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Problem-solution essays are a common essay type, especially for short essays such as subject exams or IELTS . The page gives information on what they are , how to structure this type of essay, and gives an example problem-solution essay on the topic of obesity and fitness levels.
Problem-solution essays consider the problems of a particular situation, and give solutions to those problems. They are in some ways similar to cause and effect essays , especially in terms of structure (see below). Problem-solution essays are actually a sub-type of another type of essay, which has the following four components:
The 'situation' may be included in the essay prompt, in which case it will not be needed in the main body. If it is needed, it can often be included in the introduction, especially for short essays, as with the example essay below . The 'evaluation' may be included as part of the conclusion (also as in the example below), or omitted altogether, especially for short essays. For these reasons, problem-solution essays are more common than situation-problem-solution-evaluation essays (or SPSE essays).
There are two main ways to structure a problem-solution essay. These are similar to the ways to structure cause and effect essays , namely using a block or a chain structure. For the block structure, all of the problems are listed first, and all of the solutions are listed afterwards. For the chain structure, each problem is followed immediately by the solution to that problem. Both types of structure have their merits. The former is generally clearer, especially for shorter essays, while the latter ensures that any solutions you present relate directly to the problems you have given.
The two types of structure, block and chain , are shown in the diagram below. This is for a short essay, which includes the 'situation' in the introduction and 'evaluation' in the conclusion. A longer essay, for example one of around 1,000 words, with citations , would probably have these two sections as separate paragraphs in the main body.
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Below is a problem-solution essay on the topic of obesity and poor fitness . It uses the block structure . Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay, i.e. Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation. This will highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also (for problems and solutions) the thesis statement and summary , as these repeat the problems and solutions contained in the main body.
Consumption of processed and convenience foods and our dependence on the car have led to an increase in obesity and reduction in the fitness level of the adult population. In some countries, especially industrialized ones, the number of obese people can amount to one third of the population. This is significant as obesity and poor fitness lead to a decrease in life expectancy , and it is therefore important for individuals and governments to work together to tackle this issue and improve their citizens' diet and fitness. Obesity and poor fitness decrease life expectancy. Overweight people are more likely to have serious illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, which can result in premature death. It is well known that regular exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, which means that those with poor fitness levels are at an increased risk of suffering from those problems. Changes by individuals to their diet and their physical activity can increase life expectancy. There is a reliance today on the consumption of processed foods, which have a high fat and sugar content. By preparing their own foods, and consuming more fruit and vegetables, people could ensure that their diets are healthier and more balanced, which could lead to a reduction in obesity levels. In order to improve fitness levels, people could choose to walk or cycle to work or to the shops rather than taking the car. They could also choose to walk up stairs instead of taking the lift. These simple changes could lead to a significant improvement in fitness levels. Governments could also implement initiatives to improve their citizens' eating and exercise habits. This could be done through education, for example by adding classes to the curriculum about healthy diet and lifestyles. Governments could also do more to encourage their citizens to walk or cycle instead of taking the car, for instance by building more cycle lanes or increasing vehicle taxes. While some might argue that increased taxes are a negative way to solve the problem, it is no different from the high taxes imposed on cigarettes to reduce cigarette consumption. In short, obesity and poor fitness are a significant problem in modern life, leading to lower life expectancy . Individuals and governments can work together to tackle this problem and so improve diet and fitness . Of the solutions suggested, those made by individuals themselves are likely to have more impact, though it is clear that a concerted effort with the government is essential for success. With obesity levels in industrialized and industrializing countries continuing to rise, it is essential that we take action now to deal with this problem.
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Below is a checklist for the main body of an essay. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.
The essay is a essay | ||
An appropriate is used, either or | ||
The essay has a clear | ||
Each paragraph has a clear | ||
The essay has strong support (facts, reasons, examples, etc.) | ||
The conclusion includes a of the main points |
Find out about writing definitions and definition essays in the next section.
Go back to the previous section about cause & effect essays .
Author: Sheldon Smith ‖ Last modified: 22 January 2022.
Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .
Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.
Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).
Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.
Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).
Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.
Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.
