EWRT 1A

CLASS 35: Online Component

Agenda

Choosing a topic

Describing the problem

Figuring out a solution

Implementing a solution

Review the three topics you have written about

Pick a topic from your own chart to begin

Groups and organization

s The Hunger

Games De Anza College Your

Neighborhood Your Club

Community

Problems Not Enough

Food Parking Drug Dealers?

Martial Arts Group violence

No place for kids to play?

Solutions Make hunting legal

Reorganize lots Start neighborhood

watch

Eliminate Bullies

Volunteers at local schools

Find the two paragraphs you have already written on the subject you have chosen

Revise what you have and write another paragraph or two further describing the problem for your readers. Be as specific and vivid in your explanation as possible given the information you currently have. Writing a rough draft of this part of your essay should help clarify what additional information you will need.

Listing Possible SolutionsIt usually helps to consider several possible solutions before focusing on one solution, so problem solving requires creativity. Answer the following questions to help you make a list of creative solutions you could consider for your essay:Can you adapt a solution that has already been tried or

proposed for related problems?What smaller, more manageable aspect of the larger problem

could you solve?Could re-imagining the goal help you make fundamental

changes?Could the problem be solved from the bottom up instead of

from the top down?Could an ongoing process help solve the problem?

Choosing a Solution

Choosing the Most Promising SolutionIn a sentence or two, describe the

solution you want to explore further. You cannot know for certain whether you will be able to construct a convincing argument to support this solution, but you should choose a solution that you feel motivated to pursue. This will be your working thesis!

Constructing an Argument

Explain Why It Would Solve the Problem.

Write for a few minutes explaining why you think this solution could solve the problem. For example, would it

eliminate one or more causes?

change people’s attitudes?

re-imagine the objective?

reduce anxiety and tension?

Show Why It Is Possible.

Write for a few minutes explaining why people could agree to put the solution into effect. For example, what would it cost them in time or money?

Explain How It Could Be Implemented.

Write down the major stages or steps necessary to carry out your solution. This list of steps will provide an early test of whether your solution can, in fact, be implemented.

Plan Follow-Up Research. Add notes about the kinds of information

you think would help make your argument convincing for your readers and where you think you can find this information.

Post #39: Your revised and developed description of your problem. This should be two or three good paragraphs.

Post #40: Write one or more sentences to serve as your tentative thesis statement. In most essays proposing solutions to problems, the thesis statement is a concise announcement of the solution. Think about how emphatic you should make the thesis and whether you should forecast your reasons.

Post #41: Answer the questions on slides 9-12

Review the readings in this chapter to see how other writers construct their thesis statements.

Bring SMG

Homework