METU/SFL Spring 2025

DBE 302 GROUP

WHO 2 PROBLEM-SOLUTION PARAGRAPH

(Instructor’s Copy)

This material includes presentation or revision of structures and vocabulary items that are frequently used in problem-
solution paragraphs, purpose linkers, sample problem-solution paragraphs to analyze, and a paragraph-writing task
about a problem and possible solutions to it.

Solution texts serve an important role. These texts inform readers about problems, describe them, convince
readers that the issue mentioned is a real problem, and suggest actions that could be taken to remedy these
problems. Here is a proposed outline for a problem-solution paragraph:
I. Identify the problem
II. Propose solutions to the problem
III. Evaluate the solutions (and wrap up)

Here is an example:
Students very frequently experience the problem of procrastination.
How can this be solved?
Presenting the Problem: identify the problem
Problem-solution paragraphs aim to persuade the reader or state that a certain issue should be treated as a
problem. Therefore, before the topic sentence, the writer should briefly explain the problem. Such an
introduction to the paragraph helps the writer make a smooth transition to the topic sentence.
The dictionary definition of procrastination is “putting off an action or task to the last minute.” However, this
does not necessarily make “procrastination” a problem for students. You must introduce the problem and
explain it very briefly in order to make the connection with the solutions.

● This part is linked to the rest of the paragraph with the topic sentence.
After introducing the problem as part of your purpose, you can write the topic sentence. In the topic sentence,
you should refer to the problem and present your solutions. In this sentence, the topic is the problem itself and
the controlling idea includes the solutions.
Examples of topic sentences of a problem-solution paragraph are as follows:
→ There are two possible solutions to the worldwide problem of the limited supply of fossil fuels.
controlling idea topic

→ The worldwide problem of the limited supply of fossil fuels can be solved through the implementation of two
possible solutions. topic
controlling idea
→ Two of the most commonly proposed solutions to the worldwide problem of the limited supply of fossil
controlling idea topic
fuels are improving conservation efforts and finding alternative energy sources.
controlling idea

Propose solutions to the problem

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You should state your solution first. Then, say “how” this solution will work in order to reach the desirable
result – the end of the problem – by providing explanations or examples. Study your analysis in the example
paragraph.

Solutions should be realistic, practical, legal, ethical, and appropriate. People should be able to implement the
solution.
TASK 1. The following are NOT suitable solutions. Work with a partner and discuss why they are not
suitable.
a. Don’t assign homework. d. Announce the procrastinators’ names at school to
b. Dismiss the students who procrastinate. shame them.
c. Raise awareness of the importance of doing e. Excuse the students who have personal/important
assignments on time. reasons for procrastinating.

An easy way to come up with solutions is to consider the causes of the problem. If you can eliminate the
causes, you will probably solve the problem.
TASK 2. Note down solutions to the problems below.
Some common reasons why students procrastinate are distractions, anxiety, being a perfectionist, setting
unrealistic goals, overestimating the time to perform tasks, and poor time-management skills.

While trying to solve these problems, let’s try to come up with plausible solutions.

Distractions → limit distractions/prioritizing

Being perfectionist/setting unrealistic goals → setting realistic goals

Poor time-management skills → improving time-management skills/setting time limits/breaking large

tasks into small parts

Organizing the ideas

When writing the solutions, it is a good idea to follow the following tips.

1. Keep your ideas balanced. Avoid writing 9-10 sentences for one solution and just a few sentences for another.
2. Follow a logical order. You can order them in one of the following ways:
● From more expensive to less expensive ● From less popular to more popular

● From complicated to simple ● Other: ______________________________

Conclusion
You can wrap up the paragraph with the conclusion. Your conclusion can include some advice about the
problem or the solutions. You may also summarize the solutions that you have suggested.
Practice
TASK 3. Read the paragraph below. Underline the topic sentence, and then complete the table that follows.
Procrastination is putting off an action or task to the last possible minute, and it can produce serious
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 consequences for students’ schoolwork, grades, and even their overall health. There are two solutions
that can be implemented to overcome this problem. One way of solving this problem is related to
distractors around them. Students can limit distractions that prevent them from starting or completing a
task. For example, they can disable their social-media accounts temporarily or put away their
smartphones while working on a challenging project. If students limit the distractions, they can start the
task without postponing and stay focused until it is finished. As a result, they will be able to complete the
task on time. Another way of solving the issue is to improve time-management skills. An easy method
procrastinators can adopt is to organize their schedule using a pen and paper. Students can also use free
applications or software like Google Calendar. In this way, they can set specific dates and times to begin
and continue their assignments. If they continue to stick to the plan on their planner, they will become
more organized, and they can stop procrastinating. To sum up, limiting distractions and improving time-
management skills are two possible solutions that students can implement to overcome the problem of
procrastination.

