PROBLEM –SOLUTION

I. Approaching the task

Read the task introductions and underline the action words show you what to do?
1. The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems
that did not exist before.
What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you suggest?
2. “Smoking is on the increase among young people. Discuss the problem and suggest what might be done
about it?”
3. More and more widl animals are on the verge of extinction and others are on the endangered list. What are
the reasons for this? What can be done to solve this problem?
4. “What could be done to improve the lives of the elderly?”
5. With the development of social media, more and more youngsters are being allowed unsupervised access to
the Internet in order to meet and chat with friends which can lead to potential dangerous situations. What
solutions can you suggest to deal with this problem?
6. An increasing number of professionals including doctors and teachers are leaving their own poorer
countries to work in developed countries. What problem does this cause? What solutions can you suggest to
deal with this situation?

II. Samle analysis

1. PROBLEM -SOLUTION
 Analyse the following essays
The enormous growth in the use of the internet over the last decade has led to radical changes to the way
that people consume and share information. Although serious problems have arisen as a result of this, there
are solutions.
One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially dangerous
sites. For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can register with a site and
claim to be an adult. There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative
impact for the children and for society. Another major problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking.
These days, there are constant news stories about government and company websites that have been hacked,
resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals.
It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure that adequate
legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites, such as
requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a site. Parents also have a part to play.
They need to closely monitor the activities of their children and restrict their access to certain sites, which can
now be done through various computer programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security
systems to make fraud and hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current
systems for weaknesses.
To conclude, the internet is an amazing technological innovation that has transformed people’s lives, but
not without negative impacts. However, with the right action by individuals, governments and businesses, it
can be made a safe place for everyone.
 From the problem solution essay, look at the problems paragraph, and answer the following questions
1. How many problems are discussed?
2. What are they?
3. What expressions are used to introduce the problems?
4. How are the problems illustrated further?
5. What results are discussed for each problem?
 Answer the following questions about the solutions paragraph:
1. How many solutions are given?
2. What are they?
3. What three different groups of people does the writer say are responsble for these solutions?
4. How would the solutions be implemented?
5. What three modal verb structures are used to make the suggestions?
 When you brainstorm your ideas for problem solution essays, think about (a) what the problem
is (b) how you will explain it (c) and what the effect is. Your paragraph will then follow this pattern.
Here is an example of the brainstorming for this paragraph:
Problem 1: children can access potentially dangerous sites
 Explanation / Example: Pornography sites
 Result: Affects thought & development - negative for children & society
Problem 2: growth of online fraud and hacking
 Explanation / Example: Evident from the constant news stories
 Result: Criminals get sensitive information

 When you come to brainstorm your solutions, think of the key 'actors' who are involved. It is usually
governments and individuals in some way or another.
 There may be another group specifically realted to the topic. For example, in this case it is companies and
parents. If you are discussing crime it could be the police. If it is violence on TV it could be TV and film
producers.
 Here again is a plan for the problem solution essay for the solutions paragraph:

Solution 1: Governments
 Idea:  Adequate legislation and controls for young people
 How: More complex website access criteria
Solution 2: Parents
 Idea: Monitor children and restrict access
 How: Use a computer program
Solution 3: Companies
 Idea:  Improve IT security systems
 How: Review current systems in place

2. SOLUTIONS

 TASK : “What could be done to improve the lives of the elderly?”

Exercise 1:
Write an introduction for this essay by answering the following questions. You can also use the methods
mentioned in unit.
1. What are the problems that the elderly have to face? (e.g. health, finance, etc.)
2. What are the sources of those problems? Why should we care about those problems?

