer. 1, Itwas exhausting. ‘The hikers made it to the summit. It was the summit of the mountain, ‘The tech equipment is old. ‘The tech equipment is bulky. ‘The tech equipment is difficult to use The tech equipment is in the computer lab. Biomedical engineering is an industry. Biomedical engineering is fast growing. ‘This is especially true in Western Europe. 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