HOW TO WRITE A

PROBLEM AND
SOLUTION ESSAY
 What is a problem and solution essay?

This type of essay gives you an issue

and ask you to describe some common
problems associated with the problem
and propose some possible solutions.
COMMON MISTAKES
1. The most common mistake for problem solution
essay is NOT EXPANDING YOUR IDEAS. Do
not do a list of all the problems and solutions you
can think of. Instead, think of one or two
problems and solutions and then expand on
them with explanation and examples.
2. Another common mistake is writing about
problems and solutions that are not directly
linked to the question. Write specific ideas
rather than ideas that generally talk about the
overall issue.
3. You probably think of good ideas for problems
and then fail to link your solutions to these
problems. Each problem should have a solution
directly linked to it that should solve the actual
problem.
4. If you think of really good problems and
solutions that answer the question properly and
expand your answers with explanation and
examples, but they talk to generally. You should
be thinking of specific examples and
explanations.
ANALYZING THE
QUESTION
Analyze the question by thinking about three things:

◦Keywords. ◦Action
◦Micro- Words.
keywords.
Keywords are the words that tell us
what the general topic is. For example:
Global warmingis one of the biggest threats humans face in the
Global warming
21st century, and sea levels continue to rise at alarming rates.
What problems are associated with this, and what are some
possible solutions?

Global warming is the general topic. We will write about this, but
you cannot write about any problems associated with global
warming. If we do this, we have not answered the question
properly.
Micro-keywords identify which part of general topic we must
discuss. They often give an opinion, qualify the statement or
talk about a sub-category of the bigger general topic. For
example:
Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st
century, and sea levels continue to rise at alarming rates.
What problems are associated with this, and what are some
possible solutions?
Instead of writing just about the huge topic of global
warming and any problem associated with that such as
increase storms or extinction animals. We must talk about
how particularly sea levels raises will affect humans
Action words tell us what we must do.
For example:
Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the
21st century, and sea levels continue to rise at alarming rates.
What problems are associated with this, and what are some
problems
possible solutions?
solutions
The action words are problems and solutions. We must write
about that and only that. It does not ask our opinion about the
disadvantages, advantages, or causes, just the problems and
solutions
Now that we know what the question is
asking us to do.

We need to think of specific and

relevant ideas
STRUCTURE OF A
PROBLEM AND
SOLUTION ESSAY
The structure of a problem and solution
essay is:
◦Introduction
◦Problems
◦Solutions
◦Conclusion
HOW TO WRITE AN
INTRODUCTION
PARAGRAPH
 Introduction
The introduction will have
two sentences: a
paraphrase of the question
and an outline statement.
 Paraphrasing the Question
Paraphrasing is simply saying the sentence again
with different words but with the same meaning.
Question – Global warming is one of the biggest
threats humas face in the 21st century, and ocean
levels continue to rise at alarming rates.
Paraphrased – Climate change is among the
principal dangers facing people this century,
and ocean levels are increasing dramatically.
 Writing an Outline Statement
The outline sentence is next, which tells the reader
what they will read in the rest of the essay.

This essay will first suggest that biggest problems

caused by this phenomenon are the loss of land
and the flooding of homes, and then argue that
pollution reduction and building flood protection
are the most viable solutions.
 Introduction
This is the introduction
Climate change is among the principal dangers
facing people this century, and ocean levels are
increasing dramatically. This essay will first
suggest that biggest problems caused by this
phenomenon are the loss of land and the
flooding of homes, and then argue that pollution
reduction and building flood protection are the
most viable solutions.
HOW TO WRITE A
PROBLEM
PARAGRAPH
 Problem Paragraph Structure
A problem paragraph must have this
structure:
◦Sentence 1 - State Problems
◦Sentence 2 – Explain First Problem
◦Sentence 3 – Explain Second Problem
◦Sentence 4 – Example of Second
Problem
 State Problems
What are the problems?
◦The loss of land.
◦Flooding people’s home
The statement could be like this:
The foremost problems caused by rising sea
levels are that land is being lost and people’s
residences are often flooded.
Now the problems are
stated, We must
explain the problems.
 Explain the first problem:
As water level rise, low-lying land is
submerged, and many countries become
smaller
Explain the second problem:
Furthermore, millions of people worldwide live in
coastal areas, and if the sea rises by even a few
meters, they are inundated with water and they lose
their property
Now we must give an
example. When we give
an example, it should be
as specific as possible.
 General Example:

Lots of people in the world have

experienced floods recently.

