Class 20
- 2. + AGENDA Review: Essay #4: Describing the problem The solution: the thesis Outlining the plan Counterargument Alternative Solutions NEW: Introductions Conclusions Self-Assessment: Due through Kaizena
- 3. + Do you have a revised and developed description of your problem? It should be two to four good paragraphs. It should explain the following: The problem’s seriousness Its causes The consequences of failing to solve this problem Review: Describing the Problem
- 4. + The Solution: The Thesis Do you have one or more sentences to serve as your tentative thesis statement? In most essays proposing solutions to problems, the thesis statement is a concise announcement of the solution. Your thesis goes after a thorough explanation of the problem. Your thesis might forecast your reasons for why your solution will work.
- 5. + Outlining The Plan: A Description of the Proposed Solution Do you have a complete, working draft of your proposed solution? It should explain why or how it would solve the problem. It should show why or how your plan is possible. It should include a list of steps for implementing the solution
- 6. +Reminder: Counterargument vs. Alternative Solution A Counterargument is a challenge to your particular solution. You must address the argument to your solution by explaining how or why your solution is the best one regardless of the specific challenge. For example, if someone says your solution is too expensive, you have to explain how you will fund it, or you can explain why your solution should be applied in spite of its cost. An Alternative Solution section takes a look at other solutions people might consider. Then, you must explain how or why the solution you are offering is the superior choice. For example, if you suggest we alleviate parking problems at De Anza by adding several rapid buses to the local routes, you might also examine the alternative solution of building a parking structure. At the end of your discussion of the alternative solution, you must return to why the rapid buses are are the better solution.
- 7. + The Counterargument You anticipated objections for your homework. Now choose the two or three most important ones to acknowledge, accommodate, or refute in your essay. If you have written these out in paragraph form, take this opportunity to revise them. If not, put them in paragraph form now. Write down objection 1 Acknowledge, accommodate, or refute the objection. Write down objection 2 Acknowledge, accommodate, or refute the objection. And so on.
- 8. + Consideration of alternative solutions and their disadvantages You identified alternative solutions for your homework. Now choose those you will discuss in your essay. Write out each alternative solution and discuss the disadvantages of it compared to your solution. If you have written these out in paragraph form, take this opportunity to revise them. Write out alternative solution 1 What are the disadvantages of this solution? Write out alternative solution 2 What are the disadvantages of this solution? Write out alternative solution 3 What are the disadvantages of this solution?
- 9. + Putting it together: The Outline Your outline will of course reflect your own writing situation. Once you have a working outline, you should not hesitate to change it as necessary while drafting and revising. For instance, you might find it more effective to hold back on presenting your own solution until you have discussed alternative but unacceptable solutions. Or you might find a better way to order the reasons for adopting your proposal. The purpose of an outline is to identify the basic features of your proposal and to help you organize them effectively, not to lock you into a particular structure.
- 10. +With your purpose and goals in mind, organize an outline that includes the following: 1. a clear statement of the problem (A complete discussion of the problem goes before your thesis statement). 2. your thesis statement, announcing the proposed solution and forecasting your reasons for it 3. your argument for the solution, giving reasons and support 4. anticipation of counterarguments and a response to objections readers might have about the proposed solution 5. your evaluation of alternative solutions
- 11. +Here is a possible outline for a proposal. Yours may differ in order, but it should include all of these parts: I. Presentation of the problem (This is likely multiple paragraphs). A. Its existence B. Its seriousness C. Its causes D. Consequences of failing to solve the problem II. Description of the proposed solution (Your thesis) III. Reasons and support for the solution ( This is likely multiple paragraphs). IV. List of steps for implementing the solution V. Counterargument A. Acknowledgment of objections B. Accommodation or refutation of objections VI. Consideration of alternative solutions and their disadvantages. VII.Conclusion A. Restatement of the proposed solution and its advantages B. A warning about the failure to solve the problem C. A call to action
- 12. NEW! Introductions are Important
- 13. + Writing the Opening Sentences You should try out one or two different ways of beginning your essay. You might want to review your invention writing to see if you have already written something that would work to launch your essay. The next slides will introduce some options to you.
