Writing Thesis Statements:
Problem and Solution Method
- Found in Your Introductory Paragraph
- The Main Idea of your Paper
- Alerts the reader exactly what the paper will be about
There are many ways to write a Thesis Statement. Today we will be using the “Problem
and Solution Method.”
The Problem and Solution Thesis Statement contains 4 elements:
1. Issue
2. Solution #1
3. Solution #2
4. Solution #3
The Problem and Solution Method first calls for you to think about the issue and then
offer solutions that will solve the issue.
For example, if the issue is “drug-related crime in communities,” your task will be to
think about solutions to this problem:
Possible Solutions to drug-related crime in communities
Hire more police officers in the community
Teach awareness in the home
Hire more security guards in schools and
businesses
Raise money to help treat addicts
Set up more neighborhood watches
Offer aid to families of addicts
Teach awareness in schools
Offer better therapy for addicts
Next, you will group these solutions into 3 general categories. These categories will
serve as the solutions you use for your Thesis Statement:
General Categories for these Solutions
Hire more police officers in the community
Hire more security guards in schools and
businesses
- Stronger law-enforcement
presence
Set up more neighborhood watches
Teach awareness in schools
Teach awareness in the home
- Better education opportunities in
the community
Raise money to help treat addicts
Offer better therapy for addicts
Offer aid to families of addicts
- More rehabilitation opportunities
for those affected by drug
addiction
You now have all 4 elements of a Problem and Solution Thesis statement.
Issue:
Drug-related crime in communities
3 General Solutions:
- Stronger law-enforcement presence
- Better education opportunities in the community
- More rehabilitation opportunities for those affected by drug addiction
Issue: Drug-related crime in the community
Solutions:
Solution # 1 Stronger law-enforcement presence
Solution #2
Better education opportunities in the community
Solution #3
More rehabilitation opportunities for those affected by drug
addiction
=
Drug-related crime in the community can be eliminated by having a stronger lawenforcement presence, providing better educational opportunities in the community,
and increasing rehabilitation opportunities for those affected by drug addiction.