This is a good example of a

general example.
 Specific Example:
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.
This is a good example of a
specific example.
 Problem Paragraph
The foremost problems caused by rising sea levels are that
land is being lost and people’s residences are often flooded.
As water levels rise, low-lying land is submerged, and many
countries become smaller. Furthermore, millions of people
worldwide live in coastal areas, and if the sea rises by even a
few meters, they are inundated with water and they lose
their property. 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.
HOW TO WRITE A
SOLUTION
PARAGRAPH
 Solution Paragraph Structure
A solution paragraph must have this
structure:
◦Sentence 1 - State Solutions
◦Sentence 2 – Explain Solution to First Problem
◦Sentence 3 – Explain Solution to Second
Problem
◦Sentence 4 – Example of Solution to Second
Problem
 State Solutions
Which are the possible solutions?
◦Reduce the amount of pollution.
◦Build flood barriers.
The statement could be like this:
Possible solutions to these problems would
be to reduce the amount of pollution created
and build flood barriers.
We need now to
explain how our
solutions will help
solve the problem
 Explain the first Solution:
If each person reduces their carbon footprint, the
negative effects on the environment will be
reduced, which will mean that the water level
will stop rising.
Explain the second problem:
Furthermore, flood defences, such as dikes, dams, and
floodgates, could be built along coasts and waterways,
thereby stopping the water from reaching populated
areas.
Now we must give an
example. When we give
an example, it should be
as specific as possible.
 Specific Example:
The Netherlands is one of the most
populated areas in the world and
one of the most vulnerable to
flooding. They have successfully
employed various flood defence
systems.
 Solution Paragraph
Possible solutions to these problems would be to reduce the
amount of pollution created and build flood barriers.
If each person reduces their carbon footprint, the negative
effects on the environment will be reduced, which will mean
that the water level will stop rising. Furthermore, flood
defences, such as dikes, dams, and floodgates, could be built
along coasts and waterways, thereby stopping the water
from reaching populated areas. The Netherlands is one of
the most populated areas in the world and one of the most
vulnerable to flooding. They have successfully employed
various flood defence systems.
HOW TO WRITE A
CONCLUSION
PARAGRAPH
 Conclusion Paragraph
The conclusion should have no new
ideas but instead should list the main
points from the previous two
paragraphs. You can also use synonyms
in this paragraph to avoid repetition.
 Conclusion Paragraph
To conclude, stemming the rising tides caused by
increasing global temperatures is one of the foremost
challenges humans face, and it will ultimately lead to
some countries losing landmass and many of the
world’s cities being left underwater, but possible
solutions could be to protect our environment and to
utilise the flood prevention techniques already used
by countries like Holland.
TIME TO PRACTICE
 Analyzing the Question
Despite evidence that certain types of
food are harmful
harmful, many people make
the choice to eat unhealthy food.
food
What do you think are the causes of this
problem and what measures can be
taken to solve it?
 Analyzing the Question
What two major elements must there
be in the answer?
a) Why people eat unhealthy food.
b) What measures can be taken to
address the causes.
 Writing about
Section
problems
1.- It has a long been known that eating certain kinds
and solutions Function
A A suggested solution.
of food – processed meat, greasy hamburgers, sugar –
laden cakes – causes a wide range of problems, form
obesity to heart disease.
2.- However, many people choose to ignore warnings
and eat large amounts of unhealthy food. Why do they
E B A description of one cause
of the problem.
do this and what can be done to prevent it?

D
3.- Firstly, processed food is generally cheaper than
fresh food because it tends to be mass produced and
C Further explanation of the
solution.
B D A more detailed
often also contains chemicals to preserve it for longer.
4.- The solution to this is therefore to make the food
more expensive and consequently less attractive. explanation of the core issue.
5.- It is common to impose massive taxes on cigarettes E A summary of what the
and these and the same levy should be put on things
like sugar or trans-fats.
A essay will cover.

C
 Developing a Paragraph
A In addition, advertising and texts like menus should also be required to show
4
clearly how much sugar and fat is in each meal. ( )
B For example, may fast food outlets are owned by large corporations and they
promote their products through expensive promotional campaigns and slick
adverts, many of them specifically designed to ‘hook’ children to the producst
2
early on. ( )
C A second reason why many people choose unhealthy foods is because there are
numerous temptations to buy and consume them.( ) 1
D Many people fell that this issue can best be handled by banning advertising of
unhealthy food to children, for example to prohibit commercials on children’s TV
or other media and on mainstream channels before the 9 p.m. watershed. ( )5
E These advert maken no mention of the high number lf calories the food
3
contains or of the amount of fat used in its preparation. ( )
TIME TO PRACTICE
 Analyzing the Question
Despite advances in medicine,
medicine mental ill
health is becoming more common
amongst young people.
people
What do you think are the causes of this
problem and what measures can be
taken to solve it?
THINK ABOUT THE
PROBLEMS AND
SOLUTICOS
 Problems Solutions
Alienation from
Alienation from
Encourage older and
wider society. Encourage
younger older and to
generations
wider society. mix more.
younger generations to
Stigma related to mix more.
Raise awareness
talking about
Stigma related through open discussion
mental health –Raise awareness
reduce fear/normalize
to talking about throughhealth
mental open discussion
problems. problems.
mental health – reduce fear/normalise
Reduce physical
problems. mentalemphasis
More health problems.
on
activity. getting young people
Reduce physical into
Moresports.
emphasis on
activity. getting young people
into sports.