- 14. +To engage your readers’ interest from the start, consider the following opening strategies: a scenario like O’Malley uses It’s late at night. The final’s tomorrow. You got a C on the midterm, so this one will make or break you. Will it be like the midterm? Did you study enough? Did you study the right things? It’s too late to drop the course. So what happens if you fail? No time to worry about that now—you’ve got a ton of notes to go over.
- 15. + Or, you can consider using statistics like Kornbluh does: Today fully 70 percent of families with children are headed by two working parents or by an unmarried working parent. The “traditional family” of the breadwinner and homemaker has been replaced by the “juggler family,” in which no one is home full-time. Two parent families are working 10 more hours a week than in 1979 (Bernstein and Kornbluh).
- 16. + 1. a historical analogy 2. a research study 3. a comparison to other places where the solution has been tried successfully 4. a preview of the negative consequences if the problem goes unsolved 5. criticism of an alternative solution Or you can consider one of the following opening strategies:
- 17. +Try two that might work now! Then pick the best one! a scenario Using statistics a historical analogy a research study a comparison to other places where the solution has been tried successfully a preview of the negative consequences if the problem goes unsolved criticism of an alternative solution
- 19. +End by summarizing your solution and its advantages, as O’Malley does. From the evidence and from my talks with professors and students, I see frequent, brief in-class exams as the only way to improve students’ study habits and learning, reduce their anxiety and procrastination, and increase their satisfaction with college. These exams are not a panacea, but only more parking spaces and a winning football team would do as much to improve college life. Professors can’t do much about parking or football, but they can give more frequent exams. Campus administrators should get behind this effort, and professors should get together to consider giving exams more frequently. It would make a difference.
- 20. +Remind readers of something special about the problem or solution at the end, as Kornbluh does when she urges that an award be given to the companies that lead the way. Public Education: Critical to the success of the proposal will be public education along the lines of the education that the government and business schools conducted in the 1980s about the need for American business to adopt higher quality standards to compete against Japanese business. A Malcolm Baldridge–like award4 should be created for companies that make flexibility win-win. A public education campaign conducted by the Department of Labor should encourage small businesses to adopt best practices of win- win flexibility. Tax credits could be used in the first year to reward early adopters.
- 21. + Or, try one of these endings End with a scenario suggesting the consequences of a failure to solve the problem. End with an inspiring call to action.
- 22. + Try writing two endings! Then choose the best one or combine them! 1. End by summarizing your solution and its advantages. 2. Remind readers of something special about the problem or solution at the end 3. End with a scenario suggesting the consequences of a failure to solve the problem. 4. End with an inspiring call to action.
- 23. + The blogging post points (75) require self- assessment. Consider three aspects of your responses: First, how many of the posts did you make? Second, what was the quality of your response? Third, how timely were your submissions? Write a paragraph justifying your grade. Submit your self-assessment via Kaizena as soon as you finish today’s post; you must send it before our final meeting. The formula is on the next slide. Self-Assessment
- 24. +Here is the Math! See the Assignment Sheet for More Details Your final grade will be figured this way: 75/25 = 3 points per post minus 1.5 points for each late post (48 hours after the due time. There are no points awarded for posts more than 48 hours late). Then, multiply the total times the average grade percentage for the quality of your work. Example Posts completed: 25 x 3 points = 75 points Late posts: 4 x 1.5 = 6 Subtract the smaller from the larger: 75 – 6= 69 Quality of posts: B+ or 88% Multiply the total times the quality: 69 x .88= 61/75 points or 81%
- 25. + HOMEWORK Finish the introductions and conclusions we wrote today in class, and then add them to your draft. Read your essay aloud to make sure it is in a logical order. Change the order of your paragraphs if that makes sense to you. Remember, the problem is introduced before the thesis! Self-Assessment: Due via Kaizena before midnight Wednesday