Instructions for the Define the Problem Essay
WRD XXXXXXXXXX
Due Date and Logistics
This assignment is due by 05:59 pm on Tuesday, Fe
uary 9th.
It needs to be submitted as a .pdf (not as a doc/x file, not as a .pages file, not as a .zip file).
It should be submitted by going to our class’s D2L page--Submissions--Major Writing and
Research Assignments—Define the Problem Essay OR by going to our class’ D2L Page—
Content—Module Five—Define the Problem Essay.
If, for some reason, you cannot upload your .pdf to D2L, then email it to me at
XXXXXXXXXX.
Overview
It may be helpful to think of this essay as an “informative essay” or as a sibling to a “news
eport.” In this essay, you are presenting information to your reader. You are telling your reader
about a problem. Your goal is to report, inform, and/or explain. You are not making an explicit
argument here.
Optional Outline
I am presenting a suggested outline for this essay. You do not have to follow this outline exactly.
I am only presenting it for those of you who write better with outlines. See the Ru
ic and
Requirements for a detailed description of the requirements.
I. Introduction (1 Paragraph)
A. Interesting Hook
B. Brief Overview of Topic
C. Thesis Statement: The problem is X
II. Detailed Background Information On General Topic (1-3 paragraphs)
Examples of General Topic: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
A. Who founded your topic?
B. When and where and why was your topic founded?
C. How did your subject get to be where it is today?
D. What interesting things should your readers know about this subject?
III. Explain the Problem (1-5 paragraphs)
mailto: XXXXXXXXXX
A. Tell your readers about a specific problem that is cu
ently facing your
topic. (This is going to be a little bit of a repeat of your thesis
statement, but that is okay.)
B. Explain the different sides of the problem and who is involved.
C. Remember that this is you acting as a reporter. You are not giving yoru
opinion.
IV. Conclusion (1 paragraph)
A. Restate the problem (but use different wording so it isn’t literal
epetition)
B. Put the problem in a larger context. Why should your reader care about
this problem.
Ru
ic and Requirements
Organization--500 points
The paper should be at least 1000 words long. It can be longer than a 1,000 words.
Label this essay with a descriptive and interesting title (Describe the Essay is not an interesting
title!).
Each section should be at least one paragraph long. Sections can be more than one paragraph
long.
It is okay if your sections are a little “uneven.” It is natural that you might have way more to
eport on one section than you do on another section. However, each section needs at least a
short paragraph.
At the end of the introduction paragraph, you should have a clear thesis sentence. Since this is
not an argumentative essay, your thesis will not state your position on a certain issue. Rather,
your thesis will “just” be a declaration of the problem your essay is going to report on. An
argumentative essay might have a thesis statement that reads something along the lines of “Cats
do not make good pets because they are loud, messy, and mean.” However, this informative
essay’ thesis sentence should be something like, “Cats have been spreading disease” or “Many
people are upset that cat ownership has been outlawed.”
Body paragraphs (all the paragraphs other than the introductory paragraph and the conclusion
paragraph) should have clear topic sentences. A topic sentence is a feature of most
undergraduate academic writing in the United States. It is a simple “label” that serves to tell your
eader what the paragraph will be about. Since this is not an argumentative paper, your topic
sentence will not include an argument. Your topic sentence for this essay will not be “One reason
cats do not make good pets is because they are very loud.” Rather, your topic sentence will be
something more along the lines of “Many researchers claim cats are loud” or “Cat ownership has
a long history in the United States.”
Each paragraph should focus on one distinct idea.
Whenever possible, avoid repetition of information. It may be that some of your research will
fit in multiple sections. If you run into this situation, pick whichever section you think is
est. There are some instances where repetition will be unavoidable. For example, your thesis
statement and the first part of Section 3 will be a little repetitive. Another example of
unavoidable repetition will be the summarizing that happens in the concluding paragraph.
Style and Tone--500 points
Present your information in a way that a reader unfamiliar with your topic will be able to follow.
Present your information in a way that will make sense to a reader who hasn’t read this
assignment sheet.
Present your information in a way that will make sense to a reader who isn’t in our class.
This paper should mostly be written in the third person. Use of “I,” “my,” “we,” “our,” “you,”
“your,” etc. should take up no more than 10% of the paper. (The 10% is a guideline—I am not
going to literally count the sentences that are in first or second person and weigh them against
the rest of the essay…)
This paper should attempt to report on information in an unbiased manner (you will have plenty
of time to argue in the next paper). Do not explicitly give your opinion. Just give information in
mostly your own words. Consider the ways in which Ra
it Hole often presents information
without necessarily making an explicit argument.
The paper should be written for an audience of your undergraduate peers. The tone should be
professional and academic.
However, there is some room for fun. Just because we aren’t using LOLspeak doesn’t mean that
the writing has to be dry. The writing can be/should be engaging enough so that your audience
actually wants to read the words in front of them.
The entire paper should be engaging. However, the introduction and conclusion paragraph
should make a special effort to wow your audience. We will talk about some strategies for
introductions and conclusions during our fifth class meeting.
Push yourself to go beyond the bare minimum of plopping 1,000 words on the screen, and to
compose a final product that reads as a beautiful and cohesive essay. I readily acknowledge that
this isn’t the most concrete direction. Some concrete ways in which you can make your writing
engaging include (but aren’t limited to): Varying word choice and sentence structure, using
descriptive language, jokes (tread carefully here…), and avoiding clichéd language.
Integration of Research – 500 points
This paper should quote or paraphrase from at least six sources. At least three of these
sources should be peer-reviewed articles from academic journals. There is no requirement
for the other three sources (they can be anything from social media posts to additional peer-
eviewed articles).
You can use the sources you used for the Annotated Bibliography or you can use new sources.
It’s up to you. You will be meeting one-on-one with our embedded li
arian before this essay is
due. Let him help you find additional sources if you need them. Don’t feel beholden to the
Annotated Bibliographies’ sources.
This paper must include direct quotes from at least two sources.
This paper must include paraphrases from at least four sources.
You can use the same source for both a direct quote and a paraphrase (but you definitely don’t
have to).
You can use the same source for multiple paraphrases. This might especially happen if you are
paraphrasing an encyclopedia article to give basic background information.
Although you are reporting on the words and ideas of others, 90% of this paper should be in
your own words. This means that paraphrasing will be key.
All of your quotes and paraphrases need APA in-text citations. All of your quotes and
paraphrases need to have a co
esponding entry listed in the References page at the end of
the paper.
Things That Are Not Needed For This Particular Assignment
This specific assignment does not need the following things: a cover page, an abstract, a header,
page numbers, specific margins, or a specific kind of font or font size. Although it does require
APA in-text citations and a References page, it does not require any of the other APA formatting.
A note on the References page: You should not include the annotations from your Annotated
Bibliography assignment in this essay. Although you will have a References page, you are not
including the writing/analysis of each source. Here is an example of what a References page
looks like: http:
guides.lib.unc.edu/citing-information/apa-sample (there are other examples
posted in the Resources module on D2L). Notice how the References page is “just” the
information on the source and does not include any writing/commentary.
http:
guides.lib.unc.edu/citing-information/apa-sample
Help
This assignment is not a test. You are allowed to ask for help or for clarification! Remember that
I am reachable via email Monday-Friday and my email address is XXXXXXXXXX. You
can also make a one-on-one appointment to work with me over Zoom. If you would like to meet
one-on-one, please use this link to set up an appointment: http:
calendly.com/daniela-s-
olszewska/wrd XXXXXXXXXXI have expanded availability this week for meetings.