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In adult life, every day people face various problems and conflicts at work or in the lives of their friends, relatives, or their own. It’s crucial to learn and be able to solve problems and to have troubleshooting skills to ease situations. Tutors in universities or colleges try to teach students how to do that by asking them to complete problem-solution research papers as a great way to boost their problem-solving and writing skills. Proposing a solution essay as a type of paper is common on exams to check student’s critical thinking and ability to respond with a solution. To reach a solution you need to learn to work through details and find ways to solve problems quickly and effectively. To make the writing of problem-solving papers simple follow the next steps.
When asked to write a problem and solution essay you might be assigned to a situation to write about or be allowed to choose one. If the second happens – try to think about someone or something that bothers, annoys, or irritates you, and in case you thought about a solution for that before it could be a topic for your essay; as an alternative – make a list of groups you think you belong to (such as family, school, sports teams, hobby buddies, etc.) and identify issues you have faced as a member, choose one that needs to be and can be solved practically and create a community problem-solving paper. You can also choose the topic for your essay from this list.
Think about the problem or the issue you have chosen and ask yourself: why it matters, why it’s a problem, and how it can be solved. Try to understand and clarify what you know about the problem and what a potential solution could be. To ease your research or writing create questions. Try to find answers by looking for some information in scholarly journals online, academic texts, or, perhaps, in your own library, ask for help from people that you think might help you with the answers to your questions. Try to spot facts and statistics to make the problem more vivid to the readers. You can make a survey and interview the people that you think faced similar problems. In this type of paper, the point of view of the second person is efficient to be used. Read as much as possible about the topic you are going to write. In case of using outside sources, you may need to cite them. Good research will benefit you with a solid solution to the problem.
If a problem is simple a solution is obvious. In case of a difficult problem, it takes some work to find a solution. It’s a good idea to create a sort of mind map or outline to understand all possible causes of the problem. Describe the factors that may be a part of the problem as many as possible. Study all potential causes of the problem that may be relevant to the factors. Create a diagram of the factors and causes, how they are connected and analyze it. Depending on the complexity of the problem you can do an investigation by analyzing causes and also surveys you’ve done before. Use specific examples and facts to support your solution and mention that you have taken to concerns the solutions of others if it happens to find them while you do your research. Try to convince your target audience that your solution is cost-effective doable, and the most effective.
Being able to organize yourself is a very important part when writing a problem and solution essay. The structure of a problem-solving essay is the same as the structure of an ordinary academic paper.
Develop a strong thesis for your paper, that will appear in the introduction and the conclusion of your essay, the statement that will outline the problem and problem solution paper ideas that your essay will cover in one or two sentences. When the thesis is ready it’s time to start an introduction. The paragraph that includes a reader’s attention grabber. Interest your reader in the problem by giving a frame of the story and explaining how the problem developed and why it’s important and needs to be solved. The tone of your paper should be reasonable, rational, logical, and thoughtful.
Contain at least two or three paragraphs in the body of your paper proposing possible solutions and explaining those that wouldn’t work. Offer the solution that you think is the best. Explain your solution clearly with details. Use evidence that your solution will work by providing supporting details: statistics, studies, arguments, and all the notes you have from your previous research. Show your troubleshooting skills and why your solution is reasonable. Describe how you will implement your solution.
The conclusion should briefly emphasize the importance of the problem and sum up the proposed solution in one or more paragraphs. Explain how the situation will change if your solution is adopted. An effective way to convince your audience is to talk about the results of the problem if it remains unresolved. End your essay with a strong call to action, agitate, and motivate the reader to become involved.
Finally, write your first draft, leave your paper for some time, and get back to it later, review your work and make sure it has all the components of a problem-solution paper and follows the structure. It should identify the problem and the solution, a thesis shall appear in the introduction and the conclusion. Check for spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes by reading aloud to yourself or it’s a good idea to ask a friend to proofread it for you to avoid missing out on anything that needs editing. Stay focused, creative, and original, follow the steps above, and your writing process will be smooth, simple, and flow freely.
A problem-solution essay presents a complicated case and brainstorms its possible solutions. Most such tasks will require you to do some preliminary research.
The structure of this writing type is different from a standard five-paragraph essay. Start with introducing the circumstances where the problem emerged. Then describe the issue and mention why its resolution is critical. After that, suggest one or several solutions (they usually take up the main body paragraphs). And conclude with an evaluation and call for action.
You can consult problem solution essay examples for free to see how other high-school and college students dealt with the assignment.
Effects of information literacy on scholarship, practice and leadership in teaching profession.
Nursing shortage problem.
