We all have problems. Some of us have more than others. You’ve probably heard someone say, “I’ve got a problem. My taxes are due.” Or “I’m about to be evicted from my apartment.” Or “My hard drive crashed.” When people make statements like these, they are assuming that you share their understanding of the problem. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. You might assume that the person who has a problem paying taxes lacks the money to do so and that the best solution is to get a loan or pick up a part-time job. In fact, the problem might be based on a moral objection to how the government uses funds raised through taxes.

Until people share an understanding of a problem, it can be difficult to develop a solution and put it into effect. A successful problem-solving essay begins with the recognition that explaining a problem to others involves far more than saying, “I’ve got a problem with that. You know what I mean?” In this chapter, we’ll work from the assumption that a problem is best understood as a situation that has negative consequences for an individual or a group. To address such a situation in writing, you need to carefully define your problem, consider its significance for readers, review past efforts to address it, and either develop your own solution or argue for the adoption of one that’s been proposed by someone else.

As you work on your own problem-solving essay, you’ll follow the work of Jennie Tillson, a first-year student who wrote a problem-solving essay about the high cost of college tuition.