Two-part Questions

● Problem - Solution Essay

 What is a Problem - Solution Essay?
A problem-solution essay requires writers to identify the problem(s)
associated with a particular issue and persuade readers that the problem needs to
be solved; then propose solution(s) using supporting evidence.
 Problem-Solution Essay Requirements
In this type of essay, you need to discuss the problems, then suggest possible
solutions to these problems by expanding your ideas, NOT simply listing
problems and solutions
1) Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st Century and sea levels are
continuing to rise at alarming rates.

What problems are associated with this and what are some possible solutions.

2) 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?
 Step 1: Brainstorming ideas (2’)
● Analyze the question
● Think about the problems and solutions that are directly linked to the question.
● Make a list of problems - solutions -> Choose ONE/TWO problem-solution(s)

E.g. Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st Century and sea
levels are continuing to rise at alarming rates.

What problems are associated with this and what are some possible solutions?

- flooding of people’s homes -> build flood barriers or move to higher areas

- loss of agricultural land and starvation (hunger) -> switch to more suitable crops

- displacement of millions of people -> move people to a planned place before the floods
Practice: Brainstorming Ideas (2’)
● Analyze the question
● Think about the problems and solutions that are directly linked to the question.
● Make a list of problems - solutions -> Choose ONE/TWO problem-solution(s)

1. 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?

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.
 Step 2: Writing Introduction
● Paraphrase Question
● Writing the Hook (Introducing the topic) -> Writing the Background Information (optional) -> Writing
the Thesis Statement (Outlining what will be discussed in the body paragraphs)

E.g. Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st Century and sea levels
are continuing to rise at alarming rates.

What problems are associated with this and what are some possible solutions?

Climate change is among the principal dangers facing people this century and ocean levels are
increasing dramatically. This essay will first analyze the biggest problem caused by this phenomenon that
is the flooding of homes and then suggest building flood protection as the most viable solution.

or Climate change is among the principal dangers facing people this century and ocean levels are
increasing dramatically. Although serious problems have arisen as a result of this, there are solutions.
 Practice: Writing Introduction

● Paraphrase Question = Writing the Hook (Introducing the topic) -> Writing the Background
Information (optional) -> Writing the Thesis Statement (Outlining what will be discussed in the
body paragraphs)
1. 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?
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.
E.g. Climate change is among the principal dangers facing people this century and ocean levels are
increasing dramatically. This essay will first analyze the biggest problem caused by this phenomenon
that is the flooding of homes and then suggest building flood protection as the most viable solution.
or Climate change is among the principal dangers facing people this century and ocean levels are
increasing dramatically. Although serious problems have arisen as a result of this, there are solutions.
Step 3: Organizing Body Paragraphs (block)
Problem paragraph

Sentence 1- State problem(s)

S2- Explain what problem is

S3-4: What is the result of this problem

S5-6: Examples

Solution paragraph:

Sentence 1- State solution(s)

S2-3: Explain how the solution will solve the problem

S4-6: Examples
Step 3: Organizing Body Paragraphs (Chain)
Problem 1- Solution 1 Paragraph

Sentence 1- State problem 1

S2- Explain what problem is

S3: Examples

S4: State solution 1

S5: Explain how the solution will solve the problem

S6: Examples

S7: Concluding sentence

Problem 2 - Solution 2 Paragraph

Body Paragraphs Example (ONE problem-solution)
The foremost problem caused by sea levels creeping up is the flooding of peoples’ residences. Millions
of people all over the world live in coastal areas and if the sea rises by even a few feet, they will be inundated
with water and lose their property. Shelter is one of the most basic of human needs and widespread flooding
would cause millions of people to become homeless, not to mention losing all of their possessions. The
devastation brought about by this was clear for all to see during the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, in which millions
of people were displaced.

A possible solution to this problem would be building flood barriers. Flood defences, such as dikes,
dams and floodgates, could be built along coasts and waterways, thereby stopping the water reaching
populated areas. The Netherlands is one of the most populated areas in the world and also one of the most
vulnerable to flooding and they have successfully employed various flood defence systems. Therefore,
flooding caused by global warming can be managed by the human effort in establishing concrete flooding
barriers along waterway areas.

Inundate (v) = bury/ flood

Body Paragraphs Example (TWO problems)
The enormous growth in the use of the internet over the last decade has led to radical changes to
the way that people consume and share information. Although serious problems have arisen as a
result of this, there are solutions.