Exercise 2: Complete the following writing plans. What expressions are used to introduce a solution?
Exercise 1:
Rewrite the following sentences using the words in brackets without changing the meaning.  
1. The environmental damage caused by factories will probably become more extensive  if adequate measures 
are not imposed. (quite likely to)  
2. If the number of patrols is reduced, burglaries in the area will almost certainly increase. (highly probable)  
3. The public will probably react negatively to any decisions by the government to increase taxes. (bound to)  
4. The problem of overpopulation will probably not be solved over the next few decades. (rather unlikely that)
Exercise 2:
Look at each of the following sentences, identify the problem and say what solution is suggested. Then write 
sentences explaining possible results, as  in the example. 
Problem 
e.g. One way to deal with pollution in cities is to promote the use of public transport. 
Solution 
The result of this would be fewer cars polluting the atmosphere. 

1. One way to combat famine would be to provide affected countries with financial aid. 
2. An effective method of combating the spread of disease  in poverty‐stricken areas of the would might be to 
send doctors from developed countries. 
3. One way to prevent  illnesses such as heart disease  is to ensure that you take regular exercises and follow a 
healthy diet. 
4. It could help the world’s rain forests if we used more recycled paper. 
Exercise 3: Look at the following topic and answer the questions
“Discuss the problems of unemployment and offer possible solutions”
 What has caused the problem?
 Match the suggestions below with the corresponding results and write a sollution paragraph
 TASK CHECKING

“Various ecosystems are being systematically destroyed by man. What measures do you think should
be taken to prevent further destruction?”
In the essay below there are a number of mistakes. Read the model and underline examples of the following:
1. Three misused liking words.
2. An over-generalization
3. An irrelevant sentence.
4. A sentence containing over-emotional language.
5. Two sentences written in very informal, colloquial language.
6. Two irrelevant/unclear topic sentences.
Then rewrite the topic sentences so that each is clear and relevant and replace the words/phrases you have
underlined with correct alternatives.
We can scarcely turn on our televisions or pick a newspaper these days without being confronted with
yet another depressing news item about the environment. As the population of many cities increase, more and
more land is being converted from its natural state to accommodate homes and factories. The direct result of
this is the systematic destruction of different ecosystems all over the world which, in turn, has led to seas
becoming polluted with poisons, rivers becoming contaminated by pesticides and the air becoming polluted
with fumes from vehicles and industry. While the problems of pollution and habitual destruction are obvious,
the solutions are elusive. Moreover, serious attempts to halt the destruction of ecosystems must be made
immediately.
As Paul Claudel once said: “Nature is only an immense ruin”. Clearly, individuals need to become more
aware of the consequences of their actions and should act more responsibly. Only if people do so will be
Earth be saved from further destruction and the world become a healthier, safer place to live in.
People should not expect governments to provide all the solutions. Citizens must begin to recycle goods
and packaging whenever possible, as well as buy only environmentally friendly products. Nonetheless,
domestic food scraps should be recycled; for example: potato peelings and melon rinds can be turned into
substances that enrich the soil. By doing this, we can reduce the amount of non-biodegradable waste being
dumped at rubbish tips, thus ensuring that material such as glass and plastic are not left in earth which could
be used as farmland in the future
Despite this, individuals can help protect the earth by using public transport whenever possible. Where
such facilities do not exist, sharing lifts is recommended to reduce traffic congestion, noise and vehicle
emissions on the roads. The less petrol our societies burn, the better the air quality will be. In addition, if
there were fewer cars in circulation, there would be fewer road accidents.
Another possible measure to combat industrial pollution would be the imposition of strict fines on
wicked, greedy corporations and unfeeling, ignorant businesses which contaminate land, air or water. To be
effective, the fines should be heavy enough to deter potential polluters; if they are too small, they could
simply be regarded by industries as “the cost of doing business” and they might be ignored.
Finally, governments should be far more responsible. All governments have the funds and technology to
provide solar, wind, geothermal and tidal power. The problem is that many governments couldn’t care less
and wouldn’t lift a finger to help their countries by funding research to develop such sources or to discover
new ways to produce energy. If, however, this were to happen, the consequence would be that depletion of
finite resources such as oil and coal would be slowed down, or even halted altogether.
To sum up, the earth is suffering as a result of the destruction wreaked upon it by humanity. Don’t you
think it’s time we cleaned up this dreadful mess?