Proposal to Solve a Problem

The assignment: Write an essay proposing a solution to a problem affecting a community or group to which you belong. Your tasks are to analyze a problem and establish that it is serious enough to need solving, to offer a solution that will remedy the problem or at least help solve it, and to lay out the particulars by which your proposed solution would be put into effect. Address your proposal to one or more members of the group or to outsiders who could help solve the problem, being sure to take into account readers' likely objections to your proposed solution as well as their alternative solutions.

Sources: The research part of this problem-solution essay must incorporate at least seven sources. At least one – but no more than three – of these sources must be a chart, illustration, video, photograph, or infographic. And at least one source must be an interview with an “expert” or a survey – living sources.

Criteria for sources: Together the sources and annotations in your NowComment collection should adequately describe the problem, discuss some kinds of solutions, how it might be implemented, consider different perspectives, and alternative solutions.

Step One. Upload documents to NowComment and annotate according to the criteria above.

Step Two. Synthesize at least three sources into a coherent argument of 1,000-2,000 words using MLA format and upload the final PDF to this page. Link to checklist.

Step Three. Publish your proposal – letter, article, editorial, writing contest, etc.