The document provides an overview and guidance for writing a problem-solution essay. It discusses the basic features that should be included: a well-defined problem, a clearly described solution, a convincing argument, an effective counterargument addressing potential objections, and an evaluation of alternative solutions. It also summarizes two sample problem-solution essays, identifying how they incorporate these basic features. The document concludes by providing a prompt and guidance for writing a problem-solution essay as Assignment #4.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=2qLXO7466cE

2. AGENDA
 Problem Solution Essays
- Patrick O Malley, More Testing, More
Learning
- Karen Kornbluh, Win-Win Flexibility
 Introduction to Essay #4
 Generating a topic for your essay.

3. Basic Features
The essays you read for today propose a
solution to a problem. Here we will see
how different authors incorporate the basic
features of the genre.
A Well-Defined Problem

4. A Well-Argued Solution
Basic Feature: A Well-Defined Problem

5. An Effective Counterargument
Basic Feature: A Well-Argued Solution

6. An Evaluation of Alternative Solutions
Basic Feature: An Effective Counterargument

7. A Readable Plan
An Evaluation of Alternative Solutions
•The writer arguing for a proposal must anticipate
objections or reservations that readers may have
about the proposed solution.
• This works in much the same way as a
counterargument. Identify other ways to solve the
problem. Then show why or how your solution is
superior.
Basic Feature: An Evaluation of Alternative Solutions

8. Basic Feature: A Readable Plan

9. Review (or Read) Patrick O’Malley’s Essay. Take a
few minutes to look for these basic features in
“More Testing, More Learning.”
A Well-Defined Problem
A Clearly Described Solution
A Convincing Argument
An Effective Counterargument
An Evaluation of Alternative
Solutions

10. Now Answer These questions:
1. What is O’Malley’s Problem?
2. Where does he tell the reader?
3. What is this essay about?
A Well-Defined Problem

11. Now let’s go through the basic
features slowly
Here comes your footer  Page 11

12. A Well-Defined Problem
Although this last-minute anxiety about midterm and
final exams is only too familiar to most college
students, many professors may not realize how such
major, infrequent, high-stakes exams work against
the best interests of students both psychologically
and intellectually.
A Clearly Described Solution

13. A Clearly Described Solution: The Thesis
If professors gave additional brief exams
at frequent intervals, students would be
spurred to study more regularly, learn
more, worry less, and perform better on
midterms, finals, and other papers and
projects.
If professors gave additional brief exams
at frequent intervals, students would be
spurred to study more regularly, learn
more, worry less, and perform better on
midterms, finals, and other papers and
projects.
A Convincing Argument

14. A Convincing Argument: Support for the Thesis
 A 2006 study reported in Psychological Science journal
concluded that “taking repeated tests on material leads to better long-
term retention than repeated studying,” according to the study’s
coauthors, Henry L. Roediger and Jeff Karpicke.
 A Harvard study notes students’ “strong preference for frequent
evaluation in a course.”
 In a review of a number of studies of student learning,
Frederiksen (1984) reports that students who take weekly quizzes
achieve higher scores on final exams than students who take only a
midterm exam and that testing increases retention of material tested.
 Researchers at the University of Vermont found a strong
relationship among procrastination, anxiety, and achievement.
An Effective Counterargument

15. An Effective Counterargument: An Anticipation of
Readers’ Objections and Questions
Some believe that such exams take up too
much of the limited class time available to
cover the material in the course.
Another objection professors have to
frequent exams is that they take too much
time to read and grade.
An Evaluation of Alternative Solutions

16. An Evaluation of Alternative Solutions
 It is reasonable to consider alternative ways to achieve
the same goals. One alternative solution is to implement a
program that would improve study skills.
 Still another solution might be to provide frequent study
questions for students to answer.
 Another possible solution would be to help students
prepare for midterm and final exams by providing sets of
questions from which the exam questions will be selected or
announcing possible exam topics at the beginning of the
course.

17. Here comes your footer  Page 17
If you are not clear
about the basic
features in
O’Malley’s Essay,
go back to slide 10
and begin again. It
is critical that you
understand this
material.

