1. PROBLEM-SOLUTION ESSAY
1. Understanding problem-solution essay topics
2. Organizing your ideas
3. Writing Thesis Statement
4. Developing body paragraphs
5. Writing Conclusion

2. UNDERSTANDING PROBLEM-SOLUTION ESSAY TOPICS
Exercise: Read the essay questions below. Which one asks you to write an opinion essay and which one is for problem-solution essay? The underlined words may help you to reach your decision.
1. Many newspapers and magazines feature stories about the private lives of famous people. We know what they eat, where they buy their clothes and who they love. Is it appropriate for a magazine or newspaper to give this kind of private information about people? What do you think? Write an essay about the issue explaining your reasons.
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.
3. Procrastination is the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones, or doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, and thus putting off tasks to a later time, sometimes to the "last minute". Procrastination is very common in university students. Why is it a problem and how can a student avoid procrastinating?
Opinion Essay
Problem-Solution Essay
Problem-Solution Essay

3. 4. The first car appeared on Turkish roads in 1896
4. The first car appeared on Turkish roads in Now, there are more than 3 million registered vehicles in Istanbul and more than 17 million vehicles on Turkish roads. Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Write an essay explaining your reasons.
5. University students may have some problems with their roommates during their stay in the dorm or their flat. What kind of problems may they have? How can college students handle problems with roommates?
6. Is freedom of speech necessary in a free society? What do you think? Write an essay explaining your reasons.
7. What kind of problems might arise when you have a long-distance relationship with your girlfriend/boyfriend when you are in university? How can these problems be solved?
8. 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?
Opinion Essay
Problem-Solution Essay
Opinion Essay
Problem-Solution Essay
Problem-Solution Essay

4. 9. What are the negative effects of cheating in the university
9. What are the negative effects of cheating in the university? How can cheating in university be best handled? 10. Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Explain the problems and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems. 11. Recent figures show an increase in violent crime among youngsters under the age of 18. Some psychologists claim that the basic reason for this is that children these days are not getting the social and emotional learning they need from parents and teachers. To what extend do you agree or disagree with this option? Write an essay giving your reasons. 12. Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games. What are the negative impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects?
Problem-Solution Essay
Problem-Solution Essay
Opinion Essay
Problem-Solution Essay

5. 2. ORGANIZING YOUR IDEAS
STEP 1: Understand the essay topic and ask some questions.
Sample Essay topic: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Explain the problems and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.
To explain the problem(Body paragraph #1), think about the answers to these similar questions:
What are the problems that overpopulation causes in cities?
What are the consequences of overpopulation in cities?
What happens when the cities are overpopulated?
Why is it a problem?

6. STEP 2: GATHERING INFORMATION/BRAINSTORMING Find answers to your questions in Step 1 and write as many ideas as you can in your chart.
BODY PARAGRAPH #1 (EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM)
Problems in public transportation
difficult to provide services for all people
greater poverty
Crowded buses, trains, metro
Overpopulation in cities
Automobile exhaust
large volumes of uncollected waste
air pollution
significant impact on human health
the loss of habitat and food sources

7. Overpopulation in cities People’s health(1st supporting idea)
STEP 3: CLASSIFYING IDEAS for describing the PROBLEM (BODY PAR. #1) Now, classify your ideas under more general topics. This will help you decide which ideas can be supporting ideas and which ideas can be used for justifications (examples, explanations) in your body paragraph #1 . Find at least 2 different ideas. (There are 3 different ideas below.) BODY PARAGRAPH 1:
Overpopulation in cities
People’s health(1st supporting idea)
Air pollution(automobile exhaust, houses, factories)
Ex: Lung/respiratory diseases
large volumes of uncollected waste
Ex: infectious diseases
stress, depression
Problems in public services(2nd supporting idea)
Uncollected waste
crowded buses, metro
heavy traffic
Environmental problems(3rd sup.idea-optional)
the loss of habitat for animals
loss of food sources
Loss of forests

8. What are the solutions?/How can this problem be solved?
2. ORGANIZING YOUR IDEAS
STEP 4:Now, it is time to think about the second part of the essay topic.(Body paragraph #2)
Sample Essay topic: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Explain the problems and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.
To suggest solutions(Body paragraph #2), think about the answers to these similar questions:
What are the solutions?/How can this problem be solved?
What can governments do to get rid of these problems?
What should individuals/citizens/people do to solve them?
How can we overcome these problems?

