Professional Documents
Culture Documents
General-specific texts
Problem-to-solution texts
1. Situation
2. Problem
3. Solution
4. Evaluation
● Problem-solution texts use the review approach to raise a question about the current
state of knowledge and to offer a possible or part answer.
● “Classic” problem-solution texts are usually more technical in nature and may describe
procedures and processes.
Passive Voice
Note that imperative forms are used to indicate the necessary steps. They form a set of
instructions.
● However, if we are interested not in providing guidance for actually doing a particular
task but in explaining how something is done – as in a process – we would more likely
write:
First, the three most common strains of flu virus are identified. These strains are then separately
grown and harvested. The harvested virus is purified and inactivated. Finally, the inactive virus strains
are blended together with a carrier fluid and dispensed into vials.
● Notice that each sentence now refers to a particular stage in the process:
◦ The identification stage
◦ The preparation stage
◦ The dispensing stage
Look at the effect when it’s converted into the active voice:
The technician identifies the virus strains in the lab. The technician separately grows and
harvests the virus. The technician purifies and inactivates the virus. The technician blends the
inactive virus strains together with a carrier fluid and dispenses them into vials.
The focus on the stage is lost and the emphasis shifts to the agent (the person doing the steps).
● Of course, there may be some occasions when the different agents are an important
part of different steps in the process.
Technician A identifies the virus strains in the lab. Technician B separately grows and harvests
the virus. Technician C purifies and inactivates the virus. Technician D blends the inactive virus strains
together with a carrier fluid and dispenses them into vials.
But this looks more like a job specification or duty roster than a process description.
Examples:
Examples:
Example:
These strains are then separately grown and harvested. The harvested virus is purified and
inactivated. Finally, the inactive virus strains are blended together with a carrier fluid and
dispensed into vials.
● Some care needs to be taken when putting verbs together because it can sometimes lead
to an unfortunate ambiguity.
Examples:
● In addition to linked passives, good flow is also achieved through use of several time
adverbials that help establish the sequence of events – once, first, next, then, and finally.
Participles
● Flow of ideas can be maintained by taking the –ed participle in the passive construction
and using it as an adjective.
MODULE 3. PROBLEM, PROCESS AND SOLUTION Dr. Claudia 4Odette J. Ayala
First, the three most common strains of flu virus are identified. These strains are then
separately grown and harvested. The harvested virus is purified and inactivated. Finally, the
now inactivated virus strains are blended together with a carrier fluid and dispensed into vials.
● By changing harvest and inactivate into their adjectival forms, the writer establishes a
strong connection between the sentences and indicates a newly acquired characteristic of
the virus. As a result of the steps in the process, the virus can be described as harvested,
inactivated, or even purified.
● We have emphasized the use of passive voice in process descriptions as they concentrate
on processes that involve human action. However, there are many natural processes that
take place outside of direct human intervention. In such cases, active voice is often used, or
there may be a mix between active and passive, depending on the process.
● If a process description employs verbs that indicate a change of state, such as expand,
rise, cool, and form, active voice will also be used.
Examples:
● In order to help readers understand a problem and/or a solution, there may be a need to
use expressions to highlight causes and effects.
● Examples:
An increase in demand is likely to cause a rise in prices.
Increases in demand usually lead to price increases.
Increases in price are often caused by increases in demand.
LANGUAGE FOCUS: -ing Clauses of Result
● As an alternative
MODULEto 3. using sentence
PROBLEM, connectors
PROCESS such as therefore and as a result, causal
AND SOLUTION Dr. Claudia 5Odette J. Ayala
relationships can also be expressed by –ing clauses of result.
The magma flows into the pores of the rocks; as a result, the rocks rupture.
The magma flows into the pores of the rocks, thus causing them to rupture.
A current is sent through the material. As a result, the electrons are polarized.
A current is sent through the material, polarizing the electrons.
● Sometimes writers also use a preliminary subordinate clause to set the scene for the
process.
When the ABS controller senses that a wheel is about to lock up, it automatically
changes the pressure in the brake lines of the car. As a result, maximum brake performance
is achieved.
When the ABS controller senses that a wheel is about to lock up, it automatically
changes the pressure in the car’s brake lines to prevent the lockup, (thus) resulting in
maximum brake performance.