18. Review Kornbluh’s “Win Win Flexibility”; then
identify the Basic Features.
A Well-Defined Problem
A Clearly Described Solution
A Convincing Argument
An Effective
Counterargument
An Evaluation of Alternative
Solutions
What is Kornbluh‘s Issue?

19. Now Answer These Questions:
What is Kornbluh’s Essay about?
What is the problem?
Which of these strategies does Kornbluh use to define her
problem?
1. giving examples to make the problem specific
2. using scenarios or anecdotes to dramatize the problem
3. quoting testimony from those affected by the problem
4. citing statistics to show the severity of the problem
5. vividly describing the problem’s negative
consequences
1. giving examples to make the problem specific
2. using scenarios or anecdotes to dramatize the problem
3. quoting testimony from those affected by the problem
4. citing statistics to show the severity of the problem
5. vividly describing the problem’s negative
consequences
Offering a solution

20. What is Kornbluh’s Solution?
Which Strategies does Kornbluh use to Describe
or Demonstrate her Solution?
1. the proposed solution would reduce or eliminate a major
cause of the problem.
2. a similar solution has worked elsewhere.
3. the necessary steps to put the solution into practice can
be taken without excessive cost or inconvenience.
4. stakeholders could come together behind the proposal.
1. the proposed solution would reduce or eliminate a major
cause of the problem.
2. a similar solution has worked elsewhere.
3. the necessary steps to put the solution into practice can
be taken without excessive cost or inconvenience.
4. stakeholders could come together behind the proposal.
An Effective Counterargument: Addressing Questions and
Concerns

21. Which Questions or Concerns does Kornbluh
Address?
How Does Kornbluh Address Questions and
Concerns?
1. by acknowledging an objection
2. by conceding the point and modifying the
proposal to accommodate it
3. by refuting criticism—for example, by arguing
that an alternative solution would be more
costly or less likely to solve the problem than
the proposed solution.
1. by acknowledging an objection
2. by conceding the point and modifying the
proposal to accommodate it
3. by refuting criticism—for example, by arguing
that an alternative solution would be more
costly or less likely to solve the problem than
the proposed solution.
Alternative Solutions

22. Alternative Solutions
How does Kornbluh present her
solution as preferable to other possible
solutions?
How does Kornbluh present her
solution as preferable to other possible
solutions?
A Readable Plan

23. Which of the following does Kornbluh include to
make her essay easy to read:
1. a forecast of the argument
2. key words introduced in the thesis and forecasting statement
3. topic sentences introducing paragraphs or groups of paragraphs
4. repeated use of key words and synonyms throughout the essay,
particularly in topic sentences
5. clear transitional words and phrases
6. headings that explicitly identify different sections of the essay
7. visuals, including charts that present information in an easy-to-
read format
1. a forecast of the argument
2. key words introduced in the thesis and forecasting statement
3. topic sentences introducing paragraphs or groups of paragraphs
4. repeated use of key words and synonyms throughout the essay,
particularly in topic sentences
5. clear transitional words and phrases
6. headings that explicitly identify different sections of the essay
7. visuals, including charts that present information in an easy-to-
read format
Essay #4

24. Here comes your footer  Page 24
If you are not clear
about the basic
features in Kornbluh’s
essay, go back to slide
18 and begin again. It
is critical that you
understand this
material.

25. Now that you know the
basic features of the
problem/solution essay,
let’s write one!
Here comes your footer  Page 25

26. Essay #4: Proposing a Solution:
This essay is due at the end of the quarter.
Essay #4 Assignment: (200 points) Write an essay from 4-6
pages in length, that addresses the topic below. Use a minimum
of three credible secondary sources to support your argument.
These are in addition to The Hunger Games or other primary
texts you might use.
Prompt : Write an essay proposing a solution to a well-defined
problem faced by a community or group to which you may
belong. Alternatively, you may address a well-defined problem
faced by one of the districts or communities in The Hunger
Games. Address your proposal to your audience: one or more
members of the group, its leadership, or to outsiders who may be
able to contribute to solving the problem.
In Class Writing

