PROBLEM-SOLUTION ESSAY

1. PROBLEM-SOLUTION ESSAY 1. Understandingproblem-solution essay topics 2. Organizing your ideas 3. Writing Thesis Statement 4. Developing body paragraphs 5. WritingConclusion

2. UNDERSTANDING PROBLEM-SOLUTION ESSAY TOPICS Exercise: Read the essay questions below. Which one asks you to write an opinion essay and which one is for problem-solution essay? The underlined words may help you to reach your decision. 1. Many newspapers and magazines feature stories about the private lives of famous people. We know what they eat, where they buy their clothes and who they love. Is it appropriate for a magazine or newspaper to give this kind of private information about people? What do youthink? Write an essay about the issue explaining your reasons. 2. Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems. 3. Procrastination is the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones, or doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, and thus putting off tasks to a later time, sometimes to the "last minute". Procrastination is very common in university students. Why is it a problem and how can a student avoid procrastinating? OpinionEssay Problem-Solution Essay Problem-Solution Essay

3. OpinionEssay 4. The first car appeared on Turkish roads in 1896. Now, there are more than 3 million registered vehicles in Istanbul and more than 17 million vehicles on Turkish roads. Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. To what extent do you agree or disagree?Write an essay explaining your reasons. 5. University students may have some problems with their roommates during their stay in the dorm or their flat. What kind of problems may they have? How can college students handle problems with roommates? 6. Is freedom of speech necessary in a free society? What do you think? Write an essay explaining your reasons. 7. What kind of problems might arise when you have a long-distance relationship with your girlfriend/boyfriend when you are in university? How can these problems be solved? 8. The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems that did not exist before. What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you suggest? Problem-Solution Essay OpinionEssay Problem-Solution Essay Problem-Solution Essay

4. Problem-Solution Essay 9. What are the negative effects of cheating in the university? How can cheating in university be best handled? 10. Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Explain the problems and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems. 11. Recent figures show an increase in violent crime among youngsters under the age of 18. Some psychologists claim that the basic reason for this is that children these days are not getting the social and emotional learning they need from parents and teachers. To what extend do you agree or disagree with this option? Write an essay giving your reasons. 12. Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games. What are the negative impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects? Problem-Solution Essay OpinionEssay Problem-Solution Essay

5. 2. ORGANIZING YOUR IDEAS STEP 1: Understand the essay topic and ask somequestions. SampleEssaytopic: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Explain the problems and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems. Toexplainthe problem(Body paragraph #1), think about the answers to these similarquestions: • What are the problems that overpopulation causes in cities? • What are theconsequences of overpopulation in cities? • What happens when the cities are overpopulated? • Why is it a problem?

6. STEP 2: GATHERING INFORMATION/BRAINSTORMINGFindanswerstoyourquestions in Step 1 andwrite as manyideas as you can in yourchart. Problems in publictransportation BODY PARAGRAPH #1 (EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM) difficulttoprovideservicesforallpeople greaterpoverty Crowdedbuses, trains, metro Overpopulation in cities Automobileexhaust largevolumes of uncollectedwaste airpollution significantimpact on humanhealth theloss of habitat andfoodsources

7. STEP 3: CLASSIFYING IDEAS for describing the PROBLEM (BODY PAR. #1)Now, classify your ideas under more general topics. This will help you decide which ideas can be supporting ideas and which ideas can be used for justifications (examples, explanations) in your body paragraph#1 .Find at least 2 different ideas. (There are 3 different ideas below.)BODY PARAGRAPH 1: Overpopulation in cities • People’shealth(1st supporting idea) • Airpollution(automobile exhaust, houses, factories) • Ex: Lung/respiratory diseases • large volumes of uncollected waste • Ex: infectious diseases • stress, depression • Problems in publicservices(2nd supporting idea) • Uncollectedwaste • crowdedbuses, metro • heavytraffic • Environmentalproblems(3rd sup.idea-optional) • theloss of habitat foranimals • loss of foodsources • Loss of forests

8. 2. ORGANIZING YOUR IDEAS STEP 4:Now, it is time tothinkaboutthesecondpart of theessaytopic.(Body paragraph #2) SampleEssaytopic: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Explain the problems and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems. Tosuggestsolutions(Body paragraph#2), think about the answers to these similar questions: • What are the solutions?/How can this problem be solved? • What can governments do togetrid of theseproblems? • Whatshouldindividuals/citizens/people do tosolvethem? • How can we overcome these problems?