Solution: Prices rise, thus increasing earnings that can then be reinvented
in the enterprise.
It is not clear,
MODULEhowever, whether PROCESS
3. PROBLEM, such high AND
percentages for English provide an accurate
SOLUTION Dr.picture
Claudia 6Odette J. Ayala
of languages chosen for publication by researchers around the world.
Until such time, nonnative speakers of English will remain uncertain about how effective
their publications are in their own languages.
In both examples, the writer used indirect questions rather than direct questions.
Indirect questions follow the standard word order (the subject followed by the verb).
They do not require that the subject and the verb be inverted, as in a direct question. Indirect
questions also end with a period rather than a question mark.
Example:
The main difficulty in using indirect questions involves remembering that the subject
and verb should not be inverted in an indirect question. Both research and experience suggest that
not inverting is relatively late.
● Presumably, the use of a “question word” may automatically trigger the inversion. As a
result, even native speakers may incorrectly produce
● Indirect questions can be a way to introduce or discuss a problem, but direct questions
may be possible.
But keep in mind that the use of direct questions should be limited in academic writing.
● Another way to introduce a problem is to use an adversative sentence connector, such as
however or nevertheless.
MODULE 3. PROBLEM, PROCESS AND SOLUTION Dr. Claudia 7Odette J. Ayala
However, this system/process/idea has its problems.
Examples:
One interesting solution to this problem is now being tested in the village of Chungungo, a
village of 300.
One approach currently under study involves transplanting healthy coral into a bleached reef.
Solutions to this problem are now widely discussed. One remedy is to…
There are two possible ways of handling this problem. The first… The second…
Several options are available to address this obstacle. However, the best one seems to be…
Recently, researchers have made significant progress in overcoming this difficulty by…
Reference:
Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic writing for graduate students. Essential tasks and skills
(3rd ed.). The University of Michigan Press.
EXERCISES FOR MODULE 3
Julie Ann Berezo
Name: _____________________________________________ Score/Rating:____________________
MODULE 3. PROBLEM, PROCESS AND SOLUTION Dr. Claudia 8Odette J. Ayala
Exercise 1. Find a single adverb to replace the phrase in italics and then place the adverb in
midposition.
Example: The routines for the show must be done with skill.
The routines for the show must be skillfully done.
2. Part II of this paper describes in only a couple of paragraphs the laws of the U.S. that
pertain to agricultural biotechnology.
____________________________________________________________________________
Part____________________________________________________________________________
II of this paper concisely describes the laws of the U.S. that pertain to the agricultural biotechnology.
4. This study revealed that American and Japanese thresholds for sweetness and saltiness
did not differ a lot.
This study____________________________________________________________________________
revealed that American and Japanese thresholds for sweetness and saltiness did not significantly differ.
5. As a rule, pulsed semiconductor lasers do not use the broad gain bandwidth to full
advantage in the generation of subpicosecond pulses.
Pulsed semiconductors lasers do not normally use the broad to gain bandwidth to full advantage in the generation of
____________________________________________________________________________
subpicosecond pulses.
____________________________________________________________________________
7. The water supply lines must be inspected now and then to prevent blockages.
____________________________________________________________________________
The water supply mjust be occassionaly inspected to prevent blockages.
____________________________________________________________________________
8. Although many elaborations of this model have been developed over the years, to a
considerable extent all of them have followed the traditional specification in presupposing
that an individual will choose to make a tax report.
Although many elaborations of this model have been considerably developed over the years, all of them have
____________________________________________________________________________
followed the traditional specification in presupposing that an individual will choose to make a tax report.
____________________________________________________________________________
Julie Ann Berezo
Name: _____________________________________________ Score/Rating:____________________
Exercise 2. InsertMODULE
the verb3.to be in thePROCESS
PROBLEM, correct position.
AND SOLUTION Dr. Claudia 9Odette J. Ayala
2. Current studies provide little information on how this policy being implemented in rural
areas.
Current studies provide little information on how this policy is being implemented in rural areas.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. We need to know what precautions being taken to prevent the spread of disease.
We need to know what precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of the disease.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4. There is some question as to whether the current crisis can eventually overcome.
____________________________________________________________________________
There are some questions as to whether the current crisis can eventually overcome.
