Use your problem definition to weigh potential solutions. If your problem definition focuses on the causes of the problem or barriers to achieving a goal, for example, consider solutions that address those causes or barriers. If your problem definition focuses on actions that have had unexpected or undesired effects, explore solutions that might address those effects. If your problem definition focuses on the duration and severity of a problem, ask yourself how the duration and severity of the problem might be reduced, or perhaps even eliminated.

As you generate ideas for possible solutions, keep in mind what you’ve learned about your problem. If you’re dealing with a problem that other writers have addressed, pay attention to the solutions they’ve proposed. Even if those solutions have failed to solve the problem — which is likely, given the continuing existence of the problem — they might have helped address at least some of its effects. Consider the impact of these earlier solutions, weigh their negative consequences, and ask whether you might adapt them — or parts of them — for your own use.

In your writer’s notebook, create a list of potential solutions — both your own and those of other writers — and briefly describe them. Evaluate each solution by answering the following questions:

Review your responses to the questions, and identify your most promising solutions. If you’ve identified more than one solution, ask whether the best features of each might be combined into a single solution. As you consider each solution, you’ll gain a better understanding of the problem itself. Your problem-solving essay will be most effective if you clearly connect your solution to your problem definition, so you might find it useful to revise your definition to reflect the additional thinking you’ve put into the problem. Remember that your problem definition isn’t set in stone. It can be revised and improved throughout the process of writing your essay.