HCC Solving Drug Abuse Problem
Question Description
Proposals are one of the most common types of writing tasks you will be asked to complete, both in college and in the working world. For this essay, your goal is to identify and explain a social problem, discuss several different possible solutions to the problem, then argue that one solution to this problem is preferable to or better than all the others, and address counter-argument to your solutions. Being able to identify a problem, think through the implications of that problem, propose possible solutions, and explain why different solutions are more or less practical than others is a valuable set of skills to possess, and they tie together a lot of the analysis, argumentation, and rhetorical concepts we have discussed this semester.
There are a couple of things your essay must include or accomplish. These are:
A clearly defined thesis statement: Your introduction paragraph must have a thesis statement, in which you reveal the problem you are addressing and the several possible solutions you will propose, ending with your best solution. Your thesis MUST state that one particular solution is definitely better than the others.
A clear summary of the problem you will be addressing: You should tell your audience why the topic you are discussing is an important problem to address. As you begin to plan your essay, be sure to think about who your audience is and what they know about the problem. Consider who can actually put your solution into practice; a general audience or “I’m writing to anyone” is not acceptable. In some cases, you may have to argue that the problem you are addressing really does exist and really should be solved.
Discussion of the solutions you will propose: Each solution should be separately developed and distinct from the other solutions. You should propose at least 3 solutions to the problem and make sure all of the solutions are practical and realistic in relation to the problem at hand. Each solution should be discussed in its own paragraph. Oversimplified or impractical solutions are not acceptable, nor are solutions that could not actually happen in the real world.
You are to argue why one solution is better that all the others: By the end of your essay, your reader should know beyond any doubt which solution you feel is the best way to deal with the problem, and why. In choosing the “best” solution, you need to decide what makes a solution better. Is the solution cheaper? Less risky? Quicker? More likely to help the most people? Does it require fewer resources? You need to let your reader know what criteria you are using to decide why you think one solution is the “best” solution.
You must have clear counterargument and refute: A counter argument is a claim or argument that seeks to prove another claim or argument is wrong. If you tell me something is a possible solution to the problem, for instance, the counter argument could be all the things that are bad with that solution. You want to cover the good and bad aspects of each solution as you discuss them, and if a solution is not the best solution explain why the downsides of that solution outweigh any possible positive aspects. When you reach the best solution, you will want to offer refutes – reasons why the counter argument can be overlooked, ignored, or is otherwise handled in such a way to make one solution preferable to the others.
You must consider your audience: For this essay, I will not be giving you any direct instructions regarding who your audience is. Each essay’s audience will depend on the problem being discussed, but you should keep your audience in mind as you write your essay. It is not necessary to assume your audience is currently affected by the problem at hand. In fact, depending on the problem you are trying to solve you may need to choose an audience who is not affected by, or does not know the problem exists, to help you fully explore the different solutions available and which one you think is the best. THE AUDIENCE IS NOT THE COURSE INSTRUCTOR!!! Neither is your audience the general public. You will need to think outside the box and decide who needs to hear your message, and who can actually put your best solution into practice.
You must consider how to organize your ideas: How do you want to present ideas in this essay? Do you want to lay out each possible solution, discussing its pros and cons, then explain why you think one is the “best” solution?” Do you want to start with the “best” solution, then discuss other less desirable solutions as a way to support your claim that one solution is superior? This is a decision you, as the composer, must come up with based on the solutions you are arguing for/against and the audience you are trying to reach. With that said, I will give you this piece of advice: when discussing “alternative” solutions – that is, the solutions that are not your “best” solution – you shou