Posted: April 23rd, 2016

what needs to happen to solve a problem?

I am needing a tutorial on this assignment..Or a community action letter for english comp 2

Community Action Letter Detailed Assignment Sheet

For this first assignment, each student will write a formal letter identifying a current, solvable problem in his/her community. The letter must do the following:

• Address a single individual (city council representative, business owner, etc) whose authority is sufficient to enact the solution proposed;

• In the opening paragraph, describe the problem in sufficient detail to communicate the urgency of solving it;

• In the body of the letter, propose a viable solution to the problem. This proposal must explain to the audience both the WHY and the HOW of enacting the solution. Writers should not assume that their readers will understand and be able to figure things out for themselves. The letter should spell out what needs to happen to solve the problem.

• Explore alternatives, keeping in mind that the writer’s preferred solution is the one to focus on. If an alternative is unsatisfactory, the writer should explain why.

• Close with a reminder to the reader of the positive consequences of solving the problem, the negative consequences of ignoring it, and a call for action.

Identifying the audience

This assignment is a formal business letter; it must be addressed to a single, identifiable reader. Letters addressed “To Whom it May Concern” or “Dear City Council Member” reveal that the writer has not troubled him/herself to find out critical information relevant to his/her purpose. That in turn reveals that the writer is not particularly serious about accomplishing his/her stated purpose; the reader will likely behave accordingly. Each student will have to do some research to discover the appropriate audience.

Detailing the problem without dwelling on it

This assignment belongs to a category known as a “problem/solution essay.” An effective problem/solution essay focuses on the SOLUTION, not the problem. The problem might annoy the writer and everyone else in the world. It might even be fun to complain about the problem. But complaining does not SOLVE the problem. The writer’s purpose in this letter is to persuade the reader to solve the problem. Therefore, students should use the opening paragraph to show the problem using a combination of description, narrative, and cause/effect development.

Presenting a clear thesis

At the end of the opening paragraph or at the beginning of the first body paragraph, the writer should present his/her claim. This should be a simple, declarative sentence that states the writer’s desired outcome, such as “Oklahoma should require an IQ test before issuing someone a driver’s license.” The thesis acts as an anchor for the essay; the writer can always refer the reader to it to keep the argument on track.

Propose a viable solution to the problem

The word viable, in this case, means both “possible” and “probable.” For example, it is