Essay providing solutions to problems

Tip
Essays providing solutions to problems are pieces of writing in which we present a problem and
its causes, then discuss our suggestions as well as their expected results.
Introduction
In the first paragraph, we present the problem and its causes.
Main Body
In the second, third and fourth paragraphs, we write our suggestions and their expected
results. We write each suggestion and its results in separate paragraphs. We should link our ideas
using appropriate linking words.
Conclusion
In the last paragraph we summarise our opinion.
Other information
Such essays are normally written in semi-formal or formal style, depending on who is going to
read them and where it is going to be published. They are usually found as articles in magazines,
newspapers, etc.
To make our piece of writing more interesting to the reader, we can use certain techniques to start
or end it such as:

addressing the reader directly. If you want to help the environment, there are lots of
things that you can do.

using a quotation (a sentence/phrase from a book, a play, etc). Don't forget to mention
the name of the person who said / wrote it. as American anthropologist Margaret
Mead said We have nowhere else to go .. this is all we have.

using a rhetorical question (a question that makes a statement rather than expecting an
answer). Is it important to protect endangered species?

Useful vocabulary
To make suggestions

It would help if / be a good idea if ;

A / Another useful suggestion would be to ;

The situation could be improved if / by ;

Steps / Measuer should be taken in order to solve / deal with

To present results and consequences

In this way ;

This would ;

Then ;

If , the result would be ;

The effect / consequence / result of would be

Example
How can we make our planet a safer place for animals?
Is our planet a safe place for animals? Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it. Thousands of species
have become extinct and many more are now endangered. We need to do something fast before it
is too late for them.
Firstly, measures need to be taken to protect our wildlife. The destruction of threatened animals'
habitats should be illegal, with long prison sentences for people who break these laws. This
would protect animals and the environments thei live in.
Another solution is to promote education about endangered species. If people are aware of the
problem, then they will buy fewer products made of materials such as ivory or fur.
Finally, we should create more national parks and conservation areas. This would allow animals
to live and breed safely in their natural habitats. As a result, their numbers would increase and
species would not die out.
In conclusion, there are many ways to make our world a better place for animals. We all need to
do whatever we can. As Malcolm Bradbury said If you're not part of the solution, you're part of
the problem.

In this type of essay you need to discuss the problems with regards to a particular topic and then
suggest possible solutions to these problems.
One of the first things you want to make sure that you are able to do is identify one of these
questions when it arises. Here are some examples of this type of question:
Problem Solution Essay Questions:
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.

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?

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?

In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing.

What problems will this cause for individuals and society?
Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations.

An important note. Some essays ask for reasons and solutions, not problems and solutions.
Writing about a reason (or cause) is not the same as writing about a problem.

Problem Solution Example Essay

In order to understand these types of problem solution essays further and how to organize your
writing, we'll look at a problem solution example essay:
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?
The enormous growth in the use of the internet over the last decade has led to radical changes to
the way that people consume and share information. Although serious problems have arisen as a
result of this, there are solutions.
One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially
dangerous sites. For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can
register with a site and claim to be an adult. There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and
development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society. Another major problem
is the growth of online fraud and hacking. These days, there are constant news stories about
government and company websites that have been hacked, resulting in sensitive information
falling into the hands of criminals.

It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure that
adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing
dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a
site. Parents also have a part to play. They need to closely monitor the activities of their children
and restrict their access to certain sites, which can now be done through various computer
programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security systems to make fraud and
hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current systems for
weaknesses.
To conclude, the internet is an amazing technological innovation that has transformed peoples
lives, but not without negative impacts. However, with the right action by individuals,
governments and businesses, it can be made a safe place for everyone.
(285 words)

Writing about Problems

From the problem solution essay, look at the problems paragraph, and answer the following
questions (then click on the link below to see the answers):
1.
How many problems are discussed?
2.
What are they?
3.
What expressions are used to introduce the problems?
4.
How are the problems illustrated further?
5.
What results are discussed for each problem?
1) How many problems are discussed?
2
2) What are they?
children can access potentially dangerous sites
growth of online fraud and hacking
3) What expressions are used to introduce the problems?
One of the first problems of the internet is...

Another major problem is...

4) How are the problems illustrated further?
For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can register with a
site and claim to be an adult.
These days, there are constant news stories about government and company websites that have
been hacked.
5) What results are discussed for each problem?
There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative impact
for the children and for society.
...resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals.