9. STEP 5: FINDING SOLUTIONS Now look back at the problems one by one and create solutions for each.
(BODY PARAGRAPH #1)
People’s health
Air pollution(automobile exhaust, houses, factories)
Ex: Lung/respiratory diseases
large volumes of uncollected waste
Ex: infectious diseases
stress, depression
(BODY PARAGRAPH #2)
reducing air pollution by upgrading energy use and alternative transport systems
providing free health care for the citizens
providing free psychological counselling for the citizens
Problems in public services
Uncollected waste
crowded buses, metro
heavy traffic
More investment on public transportation
More trains, longer metro lines, less cars in traffic
Motivating people not to waste food and to recycle

10. REMEMBER the paragraph plan of problem-solution essay:
Now that you have decided the content of body paragraphs, you are ready to start writing your essay.
REMEMBER the paragraph plan of problem-solution essay:
Paragraph 1: Introduction
General Statements
Thesis Statement
Paragraph 2: Description of the problem (Body p.#1)
Paragraph 3: Solution to the problem (Body #2)
Paragraph 4: Conclusion

11. 3. WRITING THESIS STATEMENTS

12. expressing the problem
3. WRITING THE THESIS STATEMENT Thesis statement in Problem-Solution essay should have two parts: Part 1: Expressing the general problem Part 2: hint about the solution
expressing the general problem
expressing the problem
hint about the solution
Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. However, there are still several things that governments and individuals can do in order to overcome these problems.

13. hint about the solution Write 2 alternative thesis statements:
Exercise 1: Write a thesis statement for the given problem-solution essay topics.
Example:
Topic 1: During the last weeks of the academic year, there is a decrease in students’ motivation. What are the reasons for this problem and how can it be solved? expressing the general problem
Thesis statement:
University students may lose their interest in the lessons at the end of the year, yet there are many things that can done to prevent this.
hint about the solution
Write 2 alternative thesis statements:
University students usually feel demotivated in their studies towards the end of the year. However, we can still do many things to solve this problem.
There is always a loss of concentration and motivation among university students at the end of the semestre, but this can still be prevented by taking some specific steps.

14. Topic 2: Many people start smoking at an early age and endanger their lives. What are the reasons for this problem and what are the measures that can be taken? Write 3 alternative thesis statements. Thesis Statement 1: Thesis Statement 2: Thesis Statement 3:
The number of young people who start smoking increases day by day. However, there are many ways to dissuade them from smoking.
Many people start smoking as teens. However, we can take some measures to prevent this from happening.
Many young people endanger their lives by starting smoking at an early age; yet there are many ways to solve this problem.

15. Topic 3: Many university students have difficulty in managing their money while they are studying at university away from their family. What kind of problems do they have related to money? And what should they do to solve these problems?
Write 3 alternative thesis statements.
Thesis statement 1:
Thesis statement 2:
Thesis Statement 3:
It is difficult for university students to manage their money on their own but there are many ways to solve this problem.
University students have many problems about managing their money while they’re studying at university away from their family. However, these problems can be solved in many ways.
University students may go through many problems because they do not know how to manage their money, yet they can cope with this problem in many ways.

16. Write 2 alternative thesis statements:
Topic 4: University students may have some problems with their roommates during their stay in the dorm or their flat. What kind of problems may they have? How can college students handle problems with roommates?
Write 2 alternative thesis statements:
Thesis statement 1:
Thesis statement 2:
University students may have some problems with their roommates, but they can solve these problems in many ways.
Sometimes, university students cannot get on well with their roommates in the dorm or in their flat; however, there are potential ways to solve these problems.

