English 103

Mr. Dinan

Assignment Description:

Writing An Analytical Essay To Explore and Act Upon a Problem-Situation

You have recently finished (or nearly so) a segmented “creative nonfiction” essay in which you used an unconventional approach to exploring and demonstrating your topic. Now, for this new project, let’s look at the problem-situation in a different--that is, let’s write about it in a different way.

The “Problem-Solution Essay” is a standard part of many freshman writing courses. Actually, it’s one of my favorites, partly because it asks student-writers to do things that are both challenging and “do-able”, partly because it gets you involved with a topic that you are very expert in, and partly because often the writing of this essay actually helps students resolve important problem-situations in a fully-analyzed and mature way. This assignment isn’t as much fun as the CNF piece, but it does have its satisfactions. Let’s take a look.

For this new and more analytical essay, you’ll be writing about the same situation that you focused on in your CNF essay. I suppose you could look at your segmented/collage essay as a kind of “prewriting” for this essay; you certainly should be more familiar with your problem-situation after creating that piece. Still, you will be doing some structured prewriting for this assignment as well, including some analysis of the “factors” involved as well as an early assessment of some possible “solutions” to your problem. (I’ll explain in class why I put the word “solutions” in quotation marks.) This prewriting will become part of the folder for this project that you will be handing in to me, and it will also be useful in your Writing Center activities in the near future.

Then it will be time to start drafting. The paper will, of course, have an introductory section, probably 1-2 paragraphs long. The introduction should begin with a "lead" (material that is at least moderately engaging and does, indeed, "lead" to an identification of the problem that the paper will focus on.) The introduction should also identify the problem and put it in operational terms (hence all the activity you’ll see in the prewriting about changing the verbal formulation of the problem to a "HOW" or “WHETHER” expression). You will receive help in doing so, if you need it.

After that, the problem should be described thoroughly. There is no formula for writing this section (unlike later sections): “describing the problem-situation” entails a comfortable combining of the answers to the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE questions (Who is it a problem for--including yourself, but also other people who are affected? What happens that makes it a "problem?" When is it a problem? Where is it a problem?). Generally if you can answer all these questions, giving examples and explanations for each, you will have done a pretty decent job answering WHY the problem deserves the label "Problem." Most important, answering these questions also creates the necessary context for intelligently examining possible solutions to the problem. I’m sure you can see how your CNF piece will be very helpful to you in writing this section of the new essay.

The next step in your analysis--and the one that often gives writers the most trouble--is to describe the “factors” that need be considered when you think about how to “solve” your problem. When we solve problems and make decisions well, we do so because we have figured out what we need to consider and what our priorities are. Here’s a simple example: If we are dealing with a tough living situation (lousy roommates, for example), we need to consider a number of “factors” when we try to figure out what to do. (One such factor is the feelings of our roommates; another is the “long run.” There are others, but I don’t want to give ‘em all away since some of your may be writing on just this problem-situation!) So: explain the “Factors to Consider” is part of this analysis--a section of this essay, that is.

The next section (2 or more paragraphs) of the essay should describe, examine and evaluate various “solutions” to the problem--including, perhaps, ignoring the problem entirely. (Do you know why I put the word “solutions” in quotation marks? Remind me to explain that to you, since it may help you write this essay.) When evaluation various options, start with the least acceptable solution, then the next worst, etc. until you arrive at--and end the paper with--a discussion of the best solution. Each discussion of a proposed solution--even the least acceptable ones--should first identify the solution, then go through the pro's and con's of it, then make a final evaluation/recommendation regarding its acceptability.

Here, then, are the section headings for your analysis: Introduction, Description of the Situation, Factors to Consider, Evaluation of Options, Conclusion. As you can see, this paper will take some thought. But it does have a clear structure and procedure; that will make your life easier.

LENGTH: 3-5 typescript pages

FORMAT: Standard

PERSONA: Serious but comfortable. Don't be low-brow, but don't freeze up and start sounding phony and pseudo-professorial. Since the piece is about a personal situation you are dealing with, you will be using “I” in this essay.