TEXT ASSISTED PROBLEM SOLUTION ESSAY: TALKING RUBBISH

 “TALKING RUBBISH”; YOU WILL NEED TO ACCESS THE TEXT OFF THE ECONOMIST WEBSITE (economist.com).

DISCUSS THE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF RUBBISH

 TEACHER’ NOTES

An article was published in the economist recently to highlight the ever growing problem of waste. The article stresses the gravity of the problem, lists the problems accumulating rubbish can cause and also suggests solutions. It is suggested that you follow the procedure explained below to enable the students to be better informed about the problem before they write an essay.

1.       Read paragraph one with the students and put notes on the board as you go like you do when preparing to summarize.

2.        At this point, stop for a discussion; they will not be aware of the magnitude of the problem.

3.        Do the same with paragraphs two and three( read, make notes and discuss)

4.        At this point, stop again and ask them what the function of these three paragraphs is (they form the introduction) and what title they would give this section if they had to assign a subtitle (the amount of rubbish produced). Also ask them if the content is appropriate considering the overall purpose of the essay (it is; the writer has proven that waste is a serious problem that needs to be solved).

5.       Now ask the students to read the rest of the text and make notes under the following headings: the problems waste can cause, how waste creates an opportunity and the government’s role.

6.        Before you continue, ask them where they would place these subtitles in the text (the first goes at the beginning of paragraph four, the second goes at the beginning of paragraph seven and the last one goes at the beginning of paragraph eleven. They have now got an outline of the text.

7.       An alternative to the procedure above is to tell the students to read from paragraph four to the end of paragraph six and make notes, stop to check and discuss and then proceed in the same way. Which procedure is more suitable depends on your class and you are the best judge of that.

8.       When the outline of the text has been developed, ask the students to write a problem solution essay on the issue: “how can the ever growing mountains of waste be dealt with?”

9.        Before they start, ask them to develop a plan which fits in with the guidelines for such essays and make sure you check it with them. Then ask them to write their essay. Tell them they can use their notes, the information in the text and can borrow to a certain extent but must not copy paste.  

Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/