1. CLASS 35: Online
Component
EWRT 1A

2. Agenda
Choosing a topic
Describing the problem
Figuring out a solution
Implementing a solution

3. Review the three
topics you have
written about

4. Pick a topic from your own
chart to begin
Groups and
organizations Problems Solutions
 The Hunger  Not Enough  Make hunting legal
Games Food  Reorganize lots
 De Anza College  Parking  Start neighborhood
 Your  Drug Dealers? watch
Neighborhood
 Your Club  Martial Arts  Eliminate Bullies
Group
 Community violence
 Volunteers at local
 No place for schools
kids to play?

5. Find the two paragraphs you
have already written on the
subject you have chosen
Revise what you have and write another
paragraph or two further describing the
problem for your readers. Be as specific
and vivid in your explanation as
possible given the information you
currently have. Writing a rough draft of
this part of your essay should help
clarify what additional information you
will need.

6. Choosing a Solution
Listing helps to consider several possible solutions before
It usually Possible Solutions
focusing on one solution, so problem solving requires
creativity. Answer the following questions to help you make a
list of creative solutions you could consider for your essay:
 Can you adapt a solution that has already been tried or proposed for
related problems?
 What smaller, more manageable aspect of the larger problem could you
solve?
 Could re-imagining the goal help you make fundamental changes?
 Could the problem be solved from the bottom up instead of from the top
down?
 Could an ongoing process help solve the problem?

7. Choosing the Most
Promising Solution
In a sentence or two, describe the
solution you want to explore further.
You cannot know for certain whether
you will be able to construct a
convincing argument to support this
solution, but you should choose a
solution that you feel motivated to
pursue. This will be your working
thesis!

8. Constructing an
Argument

9. Explain Why It Would Solve
the Problem.
Write for a few minutes explaining why
you think this solution could solve the
problem. For example, would it
 eliminate one or more causes?
 change people’s attitudes?
 re-imagine the objective?
 reduce anxiety and tension?

10. Show Why It Is Possible.
 Write for a few minutes
explaining why people could
agree to put the solution into
effect. For example, what would
it cost them in time or money?

11. Explain How It Could Be
Implemented.
 Write down the major stages
or steps necessary to carry out
your solution. This list of steps
will provide an early test of
whether your solution can, in
fact, be implemented.

12. Plan Follow-Up Research.
 Add notes about the kinds of information you
think would help make your argument convincing
for your readers and where you think you can find
this information.

13. Homework
 Post #39: Your revised and developed description of your problem.
This should be two or three good paragraphs.
 Post #40: Write one or more sentences to serve as your tentative thesis
statement. In most essays proposing solutions to problems, the thesis
statement is a concise announcement of the solution. Think about how
emphatic you should make the thesis and whether you should forecast
your reasons.
 Post #41: Answer the questions on slides 9-12
 Review the readings in this chapter to see how other writers construct their
thesis statements.
 Bring SMG