Red bull company marketing strategy.
Rational emotive behavior therapy.
Managing contemporary warehouses.
Enormous challenge in agility dgs.
Technology failure in business, change management plan.
Business failure and its prevention.
The conflict between boston charter schools and school districts.
The asian-pacific region and australia.
Bmw entry plan into international market.
The standards of risk management.
Knowledge management: processes and technologies.
Sustainability and slums.
Cryptology and data protection.
Let’s go kids camp.
Family history and substance abuse treatment.
Effective communication: presenting one’s ideas.
Decision making process for entrepreneurs.
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This is the second of three chapters about Problem-Solution Essays . To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.
– Review the concepts of problem-solution essays
– Explore six steps for writing successful problem-solution essays
– Provide examples and language structures to help guide the reader
Chapter 1: What is an academic problem-solution essay?
Chapter 2: What makes a problem-solution essay successful?
Chapter 3: What is an example problem-solution essay?
Having focussed more generally in Chapter 1 on the problem-solution essay type and its situations, problems, solutions, evaluations and questions, this second chapter on the subject next explores six steps for creating successful essays that highlight to the reader significant problems, credible solutions and effective evaluations. Follow these six steps carefully and your problem-solution essays should soon be rewarding you with better confidence and grades.
Step 1: Understand the Question
The first step to writing a successful problem-solution essay is to make sure you understand the essay question.
While students may occasionally be required to create the question for themselves, most of the time they will be provided with an essay question by their tutor or course handbook. As was explored in Chapter 1, there is a wide variety of language structures that may be used to introduce problem-solution essays, such as the following table shows:
While there are many possible essay questions that you may encounter, for the remainder of this short reader we’ll be focusing on the following example question:
Clearly, this example question provides the situation ‘air pollution in developing countries’ for the writer, and asks that writer to (a) determine the problems created by this situation and (b) provide solutions for how these problems can be fixed. When writing your essay, make sure that you deconstruct the question in this way and follow its instructions very carefully – otherwise you may lose valuable marks.
Step 2: Plan and Research
Once you have your essay question, the next step will likely be to think of as many problems, solutions and evaluations as possible about the situation being explored. For our example essay about air pollution in developing countries, such a brainstorm might look something like the following:
Once you’ve created a list such as the above, it’s important that you next look for source -based evidence that supports these main ideas . Don’t forget to make sure when finding academic sources that the research you use is appropriate and relevant, and that you are selective of which sources and main ideas you include. Focussing specifically on the solutions you provide in your essay , it’s important to make sure that each of these solutions is convincing, feasible, relevant to the problem in hand, and is supported with academic sources . To help you with making these decisions, we’ve listed twelve of the most common solutions below.
12 Common Solutions
1. Educate people about how to fix the problem.
2. Improve an existing solution that doesn’t work well enough.
3. Place a new leader in charge as the current one isn’t working.
4. Remove the person or thing that is the source of the problem.
5. Encourage people to help with a problem they know how to fix.
6. Create something new such as an organisation or piece of technology.
7. Instigate a compromise between the two parties creating the problem.
8. Better enforce the current laws that exist to help alleviate the problem.
9. Use a different procedure or method because the current way is inadequate.
10. Create new laws and policies because the existing laws do not fix the problem.
11. Provide more resources to fix the problem, such as money, equipment or people.
12. Change people’s attitudes because it is these attitudes that are causing the problem.
Step 3: Consider Your Overall Structure
The third step to crafting an effective problem-solution essay is to then think carefully about the overall structure. This means selecting which main ideas you’re going to include in your essay and then deciding whether you’re going to arrange those ideas into a block or chain structure. Block structures are generally considered to be more appropriate for shorter problem-solution essays in which the writer has a more limited number of problems to explore. As is shown in the diagram below, a block structure is when the problems and solutions are discussed in separate blocks, otherwise known as paragraphs:
Chain structures , on the other hand, are useful when the writer wishes to discuss the problem and its related solutions within the same paragraph:
Remember that in both of these structures, it is up to the writer to decide whether they wish to include the evaluations of each solution within the body section of their essay or within their conclusion .
Step 4: Include Essay Elements
Another way of guaranteeing the successful creation of a problem-solution essay is to make sure that you include many of the following elements:
Opening Sentences
“Air is typically defined as being polluted when an excess of gases, particles and compounds are detected in the Earth’s atmosphere at levels that cause harm to human life and the Earth’s ecosystems.”
