english

CRITERIA FOR A PROBLEM-SOLUTION PROPOSAL

I. As always, you will set your paper up in MLA format, beginning with the first page. Your discussion

should be approx. 1500 words and utilize at least 5 sources, clearly documented both in-text and on the

corresponding Works Cited page. Each source used in this Proposal will be referenced at least once in

the text of your PSP.

II. Your discussion should follow the 9-steps we have established in class for this genre of persuasive

writing. They are as follows:

1. Introduction w/thesis: The thesis should appear at the end of your introductory paragraph and clearly state both the problem and the solution you propose.

2. Extended Problem Definition

3. Extended Solution Explanation

4. Address of Opposition to your Solution

5. Counterargument (defending your Solution)

6. Brief description of an Alternative Solution

7. Counterargument (expressing the superiority of your Solution)

8. Resolution: You should connect to a big picture issue here that has not been previously discussed.

9. Conclusion

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SUBSTANTIATE ALL ASSERTIONS MADE IN THIS DISCUSSION WITH RELIABLE SOURCE MATERIAL SUPPORT AND THAT YOU HAVE PROPERLY CITED, BOTH IN TEXT AND ON THE WC PAGE, YOUR USE OF THOSE SOURCES. FURTHERMORE, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT YOUR NON-ORIGINALITY PERCENTAGE SHOULD NOT EXCEED 20%. YOU MUST PARAPHRASE YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL, EXCEPT FOR QUOTED PASSAGES AS LIMITED BELOW.

ABOUT QUOTATIONS: Refer to the guidelines established in the POMG with respect to using signal

phrases and quoting effectively. You may have only one block quotation (more than 4 lines; less than

10) and it must be set up as illustrated in the Guide. Altogether, you should plan to have no more than

15 lines of direct quotation. For the most part, you will be paraphrasing your source material. One

important thing you want to remember about paraphrasing is that even though the source material may

be in your own words, you still have to cite it, with both an in-text citation and a Works Cited page entry.

Lastly, your paper should be proofread before submission. Are there typos? Misspellings? Omitted

words? Wrong Words? Are there grammar errors, e.g. CS, FS, FRAG? Are there punctuation errors, e.g.

semicolon errors, apostrophe errors?

Have you stayed in the 3 rd

person? There should be no use of 1 st

or 2 nd

person in this essay (except,

possibly, for a brief personal anecdote explaining your personal connection to the issue, which would

appear in the introductory paragraph). Also, there should be no contractions.