____________________________________________________________________________
5. It has not been determined how these policies likely to small businesses.
It____________________________________________________________________________
has not been determined how these policies are likely to affect small businesses.
____________________________________________________________________________
7. Another issue raised by this study is whether and to what extent poverty and climate
linked.
Another issue raised by this study is whether and to what extent poverty and climate are linked.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
8. The process uses the CPU power it needs, depending on what it doing and depending
on what other processes running.
____________________________________________________________________________
The process uses the CPU power it needs, depending on what it is doing and depending on what other
____________________________________________________________________________
processes are running.
Example: The plants are selected. The plants are planted at a particular site based on the
type of metals present and other site conditions.
The plants are selected and planted at a particular site based on the type of
metals present and other site conditions.
2. Wine making
The grapes are harvested. The grapes are crushed to release the pulp and seeds. The
grapes are fermented for three weeks.
_____________________________________________________________________
The grapes are first harvested, then crushed to release the pulp and seeds. After that,
_____________________________________________________________________
they are fermented for three weeks.
3. Tempering glass
The glass is cut to size. It is inspected to determine if it has any imperfections. The glass
is heated to over 600◦C. The glass is cooled in a step known as quenching.
The glass is initially cut to size, then inspected to determine if it has any imperfections. Subsequently,
_____________________________________________________________________
it is heated to over 600 degrees celsius and later cooled in a step known as quenching.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. Geyser eruption
Water from rain or melted snow percolates into the ground through cracks. The water is
heated by the underlying rocks to temperatures well above the boiling point. The water
does not boil. It becomes superheated. It also becomes pressurized. The water bursts out
of the ground in an explosive steam eruption.
Water from rain or melted snow percolates into the ground through cracks, where it is heated by the underlying rocks t
_____________________________________________________________________
o temperatures well above the boiling point; However, the water does not immediately boil; instead, it becomes superheated
_____________________________________________________________________
and pressurized. Eventually, the pressurized and superheated water bursts out of the ground in an explosive steam eruption.
_____________________________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________________________ Score/Rating:____________________
Exercise 5. Combine
MODULE the3.ideas presented
PROBLEM, in each
PROCESS ANDof the following statements, using
SOLUTION Dr.an –ing12
Claudia Odette J. Ayala
clause of result.
Example: A current is sent through the material. As a result, the electrons are polarized.
A current is sent through the material, polarizing the electrons.
2. The researcher supposedly manipulated the data. As a result, an apparent effect was
created where none existed.
_____________________________________________________________________
The researcher who is supposedly manipulating the data, created an apparent effect where none existed.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. The computer viruses infect executable files; as a consequence, the host computer is
damaged when the executable is run.
_____________________________________________________________________
The computer viruses damaged the host computer when the executable is run after infecting the executable files.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4. The plants extract the nickel and zinc; hence, the soil is left uncontaminated.
_____________________________________________________________________
The plants extrac the nickel and zinc leaving the soil uncontaminated.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. Rainfall levels plummeted. A slow, but steady, loss of grasses occurred. As a result, the
region was transformed into a desert.
After the rainfall level plummeted, it slowly and steadily startedloosing the grasses
_____________________________________________________________________
and trasforming the region into a desert.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________________________ Score/Rating:____________________
MODULE 3. PROBLEM, PROCESS AND SOLUTION Dr. Claudia 13
Odette J. Ayala
Exercise 6. Writing Task
Write your own problem-solution text that includes both a process description and a
definition, or write a review of the current state of knowledge in your field, raising a
question about the current state of knowledge and offering a possible answer.
In recent years, the rapid advancement of technology has brought both benefits and challenges to students' educational experiences.
This evolution has led to increased connectivity, access to information, and new learning opportunities. However, it has also given
rise to concerns about its potential negative effects on students' well-being and academic performance.
Definition:
Technology refers to the tools, devices, and digital systems designed to facilitate communication, enhance productivity,
and provide access to information and entertainment.
Problem:
One of the primary challenges posed by technology is the potential for distraction. With the proliferation of smartphones,
social media platforms, and online entertainment, students often find it difficult to focus on their studies. The constant
notifications and the allure of digital entertainment can disrupt their concentration and hamper their ability to engage deeply with
their coursework.
Solution:
To mitigate the negative impact of technology on students, a multi-faceted approach is essential.