Solutions Explanation of the solution

● start task immediately→ more likely to stay focused on the task → complete the task
1) limiting
on time → PREVENT PROCRASTINATION
distractions
e.g.: 2) disable social-media accounts temporarily / put away smartphones while
working on a challenging project

→ organize their schedule using 4) a pen and paper / free applications & software →
3) improving
time- set specific dates & times to begin & continue assignments
management → stick to the plan on the planner → PREVENT PROCRASTINATION
skills

USEFUL LANGUAGE
Remember that problem-solving requires the writer to suggest solutions. It is for this reason that we might
frequently need to use the following language patterns when writing a problem-solution paragraph.
TASK 4. Read the useful phrases, and categorize them under two groups by writing P for problems and S for
solutions.

1. Procrastination is an issue/a matter that can negatively impact productivity and lead to increased
stress and lower quality work. __P__
2. Some students cannot overcome the problem of failure to get up on time unless there is a friend or
family around them to wake them up. ____S____
3. The school can/may offer counseling to students. ___S___
4. Procrastinators suffer from decreased productivity, heightened stress levels, and often lower quality
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 work. ____P____
5. The school should offer different types of counseling for students with different problems. ___S____
6. If/When students miss the morning classes many times, they experience difficulty in academic
achievement. ___P__
7. Counseling can/may be offered to students. ___S___
8. If the school offers a time-management course, some of the students may learn to overcome their
problem. ___S___
9. Procrastination can produce critical/serious consequences for students’ schoolwork, grades and even
their overall health. ____P____
10. If the school offered social support to students at the beginning of the year, many students would
probably overcome their social problems. ___S___
11. Different types of counseling should be offered for students with different problems. ___S___
12. The school needs to implement different types of solutions for this problem.
OR Different types of solutions for this problem need to be implemented. ___S___

TASK 5. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete the statements:

 We can use modals and modal-like verbs in active and passive form and conditionals and alternatives to
them, such as “unless”, while writing about solutions.

TASK 6. To express certainty about a future possibility, you can use the following. Fill in the blanks to add
more alternatives:

Positive Negative
definitely may not
certainly Fossil fuels might not be available in the next century.
We will probably run out of fossil fuels in 30 to 40 years.
possibly

may unlikely
We might run out of fossil fuels in 30 to 40 years. It is improbable that fossil fuels will last forever.
could* impossible

It is probable that we will run out of fossil fuels in 30 to

possible
40 years.

*We do not use “can” to talk about the chances that something will happen. However, “could” is
possible in this sense. (e.g. It could rain later this evening. BUT NOT It can rain later this evening .)

 Many problems can be described in terms of too much or too little of something. The following
expressions (in Task 7) are useful.

TASK 7. Read the following sentences with quantity expressions, and fill in the blanks with alternative
words.

1. Too much / excessive exercise leads to bone loss.

2. Too few calories / Too little food intake a day may lead to muscle loss and a slower metabolism.

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 3. Inadequate/Insufficient exercise, smoking and excessive alcohol intake are some of the reasons for
premature deaths.
4. Shortage of /lack of oxygen in the blood could lead to health problems and nerve deterioration.

 We can use the following structures to talk about purpose. You may need these while you are writing
about solutions.

To show the purpose of the action in the independent clause, you can use ‘to, in order (not) to, and so that’.

Note that ‘so that’ is followed by a dependent clause, while ‘to’ and ‘in order (not) to’ are followed by an
infinitive (V1).

Examples:

● I started my homework early so that I could relax later in the evening.

I started my homework early in order to relax later in the evening.
● She is learning English because she wants to get better job opportunities.
She is learning English to/in order to get better job opportunities.
● She is learning English so that she gets / can get /will get better job opportunities.
She has been learning English so that she gets /she can get /she will get better job opportunities.
TASK 8. Read the following example sentences, and complete the rule:

● She is studying very hard this year so that she can pass the exam.
● She took English classes last year so that she got /she could get /she would get better job opportunities.
● I closed the door so that the noise in the next room wouldn’t bother me.
● She went to London so that she could see her friends.
Rule: “So that” is usually followed by the modal verbs can, could, may, might, will, or would. We use can, may,
or will when the verb in the main clause is in a present, present perfect, or future tense. We use could, might,
or would, or we use simple past tense when the verb in the main clause is in a past tense.

