During class, we’ve looked at several
problem-solution texts. George Orwell takes on the problem of the decay of the
English Language and its connections to political decay. Douglass tackles the
problem of slavery and race. Wall-E looks at issues involving an overdependence
on technology and pollution. Finally, Edward Abbey looks conservation and industrial
tourism. In your third essay for this class, you will define, research, and
propose solutions to a social problem. The topic of this assignment is your
choice, but you should check in with me about the topic no later than Tuesday, March
26th
In this essay, it will be important to
consider the objectives, variables, and relations between the variables (parts)
of the problem to construct a holistic picture of the problem and suggest ways
of achieving a solution. While analyzing the variables, develop your argument
about the solution to the problem as the thesis statement of the essay. Some of
these variables will be obvious. For example, if you want to discuss pollution
in Lake Erie, an obvious step would be to find out what sort of pollution the
Lake is currently experiencing and what kind of clean-up is required. Other
steps might include finding budgets for the public maintenance of the Lake. Who
is in charge of measuring the amount of pollution? When do they decide the Lake
requires intervention? Are there other steps that could be taken to reduce the
pollution? Less obvious avenues of research (and places where variables are
less ‘controlled’) might involve raising awareness of pollution in the
community or campaigns to encourage the larger Ohio community to preserve its
natural resources for future generations. All of these variables would require
a variety of sources.
Once you have defined your problem you
will need to begin doing research on the different variables that most concern
your target audience. The next step is to begin narrowing down your topic.
Pollution in Lake Erie might be too much, for instance, whereas the Lake Erie
Algae Bloom that we experienced in the summer of 2015 might be just manageable
enough.
The final step is writing. Using the
articles that you discovered during your research, identify the different
variables/relations to help give your reader a picture of the problem as you
see it. Then, provide a solution. Make sure to use an accepted documentation
style when citing, which for this class is MLA style citations. Remember, each
paragraph should provide clear analysis and reflect your argument. You must
quote from at least four secondary sources in your essay. Your argument in this
document will be your solution. Essays should be 5-7 pages, double spaced, 12-point
font and with one inch margins. The rough draft is due on Tuesday, April 2nd,
and students will have the opportunity to revise the essay following our normal
procedures.
