Proposal for a Solution to a Problem Topics and Directions
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title pages. See book for
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Proposal for a Solution to a Problem Argument, Assignment #3
APA Style
LENGTH: 6 pages (all the way to the bottom of page 6)
DUE DATES: See calendar for dates
Invention: (5 points)
Informal Outline: (5 points)
Rough Draft: (10 points) To get the 10 points, you must be in class with a 6
full-page draft and References page. Bring two copies.
Final (polished) Draft: (300 points)
NOTE: You must turn everything for this paper in on time! Nothing can be late, or you will not give me enough time to grade it! If you leave something out of your folder, I will deduct one letter grade from your essay grade.
You will be writing a proposal for a solution to a problem and using sources using APA style to back-up your proposed solution to that problem. A solution does not mean the problem goes away 100%, but at least the solution reduces the problem. You will describe a problem and then propose and explain a solution to that problem. You need to make this problem real with stories and examples that emotionally affect people (pathos).
There are two arguments in this essay. You must convince your readers that this is a problem that they must do something about, and that your solution will help reduce the problem. This essay should be about 50% problem and 50% solution.
Requirements:
NOTE: You must turn everything for this paper in on time! Nothing can be late, or you will not give me enough time to grade it!
Final draft page length: Six pages (bottom of page six)
Sources: At least five good, reputable sources. You can use books, periodical articles (magazines, journals, newspapers), and interviews as sources. If you want to use a website as a source, it must follow the criteria for evaluating websites that we discussed in class. DO NOT USE WIKI SITES FOR COLLEGE PAPERS.
Documentation: All sources must be properly cited in the paper (APA in-text citations) and on a List of References page. If you do not cite sources, you have plagiarized your sources, which will result in automatic failure of the project.
Citations and References: Every citation in the essay must point to a References entry. Every entry on the References page must have a citation in the essay. If the citations and references pages do not match, your essay will fail.
Headings: APA essays must have headings for each section of the essay.
II. Problem/solution essay topics
I suggest that you write a proposal for a problem you already know something about or that you have experienced firsthand.
Possible topics:
Anything about solving environmental problems, especially a problem that affects your own community
Bullying prevention
Getting people to recycle
Smoking prevention or reduction
Unequal access to health care or health insurance
Social media or computer games addiction
Homelessness
School violence
Population control
A problem in your country that concerns you
Another problem that needs to be solved, but not the topics listed below:
Guns in the US
Illegal drugs
Capital punishment
Assisted suicide
III. Organization of Key Points (NOTE: APA essays must have headings for each section)
Introduction: Background ending with thesis (or claim)
State your solution to the problem in one specific sentence (your thesis or claim). The thesis should mention the problem and your solution.
Explain the problem, why it’s a problem, and convince your readers that it is important enough to need solving. First half of essay should discuss the problem.
Give your solution and reasons why your solution should be implemented. Second half of the essay should discuss your suggested solution.
Show the reader that your solution is better than other possible solutions. Here are other solutions and here’s why mine is better than the others.
Convince your readers that the benefits of your solution outweigh the costs of your solution
Anticipate and state what possible objections to your solution there might be and explain how your solution is still valid in light of these objections.
Conclusion
IV. What You Must Turn in with the Final Project
_____ Your final draft to be graded
_____ The grading rubric ( I will give this to you)
_____ The draft that I checked in your conference (with my comments) <<<<<
_____ A copy of one source with the information from that source marked on the print out so I can find it.
_____ The draft that your partner read
_____ Your outline and thesis (with my grade and comments)
_____ Your invention/prewriting (with my grade and comments)
NOTE: You must turn everything listed above for this paper in on time! Nothing can be late, or you will not give me enough time to grade it!