Problem/Solution (Proposal) Assignment
North Seattle Community College English Department
English 101 – JC Clapp
Purpose of the Assignment:
Help students understand how to define a problem affecting their own life;
Give students practice in proposing a solution a defined problem;
Teach the skills applicable to a multitude of academic and/or professional situations;
Provide students with a method to more actively and effectively engage in shaping their
individual lives and communities.
Your Task:
Carefully read Chapter 10 in The Call to Write and then write a 4-6 page proposal (in the form of
a problem/solution essay, letter, or formal proposal) that completes the following:
Choose an appropriate audience for the proposal (specific group of people or
publication);
Define the chosen audience (e.g. what values do the readers of this publication/group of
people hold? What do the readers of this publication/group of readers know about the
problem? What kind of personal or emotional responses might the readers of this
publication/group of people have to the problem and proposed solution? What objections
might the readers of this publication/group of people have to the proposed solution?);
Based on your audience and purpose, choose an appropriate form for your proposal to
take. A newspaper op-ed article (pg. 341), a research proposal (pg. 344 and 348, a
funding proposal (pg. 380), a letter or speech (pg. 354), an essay, or an advocacy group
appeal (pg. 364) are all possible genre/form choices.
Use audience-appropriate evidence (details, facts, examples) to help you establish that a
specific problem exists and is important;
Propose a solution to the defined problem using a clearly defined thesis.
Use evidence (details, facts, examples) to convince the defined audience that your
solution(s) to the problem are reasonable, doable, and effective.
Evaluation: Your review will be graded on the criteria identified on the attached rubric.
The Memo of Self-Reflection: After you’ve finished your review, write a memo of selfreflection that addresses the below questions. Attach this memo to your final draft. This memo
is required.
How did you choose the “problem”? How is the problem you chose directly related to
your own life? In retrospect was it a good choice? Why or why not? Were the
“solutions” difficult to sort out? Why or why not?
What was your writing process for this piece? What steps did you take to complete it?
Has writing the other assignments for this class influenced your writing of this essay?
What are the strengths and the weakness of your proposal? What would you change if
you had more time to work on it?
What specifically would you like JC to focus on when reading your proposal?
Due Dates:
Rough Draft due on Wednesday, February 15
Revised Draft due on Thursday, February 16 (for peer review) – have 2 copies
Final Draft due on Friday, February 17 (don’t forget your memo!)
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