27. Here comes your footer  Page 27
The problem: In the wake of the surprise outcome on Election
Day, nearly half of the American voters feel despondent,
disgusted, betrayed, or afraid. All across the country there are
citizen-led efforts underway to heal the divides created by the
presidential election, to repair the social fabric, to restore trust
and civility. Others are rioting, planning protests, endeavoring to
change the political process, or talk of seceding from The United
States.
Optional Prompt

28. The Specifics
 Write a problem solution essay that defines a problem that Americans
face in the aftermath of a deeply contentious and bitter race to the
presidency; then, offer a specific solution to solve that problem. For
example, you might discuss what the nation’s next leader can do to help
knit America back together and restore confidence in the office. Or you
could approach the solution by focusing on how anxious liberals might
manage their post-election anger, sadness, and fear? How should
conservatives and Trump supporters move forward? How might the
LGBTQ+ community face any of the many threats to their human rights?
How will immigrants, AB540 students or Muslims face the problems that
could be in their futures. There are many ways to approach solving these
problems, so feel free to be creative, but it might be more manageable for
you address how to solve one of the issues born of the election results
rather than all of them.
Here comes your footer  Page 28

29. Choosing a
Topic for your
Essay!
My Community, Club,
Group, Country
My Community, Club,
Group, Country
Even if you are sure
you are going to write
on the optional
prompt, please
continue this exercise.
Simply work your
optional problem into
the chart.
Even if you are sure
you are going to write
on the optional
prompt, please
continue this exercise.
Simply work your
optional problem into
the chart.

30. Begin by making a chart like the one below. Identify a
problem for each of the groups or organizations listed
below:
Groups and organizations
1.The Hunger Games
2.De Anza College
3.Your Neighborhood
4.Your Club
5.Your Country
Problems
1. Problem
2. Problem
3. Problem
4. Problem
5. Problem

31. Here is an example of a finished chart.
Yours should look like this:
Groups and organizations
1.The Hunger Games
2.De Anza College
3.Willow Glen
4.Karate Club
5.Country
Problems
1. Not enough food
2. Not enough parking
3. Employee parking on our
street
4. Lack of commitment
5. American angst in the
aftermath of the election.

32. Now, fill in your chart with possible solutions for
each problem.
Groups and
organizations
1. The Hunger Games
2. De Anza College
3. Your Neighborhood
4. Karate Club
5. Country
Problems
1. Not Enough Food
2. Lack of Parking
3. Commercial parking
problem
4. No commitment
5. American angst in
the aftermath of the
election.
Solutions
1. ?
2. Reorganize lots
3. ?
4. ?
5. Liberals should commit to
programs they are concerned
about.

33. Problem
 Not enough parking at De
Anza College
 American angst in the
aftermath of the election.
Solution
 Redesign the current lots to
increase capacity.
 Liberals should commit to
programs they are concerned
about.

34. How do I find
out how much
will this cost?
Who will
know how much
time will it take
to do this?
Who has tried
this solution in
the past?
Ask yourself: What do I
still need to know and
how can I find the
information?
Are there
statistics that
support this as a
good idea?
Should I ask the
librarian for help?
How can I prove
that my solution
will eliminate one
or more causes?

35. Plan Follow-Up Research.
 Add notes about the kinds of information you think would
help make an argument convincing for your readers and
where you think you can find this information. Consider
both of your topics carefully before narrowing your
choice. You may want to do a bit of research on each
one to see which is the more promising.

36. Homework
 Read: Finish The Hunger Games
 Post #20: Answer the questions about the
Kornbluh essay: slides 17-21
 Finish your Chart
 Post #21 Use your Chart to begin to brainstorm
ideas for your essay. Choose at least two
problems to explore further. Write one
paragraph explaining each problem in detail.
Write another explaining a tentative solution for
each problem.
 Bring: Your chart and paragraphs with you to
our next face to face class.