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Teens at the Mall

Defining a Problem

All problem-solution essays must begin by defining the


problem. Teens are hanging around at the local mall, making
Defining questions: noise and harassing customers. Officials at the mall
1. What makes this a problem?
2. Who is affected by this problem? have added extra security guards, but the problem
3. Where is this problem happening? seems to be getting worse. They are having a town
4. When is this problem happening?
5. Why is this problem happening? (Causes of the problem) meeting to discuss the problem. You and your
General topics are not problems!
friends like to go to the mall to shop and hang out,
Example: Gun control is NOT a problem. Children getting killed because but you are also concerned with the young people
there are guns left unsupervised in homes—now THAT is a problem!
that are just there to cause trouble. Write a speech
Read the following scene and define the problem below in a good
paragraph. Remember to include all the guide questions in your problem Use the guide questions below to write a good paragraph
paragraph. defining the problem in the following prompt.
Defining questions:
John always goes to his grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving. His 1. What makes this a problem?
whole family gathers, and he really enjoys it. It means a lot to his Detail1:______________________________________________
grandmother, too. This year his girlfriend, Ann, has invited him to __________________
spend Thanksgiving with her family. John really likes Ann, and he Detail
knows she wants him to meet all her relatives. 2:____________________________________________________
____________
What is John’s problem? 2. Who is affected by this problem?
____________________________________________________________ Detail1:______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ __________________
____________________________________________________________ Detail2:______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ __________________
____________________________________________________________ 3. Where is this problem happening?
____________________________________________________________ Detail1:______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ _________________
____________________________________________________________ Detail 2:
____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
________
____________________________________________________________
4. When is this problem happening?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ Detail 1:
____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
_________
Defining a Problem
Detail 2:
______________________________________________________
_________
5. Why is this problem happening? (Causes of the
problem)
Detail1:______________________________________________
__________________
Detail 2:
______________________________________________________
_________
Now write the paragraph.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
________________________________________________________________________
__________________________

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