Now that your essay is in draft form, consider how well you present your problem definition and how effectively it leads to your proposed solution. Your problem definition should direct your readers’ attention to the problem in a particular way. If not, they’ll find it difficult to understand how your definition of the problem is related to your proposed solution. As you draft your essay — and spend additional time thinking about the problem — you will almost certainly deepen your understanding of the problem. Take a few moments now to ask whether your problem definition fully reflects that understanding.

Then ask some harder questions: Have you defined your problem in the best way (with best defined in light of the solution you’ve proposed and the needs, interests, and backgrounds of your readers)? Will your readers accept the problem definition you’ve developed? If you suspect that they’ll object to it or find it inadequate, how can you change it to address their likely concerns?