ING182U-COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND ACADEMIC REPORTING II
Chapter 6: Problem and Solution Essay, Argumentative Essay
Introduction
This chapter provides a detailed account of two commonly employed essay types, namely problem solution essays and argumentative essays.
Problem and Solution Essay
This essay type makes use of the problem-solving process to demonstrate how the author interprets a problematic situation, offers potential solutions, and assesses those options.
In this type of essay, the author has to follow the steps below:
1. Identify a problem. 2. Explain the problem in detail and convince the reader that it must be resolved. 3. Provide solutions for the problem which are effective in terms of cost and convenience. 4. Convince the readers that the solutions offered will solve the problem efficiently.
How Problem and Solution Essay is Written
As is the case in a typical essay, problem-solution essay comprises introduction, body and conclusion sections. Specific to this essay type, the body part consists of two (or more) paragraphs one of which is devoted to the explanation of the problem and the situation and the rest to possible solution(s).
Introduction
As in any other essay type, the introduction section of a problem-solution essay is where the author introduces the topic at hand to the audience. In the case of a problem- solution essay, the topic to be addressed is a problem that, the author thinks, needs to be resolved. Therefore, the introduction section of a problem-solution essay must at least briefly explain the problem at hand and the solution the author offers. How much detail the author has to cover depends on the problem at hand.
In a problem-solution essay, you can either focus on a specific solution and elaborate it comprehensively or offer multiple solutions at the same time briefly explaining each one of them. Most of the time focusing on one solution and explaining why it is the best remedy for a given problem is preferred.
Body
The body paragraphs of a problem and solution essay covers the details of the problem at hand and how the solutions will work to solve the problem. Therefore, the body of a problem-solution essay consists of at least two paragraphs, one of which is spared for explaining the problem in detail how it affects our lives and the other for describing how the suggested course of action will solve the problem.
Useful Words of Signalling in Problem-Solution Essays
Similar to any other essay type, problem-solution essay also lends itself to the use of certain vocabulary which serve a signalling function for the reader. These words are useful for the reader to identify whether the author explains a problem or a solution.
Conclusion
The conclusion section of the problem-solution essay includes a restatement of the thesis and summary of the key points addressed. It must be underlined that the conclusion section does not introduce new ideas but rather links the ideas introduced in the body paragraphs together.
Argumentative Essay
An argumentative essay is a piece of writing that aims to persuade readers of a particular position on a controversial topic using logical arguments and empirical data. An argumentative essay supports a particular viewpoint on a given issue by making use of facts, figures, and logical reasoning.
Writing argumentative essays is a regular assignment for college and high school students. Argumentative essay themes typically have something to do with science, technology, politics, or health care and the topics are, for the most part, controversial.
Argumentative essays resemble the other types of essays in that they follow the standard introduction, body, and conclusion pattern. On the other hand, argumentative essays frequently require additional complexity to accommodate all the elements of a strong argument.
The best technique to format an argumentative essay depends on a variety of factors, including the topic, conflicting points of view, and the audience. There are three options or argument structure to choose from:
• Classical (Aristotelian) • Rogerian • Toulmin
Classical (Aristotelian)
This type is the most commonly encountered option for writing argumentative essays. It is employed when the author wants to make straightforward and direct arguments. A general procedure for structuring an argumentative essay within this option is as follows:
• Explain your point of view in detail. • Explain the opposition’s point of view in detail. • Present the evidential support (factual, empirical, statistical, logical or anecdotal) you plan to use as evidence to convince the reader of the credibility of your arguments.
Rogerian
This type of argumentative essay is employed in situations where both sides put forward valid arguments for their point
of view and readers are generally in favour of the opposing credit from the audience by acknowledging that the claim side to that of the author. In this type of argumentative may not be true all the time. essay, the author highly respects the opposing position and Rebuttal: The author responds to the opposing viewpoints gives credit to their stances, which grants this in the rebuttal. A rebuttal can be used by the author to argumentation type a middle-ground approach feature. anticipate objections and strengthen the initial claim. It is typical for people to see examples of Rogerian argument in everyday life. You might already engage in negotiations with your friends, family, and/or romantic relationships using Rogerian argument.
The Rogerian approach foresees that the opposing view should receive great credit, and be handled respectfully by the author in their effort to reach a middle-ground and to combine the appealing points from both sides together.
Toulmin
This method of argumentative essay is adopted when the author tries to emphasise their point of view as the best choice without covering the opposing side’s arguments but rather focusing on providing facts and evidential support that are difficult to disagree with. This kind of argumentation follows a fixed set of steps. First, you present your claim, then provide evidence to support it. Finally, you have to establish how the evidence you have provided is related to the claim. This kind of argument is similarly powerful for polarised issues, but, as mentioned, it only provides one viewpoint, relying heavily on facts that are presented in a way that makes the author’s arguments hard to refute. Unlike the two other argumentative essay types, this essay type does not follow a regular order of paragraphs, but rather focuses on the concepts of claims, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, and rebuttal.
Claim: This is the author’s stance towards a certain issue at hand they want the audience to believe to be true. Put differently, this is the thesis statement of the entire essay.
Grounds: All the evidence including facts, statistics, anecdotes, references, personal experiences that serve the claim and can be used for convincing the reader that the claim is indeed a valid one.
Warrant: Warrant is what connects the grounds to the claim. This helps the audience comprehend how the grounds relate to substantiating the claim. The warrant may occasionally be implicit (i.e., not overtly expressed), but it may also be overtly stated. Consider how obvious your warrant is and whether you need to say it explicitly for your audience because as a writer, you make assumptions regarding what they already believe.
Backing: Any further evidence in favour of the warrant can be accepted as backing. In many instances, the warrant is implicit, thus the backing supports the implied warrant by providing a concrete illustration that supports the implied warrant.
Qualifier: Qualifier functions in limiting the claim to certain situations and underlining that it does not apply to every situation every time. This way the author can gain