Your answers to these questions should tell you a lot about how to plan and organize a problem
paragraph.
You only need two or three problems as remember you do not have much time and you need to
explain the problems.
When you brainstorm your ideas for problem solution essays, think about (a) what the problem
is (b) how you will explain it (c) and what the effect is. Your paragraph will then follow this
pattern.
Here is an example of the brainstorming for this paragraph:
Problem 1: children can access potentially dangerous sites

Explanation / Example: Pornography sites

Result: Affects thought & development - negative for children & society

Problem 2: growth of online fraud and hacking

Explanation / Example: Evident from the constant news stories

Result: Criminals get sensitive information

Here they are illustrated in the paragraph, with the introductory expressions underlined:

One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially
dangerous sites. For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they
can register with a site and claim to be an adult. There is no doubt that this affects their
thoughts and development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society. Another
major problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking. These days, there are constant news
stories about government and company websites that have been hacked, resulting in sensitive
information falling into the hands of criminals.
Writing about Solutions
Answer the following questions about the solutions paragraph:
1.

How many solutions are given?

2.
3.

What are they?

What three different groups of people does the writer say are responsble for these
solutions?
4.
How would the solutions be implemented?
5.
What three modal verb structures are used to make the suggestions?
1) How many solutions are given?
3
2) What are they?
adequate legislation and controls
monitor the activities of children / restrict access
improve company IT security systems
3) What three different groups of people does the writer say are responsble for these
solutions?
Governments
Parents
Companies
4) How would the solutions be implemented?
Stricter criteria for accessing sites
Using computer programs

Reviewing current IT systems for weaknesses

5) What three modal verb structures are used to make the suggestions?
should
need to
must
Your answers to these questions provide you with some key tips on writing a solutions
paragraph. Some of these points are now explained further.
a) The people involved
When you come to brainstorm your solutions, think of the key 'actors' who are involved. It is
usually governments and individuals in some way or another.
There may be another group specifically realted to the topic. For example, in this case it is
companies and parents. If you are discussing crime it could be the police. If it is violence on TV
it could be TV and film producers.
You can then brainstorm your ideas under each 'group' and organize them in the same way.
b) Developing your solutions
Also, try to make sure your solutions are not too simplistic. It's all too easy to make sweeping
generalizations about what people can do. For example, look at this idea:
The government should introduce stricter laws.
It it common to see such statements in IELTS problem solution essays with no further
explantion. Give more detail about how or why this would work. For example:
Governments should ensure that adequate legislation and controls are in place that will
prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply
confirming that you are an adult to view a site.
Some specific detail has now been given on how this solution could work.

b) Modal Verbs
Modal verbs can be used to make suggestions in problem solution essays. These are usually
found in solutions paragraphs.
Here again is a plan for the problem solution essay for the solutions paragraph:
Solution 1: Governments

Idea: Adequate legislation and controls for young people

How: More complex website access criteria

Solution 2: Parents

Idea: Monitor children and restrict access

How: Use a computer program

Solution 3: Companies

Idea: Improve IT security systems

How: Review current systems in place

Here is the paragraph again. Note how it follows the plan and the clear topic sentence that tells
the reader the essay is moving on to discuss solutions (modals verbs are underlined):
It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should
ensure that adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young
people from accessing dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply confirming
that you are an adult to view a site. Parents also have a part to play. They need to
closely monitor the activities of their children and restrict their access to certain sites,
which can now be done through various computer programs. Companies must also

improve their onsite IT security systems to make fraud and hacking much more
difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current systems for weaknesses.

ARTICLE:
1. Before you write
Take a minute to read the task(instructions) carefully and decide what to write and in
which style.
Ask yourself the following questions
What do I have to write about? (Content/ check task)
Who is the article for? A newspaper, a formal magazine/ a blog...? (To decide on style/check
task)
How many paragraphs am I going to write? (Organisation)
What kind of language should I use? (Language/grammar I am expected to use/ check task)
2. While you write
Have into consideration that articles have two main purposes, to inform and to entertain/interest
the reader. Ideally after going through your text, your readers should have the feeling that they
have learnt something or at least that they have had a good time.
It is always a good idea to start the article with an inviting title and a riveting introduction.
Something that makes your public continue reading. It could be a question (that they will only be
able to answer after reading the text), or something intended to caputure the readers
imagination. You are free to be creative when choosing a title but make sure it reflects what the
text is about.
As you write remember to stick to your plan, check that you are truly answering the task
questions and that you have clear well-organised coherent paragraphs (You shouldnt start
writing about A and end up writing about Z.)
At CAE and CPE level it is also of vital importance to include some advanced examples of the
use of grammar as well as lexis (idioms, collocations, sayings.) So instead of saying
something like "I had a lot of fun although I dont normally enjoy jazz concerts" say something
like " I had a whale of a time although jazz concerts are not my cup of tea" (idioms: have a whale
of a time; not my cup of tea.)

