1. PROBLEM-SOLUTION WRITING
PROMPTS

2.  Think about the community in which you live.
Think about what you could do to make it a
better place. Choose one problem that needs to
be solved to make your community a better
place to live. Write a letter to the editor
describing how solving this problem would make
your community a better place. Tell what you
would do. Give reasons why you think your plan
would work.

3.  Think about what you could do to make your
school more beautiful. Think about how you
would do this. How could you persuade the
people in your school that your idea is a good
one? Write a letter to the principal of your
school asking for support for your plan for
making your school more beautiful. Tell what
you would do and how you would do it. Explain
why you think your plan is important and why it
would work.

4.  Someone you know has a pet that is causing
problems. Write an article for a newspaper
describing how you would solve the problem the
pet is causing. First, describe the pet and the
problem the pet causes or could cause. Then
explain how you would solve the problem. Be
sure to explain why you think your solution is a
good one.

5.  Your school has been invaded by ants!
Everywhere you look, you can see the little
pests: in the lockers, desks, and classrooms.
Write a letter to your principal in which you
suggest a solution to the pesky problem of
ants in your school.

6. During the past year, three students at your high
school have died in automobile accidents. Your
community is grieving and wants an end to this
senseless loss of life. Write a letter to the editor
of your local newspaper in which you suggest a
solution to the problem of teenage traffic
fatalities in your community.

7.  Your community has an active Optimist baseball
league, but you have noticed more and more
parents who misbehave at the games! They yell
at their kids, argue with the umpire, and
complain to the coach about his decisions. Write
a letter to the league chairman in which you
suggest a solution to the problem of parents
who behave poorly during ball games.

8.  New students who enroll in your school often
feel left out because they do not have any
friends and it is not easy for them to make new
friends. Think of some ways to solve this
problem for new students to make them feel
better about their new school. Write a letter to
the editor of the school newspaper describing
ways you could make a new student feel
welcome at your school. First, describe the
problem of being a new student, and then
explain what you would do to help solve the
problem. Tell why your solution would work and
why it is a good idea.

9.  Imagine that a new student has moved in next
door and does not like living in your
neighborhood. Write a letter to him or her
explaining what places and activities your
neighborhood offers for teenagers. You will first
need to identify the problem, and then offer
your solutions to this student. Include specific
details and explanations of what to do and
explain why your ideas are ones you think he/she
will enjoy.