Proposing a Solution

Rough draft due: 2/23 Length: 4-5 pages

Final draft due: 3/4 Sources: 4

Write an essay proposing a solution to a problem. Choose a problem faced by a community or group and address your proposal to one or more members of the group or to outsiders who might help solve the problem.

In your introduction, present a well-defined problem followed by a thesis that follows an appropriate thesis template. Your introduction should convince readers of the significance of the problem. In the middle paragraphs, present realistic and innovative solutions to the problem. For each solution, refute, accommodate, or acknowledge possible objections and weaknesses. Finally, determine which proposal is the strongest and most effective. Your best solution should clearly cater to a specific audience and clearly present what you expect readers to do about it.

The structure of the essay might be as follows: 1) the first or first two paragraphs introduce and define the problem, 2) the next several paragraphs go over solutions and refute, accommodate, or acknowledge possible objections and weaknesses, and 3) finally, the last paragraph makes a compelling case for which solution is the best solution.

Tips: Each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that presents what the paragraph is about. Your ideas should be well-reasoned and demonstrate mature sentence structure.

Formatting: APA