You will choose an issue of interest, and importance to you – the criteria for making your choice : Begin to analyze and think critically about a situation in a community you belong to that needs to be fixed or changed. There are distinct parts of this process, and discrete things we can list: 1. What is the issue (the problem) and how is it best summarized and explained/defined? What things, events, people, etc. are encompassed? This step involves an OBJECTIVE PRESENTATION of facts, and holds off, at this point, from making value judgments or evaluations
2. What is the context or background of the problem – how did it come about and what roles (if any) did the things, events, people identified above play in shaping or contributing to the problem? Judgments, evaluations, or opinions can be introduced at this step of the process – they should be confirmable and defensible with appeals to evidence of some sort.
3. Thoughts or ideas about how the problem might be solved or lessened. This step can incorporate any actions or plans that might be required to address the problem based on the judgments, evaluations or opinions presented in step 2.
GUIDELINES TO WRITE THIS ESSAY:
1. Identify an issue or situation in your community – something public, in your school, your town or a group you belong to (team, church, club) – that needs to be improved, or changed. Choose an issue of sufficient scope that you can complete all the steps below.
2. Try to understand the origins of, and some different perspectives about, the problem you have just identified. You may need to do some reflection or ask some simple questions (research) to get a better idea of the origins and various perspectives.
3. Now think about how you would begin to FIX the problem. What would you propose, or do yourself if you had time or resources?
The essay will address and include all of the following:
– A description of the problem or challenge that needs to be remedied;
– An analysis of some possible ways to address and begin to remedy or rectify the problem;
– A consideration of opposing solutions or opinions to the ones you offer;
– A comparison of these conflicting approaches and your defense of the choices for a solution;
– Presentation and explanation of the steps you plan to take personally to help solve/fix the problem you have identified.
Essay should be 2000 words long.