One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access
potentially dangerous sites. For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they
can register with a site and claim to be an adult. There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and
development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society. Another major problem is the
growth of online fraud and hacking. These days, there are constant news stories about government
and company websites that have been hacked, resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of
criminals. Once hackers have such stolen information in hands, they surely use it for numerous purposes
out of the owners’ control, which will probably lead to unexpected consequences.
 Body Paragraph Example: Problem + Solution (chain)
One of the major issues facing our community is the increasing amount of litter in
public spaces. It is visible to see trash is thrown out randomly in plenty of streets and
parks. This litter not only makes our streets and parks unsightly but also poses a threat
to wildlife and the environment. To tackle this problem, the community could
implement a comprehensive waste management program. This program would involve
increased public education on the importance of proper waste disposal, stricter
enforcement of littering laws, and the installation of more trash bins in high-traffic areas.
Additionally, organizing community clean-up events could help raise awareness and
encourage residents to take pride in keeping their surroundings clean. By
implementing these solutions, we can work together to reduce littering and
create a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone in our community.
 A Standard Problem Analysis
Problem Statement + Explanation + Evidence/Example(s) + Consequence
E.g. The Problems of Working and Attending College

One of the most common problems of working while attending college is time
management. College students often have unpredictable schedules with classes,
labs, and group projects at various times of the day. This can conflict with work
shifts if the job requires a fixed schedule or demands flexibility for extra hours. In
fact, some college students take part-time jobs at retail stores or restaurants.
Those students usually have classes in the morning and work in the evenings. To
keep a balance between classes and work, those students struggle to manage
time for home assignments and exams. As a result, working students often feel
overwhelmed and tired, leading to decreased academic performance and a lack of
focus at work.
 Language Arts for Problem Statement
the factors/issues responsible for ...

the reasons behind/for ...

the factors/issues which have contributed to ...

the causes of ...

the issues which have resulted in/led to …

E.g. One reason for this unfortunate development is the technological progress which has
taken place over the past decades, as a result of which machines and tools have replaced
people in most cases, like in transportation.

**** Because / Because of / Due to / Owing to

 Language Arts for the consequences of the problem

…. is a result of ….
This has led to...
This has brought about...
One of the consequences of this is…
E.g. - Global warming is partly a result of increasing emissions of greenhouse
gases.
- The decline of the manufacturing industry has brought about high
unemployment in many countries.
 Practice: Write a problem analysis
Problem Statement + Explanation + Evidence/Example(s) + Consequence
E.g. The Problems of Working and Attending College

One of the most common problems of working when attending college is time
management. College students often have unpredictable schedules with classes,
labs, and group projects at various times of the day. This can conflict with work
shifts if the job requires a fixed schedule or demands flexibility for extra hours. In
fact, some college students take part-time jobs at retail stores or restaurants.
Those students usually have classes in the morning and work in the evenings. To
keep a balance between classes and work, those students struggle to manage
time for home assignments and exams. As a result, working students often feel
overwhelmed and tired, leading to decreased academic performance and a lack of
focus at work.
 A Standard Solution Discussion
Solution Suggestion + Explanation + Evidence/Example(s) + Concluding Statement
Language Arts for Solutions:
Solutions for ...
One of the effective means/ways to resolve/deal with/tackle/improve ...
E.g. One way to solve the problem of obesity and improve people’s health and fitness would
probably be to increase tax on fast food, while decreasing tax on fruits and vegetables. This
would certainly make unhealthy food more expensive and less popular, and help healthy
food become cheaper and increase its popularity. Evidently, some states in America have
added extra taxes on soda to reduce the consumption of this sugar-sweetened beverage. As
a result, people are likely to eat healthier food.
*** Therefore / Consequently / As a Result / Thus / For this reason,
Practice:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wn1n5m16NkZHC3F9UVdbvPmT8cIJOxCSFE1YArI7rUM/edit
 Step 4: Writing Conclusion
Sentence 1- Summarize the main points from the body paragraphs

Sentence 2- Make a recommendation or prediction.

To conclude, stemming the rising tides caused by increasing global

temperatures is one of the foremost challenges we face and it will ultimately lead
to many of the worlds’ cities being left underwater, but a possible solution already
used by countries like the Netherlands could be applied to utilise the flood
prevention techniques. It is predicted that more and more countries will be forced
to take such measures to avoid a watery catastrophe.

catastrophe (n) = disaster

Writing Assessment Criteria
● Task Achievement (25%): covers all requirements of the task.
● Coherence and Cohesion (25%): develops and organizes ideas coherently
and logically.
● Lexical Resource (25%): uses a wide range of vocabulary to convey precise
meanings.
● Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%): uses a wide range of sentence
structures with accuracy.

(Task 1 x 1 + Task 2 x 2) : 3 = Writing band score