3 After you write

Take your time to proofread. Check for spelling mistakes and see if you have to make any
corrections. Make sure that you have used a wide variety of words and if you find one that has
been used more than once, replace it for a synonym.
Avoid repetition: Dont say "I like history programmes, I also like music programmes."
Say: "Im into history programmes and I also like music Tv shows."
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Have I completed the task? (Content)
- Is my article well-organised? (Organisation)
- Have I used a wide range of vocabulary? (Language)
- Have I used different grammar tenses? (Language)
- Is all the article writen in the same style? (Style)
- Is the article interesting enough? (Reader)

Task: " You are a student at an international college. Your tutor has asked you to write an article
for the college website on ways students can improve language skills outside the classroom. In
your article, you should suggest ways in which students can make contact with English-language
speakers. You should also assess whether the most effective way of improving language skills is
to make friends with speakers of the language"
A fun way to learn English (give your article a title)
(State your main idea in the first paragraph)
In today's intercultural society, no one can deny the importance of learning a second
language, especially English. In our college we believe that major action should be taken to
guarantee that all of us, the students, are given the chance to practice this ability to communicate
with for people from all over the world. This task will require working with a holistic approach
and will imply the participation of a very committed group of people willing to help each other.
So are you ready? (use a question to motivate readers)
(organise your text into paragraphs)
Our first idea is to use the Internet. For young people surfing the net is as easy as pie and we all
have access to it. We suggest getting in touch with other students from around the world. Some
highly recommendable sites include a wide range of social networks as Facebook and Twitter. It
is also a good idea to encourage students to chat via Skype with people from English speaking
countries.
A second idea is to organise reading or conversation clubs, which can have monthly
gatherings in different spots in the city. Needless to say this will be a very effective way to learn
while making friends and having a blast. There are several attractive places in town such as
parks, art galleries, cafs, and social artistic venues where students and professionals can give a
boost to their social and language skills.

A final idea is for the college to create a web page. With the support of this effective tool, our
students can have blogs with a variety of engaging tasks and games. We can have fun getting
familiar with collocations and structures that can be shared as part of an exercise on our creative
website. It will definitely be highly engaging for students regardless of their backgrounds and
specializations, they will find an enjoyable site where they can put language into practice, as they
will be well-connected and comfortable with the cutting edge technology. (325 words)

Task: Life and the city

It is said that love is blind and it must be so.
I have got a soft spot for cities, polluted or heavily congested as they might be.
I would not like to live in the country at all !
There is something soothing about cobblestone roads and the reek of exhausted fumes. I cant
explain it, it just makes me feel at home. It may have something to do with having been born and
raised in a city. One gets used to the odours and the noise, and the sight of the hoardings
advertising beer and the queues at the bus stop.
It is not true what some anti-city people say, that they are difficult places to live in. On the
contrary, more and more people are choosing to live in them, as they have so much to offer, both
socially and culturally. There is the theatre, the malls, the 24/7 multiplex cinemas, the
workshops, the concerts, and so on. In the city there is always somewhere to go, someone to
meet and something to think of.
That is not the case of the country. I recently travelled to the hills, in the outskirts, to visit some
friends of mine. What a nightmarish experience I had ! All that quiet and peace was nerveracking. I was constantly, secretly, expecting something seriously bad to happen, just to escape
from that silence and hear some noise!
Needless to say, I did not like it at all. I got bored to the bones and arrived at the conclusion I
never want to return. So never mind how heavily country dwellers criticise cities, dont believe
them. It is true that in the cities we have muggers and hooligans, but... we also have music, and
people, and cosmopolitan bars and ginger ale! and God, dont we love ginger ale? (311 words)