This document provides instructions for an in-class essay assignment. Students are asked to write an essay identifying and describing a well-defined problem in education today, including its causes and consequences. They should convince the education board that this is an important problem to address. Students should not propose a solution in this essay. The summary includes guidelines for structuring the essay with an introduction, thesis, body paragraphs on causes and consequences, and conclusion. An outline and works cited are required to be turned in with the completed essay. Homework includes reading two sample student essays and discussing their key features.

1. EWRT 1A
Day 15
Paper 3 in class

2. In-Class Essay #1
 You may use only these tools:
 Pen or #2 Pencil
 Blue Book
 Your Own, Original One-page Outline

3. The Essay Question
 Prompt: Write an essay presenting to your reader a
well-defined problem in education today. Describe in
detail the causes and consequences, and convince your
audience that this is a problem worth solving. Address
your presentation of your problem to your audience:
one or more members of the education board, its
leadership, or to outsiders who may be able to
contribute to solving the problem.
 Note: you should not (yet) propose a solution to this
problem (that’s for Essay #4).

4. Remember
 Informative or Interesting Title
 Introduction
 How will you introduce your problem?
 How will you make it seem important?
 Your thesis statement:
 State the problem: causes and consequences.
 Body paragraphs: likely between 3 and 5
 Cause(s)
 Consequence(s)
 Conclusion
 Briefly restate problem
 Who should care and why?
 Do NOT include a solution.
 Works Cited. Prepare accurately in advance,
include it on your outline, and then copy into
your essay.
Turn your outline in with your essay!

5. Homework
 Read: SMG: 323-330 and 339-346
 Patrick O Malley, “More Testing, More Learning”
(annotated student essay)
 Matt Miller, “A New Deal for Teachers”
 Discussion #18: Discuss the basic features (A Well-
Defined Problem, A Well-Argued Solution, and an
Effective Counterargument) as they appear in each
essay. Pick at least one feature from each essay
 Bring your notes for essay #3 and SMG