17. 4. DEVELOPING BODY PARAGRAPHS

18. Developing the body paragraph #1 (describing the problem)
Sample essay topic: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Explain the problems and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.
Topic sentence for Body Paragraph#1:
There are many problems associated with overpopulation in cities.
Write alternative topic sentences:
Overpopulation causes lots of problems in big cities.
Overpopulation leads to several problems in big cities.
Big cities are negatively affected by the overpopulation.
There are several problems in big cities caused by overpopulation.

19. Developing the body paragraph #1 (describing the problem)
Overpopulation in cities
People’s health(1st supporting idea)
Air pollution(automobile exhaust, houses, factories)
Ex: Lung/respiratory diseases
large volumes of uncollected waste
Ex: infectious diseases
stress, depression
Problems in public services(2nd supporting idea)
Uncollected waste
crowded buses, metro
heavy traffic
Overpopulation causes lots of problems in big cities.(TOPIC SENTENCE) First problem is that it negatively affects people’s health. (1st supporting idea) Air pollution caused by car exhaust, factories and houses makes it very difficult to breath and it also leads to respiratory diseases among people. Moreoever, people suffer from stress and depression in overpopulated cities since they face with lots of problems during their daily lives. Secondly, there are lots of problems in public services.(2nd supporting idea) For instance, the waste of the city cannot be collected and the streets can be full of garbage, which is a bad scene for the citizens. Furthermore, buses and trains are always crowded and people lose a lot of time while travelling.

20. Developing the body paragraph #2(providing solutions)
Sample essay topic: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Explain the problems and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.
Topic sentence for Body Paragraph#2:
However, there are many ways to solve these problems.
Write alternative topic sentences:
Despite these problems, there are some solutions to overcome the negative effects of overpopulation.
However, in order to solve these problems, the governments and individuals can do lots of things.
Solving these problems will not be easy but there are some measures that can be taken.

21. Developing the body paragraph #2(providing solutions)
Problems about people’s health Problems in public services
Despite these problems, there are some solutions to overcome the negative effects of overpopulation.(TOPIC SENTENCE) First solution is that the government should take actions about reducing the air pollution. They can do this by motivating people not to use their cars and by investing on the public transportation systems more. Besides, the factories should be punished if their emissions exceed the limits. Another solution is that the government should provide free health care for those who have respiratory diseases and give free psychological counselling for all the citizens. In this way, people can cope with the stress of living in an overpopulated city. Last solution is that the local authorities should motivate people not to waste food. For example, they can organize campaigns and seminars about recycling.
reducing air pollution by upgrading energy use and alternative transport systems
providing free health care for the citizens
providing free psychological counselling for the citizens
More investment on public transportation
More trains, longer metro lines, less cars in traffic
Motivating people not to waste food and to recycle

22. 5. Writing Conclusion
In conclusion paragraph, you should return to the thesis statement, restate it and express your final thoughts and recommendations.
 Here are two strategies:
1. Add a final observation about how people view the problem.
2. Make a ‘call for action’ that asks people to do something to help solve the problem.

23. Exercise: Re-state the thesis statements below, add an observation and a call for action.
Thesis statement: University students usually feel demotivated in their studies towards the end of the year. However, we can still do many things to solve this problem.
Restated thesis statement:
In conclusion, there are many ways to increase the motivation of university students, even at the end of the year.
Observation:
Students might be exhausted or bored with all the homework, quizzes, exams and lectures. They may even stop coming to the school.
Call for action:
However, they need to continue their studies till the end. They should know that if they are a bit patient, keep completing their assignments and attend the classes regularly, they will get good results and won’t regret.

24. Thesis Statement: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. However, there are still several things that governments and individuals can do in order to overcome these problems.
Restated thesis statement: Although there are several negative effects of overpopulation in big cities, overcoming these problems is possible. Observation: Due to these problems, people living in overpopulated cities suffer from health problems and they face many challenges during their daily lives. Call for action: However, governments, local authorities and individuals should take responsibility and minimize these problems for a better future.