Develop a possible solution.

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The following activities will help you devise a solution and develop an argument to support it. If you have already found a solution, you may want to skip this activity and go directly to the Explain Your Solution section (p. 338).

Ways In

HOW CAN I SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?

One way to generate ideas is to write steadily for at least five minutes, exploring some of the possible ways of solving the problem. Consider using the following approaches as a jumping-off point:

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  • Adapt a solution that has been tried or proposed for a similar problem.Example: Bornstein’s solution to bullying is to teach children empathy, as the Roots of Empathy program does.
  • Focus on eliminating a cause or minimizing an effect of the problem.Example: O’Malley’s solution to stressful high-stakes exams is to eliminate the cause of the stress by inducing instructors to give more frequent low-stakes exams.
  • See the problem as part of a larger system, and explore solutions to the system.Example: Kornbluh’s solution is for employers to work with employees to enhance job flexibility.
  • Focus on solving a small part of the problem.Example: Brownell and Frieden’s solution to obesity is to reduce the consumption of sugared beverages through taxation.
  • Look at the problem from different points of view.Example: Consider what students, teachers, parents, or administrators might think could be done to help solve the problem.

  • For more idea-generating strategies, see Chapter 11.

    Think of a specific example of the problem, and consider how you could solve it.Example: O’Malley could have focus on solving the problem of high-stakes exams in his biology course.