Background Information
“Not only are gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide likely responsible for climate change, but when combined with other pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), air pollution may account for approximately seven million premature deaths annually (Smith, 2018).”
Thesis Statements
“Focusing on emissions from transportation and industry, this essay explores the key technological and political polices that could be implemented to help resolve the current global air pollution crisis.”
Topic Sentences
“As a result of fewer regulations in fuel and vehicle quality and significantly higher populations, many Asian city centres have now become toxic to human health (Williams, 2018).”
Supporting Details
“Since 2002, Delhi, Dhaka and Beijing have all reportedly seen mortality rates from lung cancer double even though the amount of cigarette smokers has in fact declined (Yuang, 2012).”
Thesis Restatement
“This essay highlights how the problem of air pollution has shifted in recent years from the more economically stable regions to those that are still growing. ”
Summary of Arguments
“Essentially, it has been argued in this paper that a top down approach is required in developing countries.”
Future Considerations
“Short-term losses should perhaps be considered against the value of life and the basic human right to breath clean air.”
Step 5: Include Appropriate Language
There are also particular language structures that students should try to include in their essay when providing solutions to problems and when providing evaluations to solutions. While cohesive devices and transition markers such as ‘first’ or ‘however’ might be useful in any essay, the following language is particularly relevant to problem-solution essay types :
After completing Chapter 2 and its activities, continue on to Chapter 3 to see many of these language structures highlighted in the example problem-solution essay .
Step 6: Edit and Proofread
Finally, and as with all essays , a good writer should always look carefully during the editing and proofreading stages for any elements that can be improved. This means paying careful attention to subject-specific vocabulary , academic and unacademic language , spelling mistakes, grammar errors and problems with sentence structures . For the more content-based details such as main ideas and supporting ideas , a successful writer should not be afraid of deleting or rewriting large sections of text in an attempt to improve that text – and you shouldn’t be too.
Having now discussed the six most important steps for creating effective problem-solution essays , continue on to Chapter 3 if you wish to read our example. Don’t forget also to complete the Chapter 2 activities to check your understanding.
To reference this reader:
Academic Marker (2022) Problem-Solution Essays . Available at: https://academicmarker.com/essay-writing/essay-types/problem-solution-essays/ (Accessed: Date Month Year).
Once you’ve completed all three chapters in this short reader about Problem-Solution Essays , you might then wish to download our Chapter Worksheets to check your progress or print for your students. These professional PDF worksheets can be easily accessed for only a few Academic Marks .
Chapter 1 explores the topic: What is an academic problem-solution essay? Our Chapter 1 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button.
Chapter 2 explores the topic: What makes a problem-solution essay successful? Our Chapter 2 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button.
Chapter 3 explores the topic: What is an example problem-solution essay? Our Chapter 3 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button.
To save yourself 2 Marks , click on the button below to gain unlimited access to all of our Problem-Solution Essays Chapter Worksheets. This All-in-1 Pack includes every chapter, activity and answer key related this topic in one handy and professional PDF.
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A problem-solution essay is a form of argumentative writing that looks into a specific issue, providing a detailed examination of the problem and proposing effective solutions. A problem-solution essay stands apart from narrative , descriptive , and expository essays by focusing sharply on identifying a problem, analyzing its causes, and ...
Step 1: Think about groups that you belong to and the problems that those groups have. Make a list of groups you belong to, such as: Step 2: Make a list of problems you have encountered in some of these groups. Sometimes there is a plan for a solution, but it isn't working, or maybe the plan isn't being enforced.
Table of contents. 1 120 Problem Solution Essay Topics List. 1.1 Environmental Issues Problem-Solution Essay Topics. 1.2 Social Problems Problem And Solution Essay Ideas. 1.3 Healthcare Challenges: Problem-Solving Essay Ideas. 1.4 Technological Advancements Ideas for a Problem Solution Essay. 1.5 Educational Concerns Problem Solution Paper Topics.
The best guide for a problem solution essay outline is the four components mentioned above. Cover the situation, the problem, the solution, and then evaluate both or all sides of the story. To drill down further into the outline, you should have an introduction that will set out your paper's structure. Then you should present the situation.