9. STEP 5:FINDING SOLUTIONSNowlookback at theproblemsonebyoneandcreatesolutionsforeach. (BODY PARAGRAPH #1) • People’shealth • Airpollution(automobile exhaust, houses, factories) • Ex: Lung/respiratory diseases • large volumes of uncollected waste • Ex: infectious diseases • stress, depression • (BODY PARAGRAPH #2) • reducing air pollution by upgrading energy use and alternative transport systems • providing free health care for the citizens • providingfreepsychologicalcounsellingforthecitizens • Problems in public services • Uncollected waste • crowded buses, metro • heavy traffic • More investment on public transportation • More trains, longer metro lines, less cars in traffic • Motivating people not to waste food and to recycle

10. Nowthatyouhavedecidedthecontent of body paragraphs, youarereadyto start writingyouressay. REMEMBER theparagraph plan of problem-solutionessay: Paragraph 1: Introduction General Statements Thesis Statement Paragraph 2: Description of the problem (Body p.#1) Paragraph 3: Solution tothe problem (Body #2) Paragraph 4: Conclusion

11. 3. WRITING THESIS STATEMENTS

12. 3. WRITING THE THESIS STATEMENTThesis statement in Problem-Solution essay should have two parts:Part 1:Expressing the general problem Part 2: hintabout the solution expressingthe general problem expressingthe problem hintaboutthesolution Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. However, therearestillseveralthingsthatgovernments and individuals can do in orderto overcome these problems.

13. Exercise 1: Write a thesisstatementforthegiven problem-solutionessaytopics. Example: Topic 1: During the last weeks of the academic year, there is a decrease in students’ motivation. What are the reasons for this problem and how can it be solved?expressingthe general problem Thesis statement: University students may lose their interest in the lessons at the end of the year, yet there are many things that can done to prevent this. hintaboutthesolution Write 2 alternativethesisstatements: Universitystudentsusuallyfeeldemotivated in theirstudiestowardstheend of theyear. However, we can still do manythingstosolvethis problem. There is always a loss of concentrationandmotivationamonguniversitystudentsat theend of thesemestre, butthis can still be preventedbytakingsomespecificsteps.

14. Topic 2: Many people start smoking at an early age and endanger their lives. What are the reasons for this problem and what are the measures that can be taken? Write 3 alternativethesisstatements. Thesis Statement 1: Thesis Statement 2: Thesis Statement 3: The number of young people who start smoking increases day by day. However, there are many ways to dissuade them from smoking. Manypeople start smoking as teens. However, we can takesomemeasurestopreventthisfromhappening. Manyyoungpeopleendangertheirlivesbystartingsmoking at an earlyage; yettherearemanywaystosolvethis problem.

15. Topic 3: Many university students have difficulty in managing their money while they are studying at universityaway from their family. What kind of problems do they have related to money? And what should they do to solve these problems? Write 3 alternativethesisstatements. Thesis statement 1: Thesis statement 2: Thesis Statement 3: It is difficult for university students to manage their money on their own butthere are many ways to solve this problem. University students have many problems about managing their money while they’re studying at university away from their family. However, these problems can be solved in many ways. Universitystudentsmaygothroughmanyproblemsbecausethey do not know how tomanagetheirmoney, yetthey can copewiththis problem in manyways.

16. Topic 4: University students may have some problems with their roommates during their stay in the dorm or their flat. What kind of problems may they have? How can college students handle problems with roommates? Write 2 alternativethesisstatements: Thesis statement1: Thesisstatement 2: Universitystudentsmayhavesomeproblemswiththeirroommates, butthey can solvetheseproblems in manyways. Sometimes, universitystudentscannotget on wellwiththeirroommates in thedormor in theirflat; however, therearepotentialwaystosolvetheseproblems.

