The primary requirement for this unit is to write four new paragraphs. These will build upon the promised ideas that you stated in your first-paragraph assignment. In your first-paragraph assignment, you suggested that there are two major problems with your subject. Whatever subject you chose to focus on, your thesis promised to focus on a “first” problem and a “second” problem. (And, if your first assignment did not overtly do this, I would have encouraged you to add/clarify this in the revision of your first paragraphwhich will become part of this assignment.)
Reading and Research
Before you can proceed with this assignment, however, you must remain committed to reading/researching about your subject on a daily basis. The only true way for you to develop a thoughtful analysis of the problems and solutions related to your subject is to continue to become more informed about your subject.
Ultimately, to be successful with this overall problem-solution assignment, you will need to include quotations/statistics/evidence from a minimum of 8 sources.
Yet, and this is a mantra that you might hear more than once this semester: if you only ever provide the minimum, you cannot expect to receive the maximum.
That is to say, only doing the minimum will only earn you the minimum grade. If you aspire to earn an A in this class, you will need to find times to do more than the minimum.
The required five paragraphs for your PSE-assignment are as follows:
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First is your introduction paragraph that contains the thesis (including your two major problems and, if possible, solutions) for your entire essay.
Next is your background paragraph that contains relevant information that your audience might need to be properly orientedor, up to speedwhen you actually start presenting your problems and solutions. Examples of what this paragraph might contain include:
an overview of 20th-century U.S. drug laws; or
a description of the unique geography of Somalia; or
a definition of body mass index; or
a recounting of federal education-reform initiatives, starting with Reagan’s “A Nation at Risk” and culminating with Obama’s “Race to the Top”; or
an explication of the relationship between “white flight” and “urban blight”; or
etc.
In your background paragraph, include research from at least two different sources. (See the models and videos below for examples of effective problem paragraphs.)
Third is your first problem paragraph. This will develop your first subtopic for problem #1. Include research from at least two different sources. (See the models and videos below for examples of effective problem paragraphs.)
Fourth is your first solution paragraph. This will offer a solution that directly addresses the problem in the preceding paragraph. Include research from at least two different sources. (See the models and videos below for examples of effective solution paragraphs.)
Finally, present your first efficacy paragraph. This efficacy analysis must directly address the solution in the preceding paragraph. This paragraph will start with a challenge to your solution. Something about your solution isnt perfect. Theres something about your solution that a little vague, or tricky, or will be very expensive, or might take ten years. In short, you solution isnt perfect. So, tell us that. Tell us, honestly what limits your solution.
Then, redeem your solution. After youve acknowledged that your solution isnt magic, affirm that it still has some value. Reaffirm that it can still work, even if on a limited basis. Conclude with the idea that your solution can still have a positive impact on the problem.
