Writing Assignment Two: Proposing a Solution

Proposing a solution, as you can see from your reading and observation, is a genre that our culture uses for a variety of reasons. For this writing assignment, you will be selecting a problem, defining it, proposing a solution and justifying it using your creativity, research, and the strategies for effective argumentation and evaluation we have been discussing in class. For your writing assignment, choose any of the following topics.

Your paper should follow the strategies for proposing solutions outlined in Saint Martin¼s Guide must be observed, especially the following:

• It will inform people about a problem affecting their well being and offer a solution.
• It will argue for the significance or importance of the problem.
• It will outline a solution, justify it, and argue that this solution can be implemented.
• It will anticipate readers¼ objections to or questions about the proposed solution.
• It will anticipate and attempt to accommodate and rebut counter-arguments.

Papers must be word-processed, double spaced, and range from 800-1000 words (four typed double spaced pages).

Topics:

1) Editorials are forums for citizens to voice opinions and propose solutions to problems in the local, national, or global community. Editorials sometimes also react to proposals made by others.

Find an article in a recent magazine or newspaper where some proposal is made. React to the piece by providing an alternative proposal of your own (you may use the newspaper or magazine article you selected for the previous class assignment, as well as any of the readings we have done). Construct this as a letter to the editor of the newspaper or magazine and attach the initial article to your final draft.

2) Much of what happens in college is predictable and conventional. Examples of practices that have changed very little over the years are required courses, dormitory standards and practices, placement exams, parking, attendance policies, grading policies, cafeteria food, and a host of others. Think of established practices within your own courses or within the Purdue community. Select one that you feel needs to be improved or refined in some way, define the problem, propose a solution, and justify it.

3) Consider a major problem or issue in your chosen field of study, or a problem that people in the career you have chosen have to face. (If you¼re undecided, you might want to pick a possible career and look at the problems and issues in it.) If you¼re an Education major, for example, you might want to consider some of the problems that teachers face, or a problem you see within the educational system. If you¼re a science major, what are some of the issues going on within your field of study? Choose a problem related to your major or your career, propose a solution for it, and justify it.

Some questions to consider as you write your paper:

• What changes are you proposing?
• What individual or group might be convinced to take action on your proposal?
• What questions or objections should you anticipate?
• How could you discover whether others have previously proposed improvements in the practice you are concerned with?
• Whom might you interview to learn more about the practice and likelihood of changing it?

Your first draft is due Friday October 2nd. Workshops will work the same way as they did for the previous essays.

Your final draft is due Wednesday, October 7th.

Since you have less time to write this essay, you may want to make appointments to see me during office hours or at another time for feedback, or to go to the Writing Lab (HEAV 226) for help. They can also give help during planning and drafting as well as reading drafts of your papers. Since they¼re getting busy, the best way to guarantee help is to make an appointment.

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