Identifying a Problem
In order to solve a problem, you first have to identify one. Think about the community in which you live. What are some of the civic challenges in your community? Civic is a social-studies term that means relating to the administration of a town. The problem you are identifying is one that will need to be addressed by civic, or community leaders.
The problem doesn’t have to be huge. Just ask yourself: if you could change one thing in your community, what would it be?
Researching a Problem
Research is an important part of problem-solving. Before you can propose a solution to the problem, you need to fully understand it. A K-W-L chart can help you begin the research process. A K-W-L chart looks like this:
Author (if listed)
Title of article (if listed)
Name of Web site
Date of publication
Date of access
URL address
Remember...
Not all online sources are reliable. Make sure you can clearly identify who is putting the information online. Stick with sites that end in .gov or .edu when possible. Avoid sites with lots of pop-ups and ads.
Depending on the problem you are researching, you might have to conduct an interview. For example, if you are proposing a solution to a problem of too many stray animals, you might need to contact your community’s animal-control office.
Proposing a Solution
Now that you've researched your problem, it’s time to being considering solutions. When solving a problem, there is often more than one solution. It's important to develop two or three solutions to your problem in order to determine the solution that will be most effective.
Use the template provided to propose two or three solutions to your problem. Be specific in your solutions. Consider how much each solution will cost, how many people will be involved, what equipment will be needed, permissions that need to be granted, etc.
Creating a Formal Proposal
At this point, you should have at least two solutions to your identified problem. Carefully evaluate each solution, and decide which one you believe most effectively solves the problem.
Then, create a formal proposal to your community leaders persuading them to adopt your proposal. Your proposal should include the following information:
A thesis statement that summarizes the problem and states the solution
A discussion of the problem with evidence from your research to support the idea that the problem needs to be addressed
A summary of your proposed solution
An evaluation of the solution listing the pros and cons and showing city leaders why the pros outweigh the cons
An effective conclusion that summarizes your arguments
Directions
Identify a problem in your community. Using the template provided in the lesson, research the problem to develop proposed solutions. Create two or three solutions to the problem using the template provided in the lesson. Carefully evaluate each solution and choose one. Create a formal proposal to community leaders identifying a problem and proposing a solution. Your proposal should include:
A thesis statement that summarizes the problem and states the solution.
A discussion of the problem with evidence from your research to support the idea that the problem needs to be addressed.
A summary of your proposed solution.
An evaluation of the solution listing the pros and cons and showing city leaders why the pros outweigh the cons.
An effective conclusion that summarizes your arguments.
Make sure to cite your sources using the Chicago Manual of Style. Use all of the conventions of writing, including correct punctuation, spelling and grammar.
Prompt
Create an original proposal to your community leaders of at least 300 words, identifying a problem and proposing a solution. Your proposal should include:
An introduction with a thesis statement
A paragraph analyzing the problem
A paragraph summarizing the solution
A paragraph evaluating the solution
A conclusion summarizing the arguments