1.Describe the problem and tell why it is important to solve. 2. Explain your solution and why it will work. 3. Refute objections. Problems are easy to see, but finding solutions is not as easy. To write an effective paper, you need to spend some time preparing your ideas. This step-by-step guide leads you through the process of getting your ...
Overview. Problem-solution essay is a common type of expository essay in academic writing. These essays are usually assigned to students in higher levels of education because they require effective research on the topic before providing foolproof solutions to the problems.
This type of essay may be assigned in a high school or college composition class, and it generally requires some research before the writing process can begin. The primary thrust of a problem-solution essay is usually either an argument for a specific solution to a problem or a strong case for the urgent need to solve a problem. Like most ...
End your intro with a thesis statement recapping the problem and providing a preview of the solution(s) you will offer in the rest of your paper. II. Body: Communicating the Solution(s) Cover each potential solution to the problem in its own paragraph, or cover each step of a multi-step solution with each step having its own paragraph.
A problem-solution essay is an essay that uses analysis of problems and solutions to argue a point. Here, we will focus on the specific strategies that can be used to develop a problem-solution essay.
The two best methods: construct a survey to be given to the audience affected by your problem or interview key people associated with the problem (or solution). Both methods can provide ...
A problem solution essay is a form of an argumentative essay which aims to convince readers using facts and appropriate solutions. When writing this essay, you need to consider the problems of a particular situation and provide solutions to them. Problem solution essays are structured much like persuasive essays with an introduction, body ...
Analyzing these examples can provide valuable insights into the structure and content of a well-written problem solution essay. Problem Solution Essay Topics. Here are fifty problem solution essay topics that cover a variety of fields: 1. Addressing the problem of plastic waste in the oceans. 2. Solving the issue of gun violence in the United ...
Clear and focused problem statement: The essay should begin with a clear and concise statement of the problem to be addressed. This statement should explain the issue's significance and provide context for the reader. A well-defined problem statement sets the stage for the rest of the essay and serves as a roadmap for the discussion.
A problem-solution essay is a type of argument. "This sort of essay involves argumentation in that the writer seeks to convince the reader to take a particular course of action. In explaining the problem, it may also need to persuade the reader concerning specific causes" (Dave Kemper et al., "Fusion: Integrated Reading and Writing," 2016).
A problem-solution essay is a type of academic writing that requires the writer to analyze a problem, propose a viable solution, and support their ideas with relevant evidence. The primary objective of this essay is to address real-world issues and provide practical solutions to those problems.
Problem-solution essays consider the problems of a particular situation, and give solutions to those problems. They are in some ways similar to cause and effect essays, especially in terms of structure (see below). Problem-solution essays are actually a sub-type of another type of essay, which has the following four components: Situation.
Step Two: Brainstorming and Research. Think about the problem or the issue you have chosen and ask yourself: why it matters, why it's a problem, and how it can be solved. Try to understand and clarify what you know about the problem and what a potential solution could be. To ease your research or writing create questions.
A problem-solution essay presents a complicated case and brainstorms its possible solutions. Most such tasks will require you to do some preliminary research. The structure of this writing type is different from a standard five-paragraph essay. Start with introducing the circumstances where the problem emerged.
Five key elements to writing a problem-solution essay include those that keep your audience in mind. #1 Your topic has to describe a problem with a viable solution. When choosing a topic, you need to select a problem that has a viable solution. Or, to put it another way, you want a solution that has clear and objective goals.
Answer: A recommendation report is another name for a problem/solution essay. The difference is that the recommendation report is generally focused on improving a business or institution. Additionally, the recommendation report carefully examines all of the possible solutions, as well as their pros and cons, before making the final recommendation.
When wondering how to write a problem solution essay, it's important to describe a problem, convince the reader to care about the problem, and propose a solution. Read on to learn more! ... Instead, hone in one one specific branch of the online world, like Instagram or online dating apps. Then, you can provide a specific solution to that ...
Having focussed more generally in Chapter 1 on the problem-solution essay type and its situations, problems, solutions, evaluations and questions, this second chapter on the subject next explores six steps for creating successful essays that highlight to the reader significant problems, credible solutions and effective evaluations. Follow these six steps carefully and your problem-solution ...
A problem-solution essay that addresses economic problems is compelling precisely because everyone is eager for answers—especially college graduates. Check out these six problem-solution essay topics about economics for essay ideas. 6. Problem: Student loan debts.