17. 4. DEVELOPING BODY PARAGRAPHS

18. Developingthebody paragraph #1 (describingthe problem) Sampleessaytopic: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Explain the problems and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems. TopicsentenceforBody Paragraph#1: Therearemanyproblemsassociatedwithoverpopulation in cities. Write alternativetopicsentences: • Overpopulationcauseslots of problemsin bigcities. • Overpopulationleadstoseveralproblemsin bigcities. • Bigcitiesarenegativelyaffectedbytheoverpopulation. • Thereareseveralproblemsin bigcitiescausedbyoverpopulation.

19. Developingthebody paragraph #1 (describingthe problem) Overpopulation in cities • People’shealth(1st supporting idea) • Airpollution(automobile exhaust, houses, factories) • Ex: Lung/respiratory diseases • large volumes of uncollected waste • Ex: infectious diseases • stress, depression • Problems in publicservices(2nd supporting idea) • Uncollectedwaste • crowdedbuses, metro • heavytraffic Overpopulation causes lots of problems in big cities.(TOPIC SENTENCE) First problem is that it negatively affects people’s health. (1st supporting idea) Air pollution caused by car exhaust, factories and houses makes it very difficult to breath and it also leads to respiratory diseases among people. Moreoever, people suffer from stress and depression in overpopulated cities since they face with lots of problems during their daily lives. Secondly, there are lots of problems in public services.(2nd supporting idea)For instance, the waste of the city cannot be collected and the streets can be full of garbage, which is a bad scene for the citizens. Furthermore, buses and trains are always crowded and people lose a lot of time while travelling.

20. Developingthe body paragraph#2(providingsolutions) Sampleessaytopic: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Explain the problems and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems. TopicsentenceforBody Paragraph#2: However, therearemanywaystosolvetheseproblems. Write alternativetopicsentences: • Despitetheseproblems, therearesomesolutionstoovercomethenegativeeffects of overpopulation. • However, in ordertosolvetheseproblems, thegovernmentsandindividualscandolots ofthings. • Solvingtheseproblemswill not be easybuttherearesomemeasuresthat can be taken.

21. Developingthe body paragraph #2(providingsolutions) • reducing air pollution by upgrading energy use and alternative transport systems • providing free health care for the citizens • providingfreepsychologicalcounsellingforthecitizens • More investment on public transportation • More trains, longer metro lines, less cars in traffic • Motivating people not to waste food and to recycle Problemsaboutpeople’shealthProblems in publicservices Despite these problems, there are some solutions to overcome the negative effects of overpopulation.(TOPIC SENTENCE) First solution is that the government should take actions about reducing the air pollution. They can do this by motivating people not to use their cars and by investing on the public transportation systems more. Besides, the factories should be punished if their emissions exceed the limits. Another solution is thatthe government should provide free health care for those who have respiratory diseases and give free psychological counselling for all the citizens. In this way, people can cope with the stress of living in an overpopulated city. Last solution is that the local authorities should motivate people not to waste food. For example, they can organize campaigns and seminars about recycling.

22. 5. WritingConclusion In conclusion paragraph, youshould return to the thesis statement, restate it and express yourfinal thoughts and recommendations. Here are two strategies: 1. Add a final observation about how people view the problem. 2. Make a ‘call for action’ that asks people to do something to help solve the problem.

23. Exercise: Re-state the thesis statements below, add an observation and a call for action. Thesis statement: University students usually feel demotivated in their studies towards the end of the year. However, we can still do many things to solve this problem. Restated thesis statement: In conclusion, there are many ways to increase the motivation of university students, even at the end of the year. Observation: Students might be exhausted or bored with all the homework, quizzes, exams and lectures. They may even stop coming to the school. Call for action: However, they need to continue their studies till the end.They should know that if they are a bit patient, keep completing their assignments and attend the classes regularly, they will get good results and won’t regret.

24. Thesis Statement: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. However, therearestillseveralthingsthatgovernments and individuals can do in orderto overcome these problems. Restated thesis statement: Although there are several negative effects of overpopulation in big cities, overcoming these problems is possible. Observation: Due to these problems, people living in overpopulated cities suffer from health problems and they face many challenges during their daily lives. Call for action: However, governments, local authorities and individuals should take responsibility and minimize these problems for a better future.