Proposals

Introducing the Problem Depending on what your readers know Explain how the problem came to be Explain what attempts have been made to solve it Describe the problem in detail Help your readers recognize the importance of the problem and the consequences of failing to solve it

Presenting the Solution Your job is to convince readers that your solution is the wisest one, and To convince them that they should somehow take action – talk about it, do something Some solutions demand that you lay out the details of implementation, While others allow you to speak more generally, to get readers to agree with your idea, and leave the details of implementation until later

Solutions List several possible solutions to the problem you’ve posed. Can you find solutions that eliminate the causes of the problem? Can you find solutions that minimize the symptoms of the problem? Can you break the problem down in to parts and find solutions for different parts of it?

Advantages and Disadvantages of your Solution Make sure that you address both the advantages and disadvantages of your solution. Why would one way of solving the problem be better than another? Why should your solution be implemented instead of leaving things as they are?

Argue Directly for your Proposed Solution Your support can include Personal experience Hypothetical cases and scenarios Statistics and facts Examples Speculations about causes and effects Quotations from authorities You should offer evidence that your solution will be Feasible Cost-effective More promising than alternative solutions

Who is your reader? Are you writing to an insider? Someone who agrees with you? Are you writing to an administrator, pleading for change? Are you writing to someone in the community, explaining an issue they might not be familiar with? Are you writing to a professor? What action do you want her/him to take?

Counterarguing Reader’s Objections, Questions, and Preferred Solutions What might your reader’s objections be to your solution? How can you accommodate your reader’s by modifying your own proposal? How can you refute their objections or answer their questions? What are other solutions? Why is yours better than these other solutions?

Here are some reader’s objections. How would you answer them? It won’t really solve the problem I’m comfortable with things the way they are We can’t afford it It will take too long People won’t do it Too few people will benefit I don’t see how we’ll get started on your solution It’s already been tried, and it failed You’re making this proposal because it will benefit you personally

Credibility Why should your reader trust you? What is your attitude toward your reader? How sensitive are you to your reader’s questions and objections? How do you use sources? Who are your sources? How logical is your argument? How plausible is your solution?

In-Class Writing Toward your Essay – 5 Steps 1. What is the problem? 2. What are the alternatives? 3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative? 4. What is the solution? 5. How well is the solution working? Or, How well will it work? 6. See Handout for more details.

Your assignment K:\ENGL090\016\Share\Problem Solving -- Recommendation.doc K:\ENGL090\016\Share\Problem Solving -- Recommendation.doc