problem-solution

Problem-Solution Essay

Part I – 250 points

Audience: Formal Purpose: To Persuade

Prompt:

For this research essay, you will identify a societal problem and propose solutions to it. All the research you did for your Annotated Bibliography will help you with this assignment. This essay is split into two parts. See more specifics below.

PART I

Rubric: You will be graded on your ability to include the guidelines below and use them to create a well-written, college-level essay. If you fail to meet any of these expectations, points will be deducted accordingly.

Basic Requirements:

 3-4 pages in length  MLA style format overall  Free of spelling and grammatical errors  1st and 2nd person POV are NOT allowed  No contractions (didn’t, can’t, etc.)  Use headings for each section of your essay (see

sample essay)

Structure:

I. Introduction (1 paragraph)  Provide a hook and establish context for the problem  End with a problem-solution thesis:

o X (An Institution, Gov’t, ect) should do Y (Your solution) because (briefly discuss the problem).

o EX: PGCC should bring emotional support dogs to campus during final exams to help ease students’ test anxiety.

o EX: PGCC’s English Department should offer a certificate in professional writing to help make graduated students more employable.

II. The Problem (3-5 paragraphs)  Identify any important definitions related to

understanding the problem  Discuss causes of the problem  Discus how people, etc are negatively impacted by the

problem

III. Overview of Previous or Existing Solutions (2-4 paragraphs)  Provide a review of previous or existing solutions to the

problem  Evaluate the effectiveness of these solutions: why are

they not solving the problem? Why are they not enough?

Sources Requirements:

 You must include three quotations into the body of your essay. Each quotation must be from a different, credible source.

 Two of these quotations must be directly quoted.  One of these quotations must a paraphrased.  Two of these sources must to be from the PGCC

databases.  You must include an MLA works cited page

(without annotations). Failure to do so will result in an automatic zero.

Thesis note:

 You must use the structure provided to you above:

 X (An Institution, Gov’t, etc.) should do Y (Your solution) because (briefly discuss the problem).