TASK 9. Rewrite the sentences with ‘to, in order (not) to, or so that.’
1. She went to London. She wanted to learn more about advertising. (in order to)
She went to London in order to learn more about advertising.
2. He is working two jobs at once as he wants to buy a bigger house for his family. (to)
He is working two jobs at once to buy a bigger house for his family.
3. The company spent a lot of money on advertising because they didn’t want the campaign to fail. (so that)
The company spent a lot of money on advertising so that the campaign did not/would not fail.
4. She has attended a crash course since she wanted to pick up the basics of English. (in order to)
She has attended a crash course in order to pick up the basics of English.
5. The owner of the company organizes tours and family holidays because he wants his employees to get to
know one another in an informal setting. (so that)
The owner of the company organizes tours and family holidays so that his employees (can/will) get to
know one another in an informal setting.

MODEL TASK

TASK 9. Read the text, and answer the questions that follow.
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 Academic failure at university is a significant problem as it can lead to negative emotional and psychological
impacts on students, such as increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy. University students can
overcome academic failure in two ways. First, developing strong time-management skills is crucial. Students can
create detailed schedules that allocate specific blocks of time for studying, attending classes, and completing
assignments. Techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique, which encourages focused study sessions followed
by short breaks, can enhance concentration and productivity. By setting clear goals and prioritizing tasks,
students can avoid last-minute cramming and reduce stress, which leads to improved academic performance.
Secondly, utilizing campus resources can significantly help overcome academic challenges. Many universities
offer a range of support services, including tutoring, writing centers, and mental-health counseling. Students
should actively seek out these resources when they face difficulties as they provide personalized assistance and
guidance. Participating in study groups can also foster collaboration and enhance understanding of course
material. Furthermore, engaging with professors during office hours can help clarify concepts and demonstrate
a commitment to improvement. To sum up, by combining effective time management with the use of available
resources, students can develop a proactive approach to their studies, and thus overcome academic obstacles
and achieve their educational goals.

1. Underline the topic and the controlling idea of the paragraph.

2. Who is going to implement the solutions? Are the solutions plausible?
University students. Yes, they are.
3. Does the conclusion include some advice about the problem or the solutions?
No, it does not. It summarizes the solutions that have been suggested.

WRITING TASK

In about 200 words, write a problem-solution paragraph in response to the following question:

How can work-related stress be reduced? Describe the problem very briefly, and offer TWO solutions to it.

Note to the Instructor: Students may produce the following ideas:

● promoting a healthy work-life balance

● encouraging open communication within the workplace
● implementing stress-management programs

In your paragraph, make sure:

· you have a topic sentence, supporting sentences that give additional details, and a concluding sentence
· all your ideas are relevant to the topic
· you use linkers and transition words where necessary (and, or, so, but, because, moreover, etc.)

Pay attention to:

· the content,
· the organization,
· the accuracy and range of grammar and vocabulary.

Use correct punctuation and spelling.

STEP 1: Read the writing task carefully, and make sure you understand what is required.

STEP 2 Brainstorming: In groups, brainstorm ideas.

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 STEP 3 Outlining:
Choose the best ideas, and make an outline below:

OUTLINE TEMPLATE FOR A PROBLEM-SOLUTION PARAGRAPH

Description of the problem

___________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic sentence
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Major (Solution) 1:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Minor(s)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Major (Solution) 2:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Minor(s)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
___________________________________________________________________________________________
STEP 4 Write your paragraph here:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
STEP 5 Editing:
After you write your text, check your paper yourself using the self-checklist below. Put a tick in the relevant box.
● The writing answers the question. □

● The writing has a clear topic sentence. □

● All the ideas are relevant to the topic. □

● The language doesn’t contain any errors (run-on sentences, □

fragments, subject-verb disagreement, etc.)

● All the sentences have a subject and a verb. □

● The writing uses connectors correctly. □

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STEP 6 Submission: Now, submit your paragraph to your instructor.

STEP 7 Instructor Feedback: Your instructor will check your work and give you feedback.

OPTIONAL WRITING TASK

In about 200 words, write a problem-solution paragraph in response to the following question:

What can be done to prevent bullying in schools? Describe the problem very briefly, and offer TWO solutions
to it.

Here are some suggested ideas:

- establishing clear policies,

- training the staff,

- promoting a positive school climate