Your problem definition is the single most important element of your problem-solving essay. It sets up your solution and shapes your thesis statement. It also affects your choice of sources and evidence to support the points you make in your essay. As is the case with so many aspects of writing, however, you should pay attention not only to the content of your problem definition but also to how you present it to readers.

For example, consider how a reader might react to the statement “Teachers are the reason education is in trouble.” Which of the following thoughts flashed through your mind?

All of the above? None of the above? Now substitute “students” or “parents” or “politicians” or “television” or “video games” in the same statement. What flashes through your mind?

Statements like these are unclear because they don’t define the problem. They don’t explain, for example, what it is about teachers that causes education to be in trouble.

Consider the differences between “Teachers are the reason education is in trouble” and the following problem definitions.

Problem definition 1: The lack of certified science teachers in public schools has limited the development of a general understanding of key scientific concepts among Americans. Without that understanding, it will be difficult to carry out informed debates about policies that rely on an understanding of scientific concepts, such as the development of a hydrogen economy or decisions about how we deal with the causes of global climate change.

Problem definition 2: The relatively low salaries offered to beginning teachers, combined with the growing cost of higher education and the high debt burden incurred by many college graduates, have reduced the attractiveness of pursuing a career as an educator. The result is a growing shortage of qualified teachers in key areas, such as the sciences, mathematics, and the arts. Because of this shortage, students are not receiving the education they deserve.

Each of these problem definitions calls attention to the effects of a particular situation on specific groups or individuals. In the first example, the situation — a lack of certified science teachers — affects Americans’ ability to understand and participate in debates about scientific issues. In the second example, the economic situation faced by beginning teachers affects college students’ willingness to pursue careers as teachers, which in turn affects the education of students. Through their clarity and detail, both of these problem definitions offer significant advantages over “Teachers are the reason education is in trouble.”

As you consider how best to explain your problem definition to your readers, reflect on what they already know about it. If they are already familiar with the problem, you might be able to convey your problem definition in one or two sentences that frame the solution that will follow. If they are unfamiliar with the problem, however, you might need to devote a significant portion of your essay to establishing the existence of the problem and explaining its consequences.