Unit 2 – Essay Prompt for the Problem-Solution Essay

Unit 2 – Essay Prompt for the Problem-Solution Essay

Image from Google. Words are German for family, life, job, and balance. (Accessed 10/6/2020)

Prompt: How do experts in your field achieve work-life balance? A perennial problem in any profession is that of work-life balance: Finding enough time to do well at work and flourish in our personal lives outside of work. There is likely no definitive once-and-for-all or one-size-fits-all solution to achieving work-life balance, but this does not mean that all solutions should be accepted. Your task is to compose a 3-4 page essay with references, explaining how people typically achieve work-life balance and what you believe will work best for work-life balance for yourself and other professionals in your line of work. Since professions vary in terms of tasks, type of work, and psychological strain, it is likely that professionals in one profession may seek solutions that are different from those in other professions–at least to some degree. There are required, and optional readings for this assignment. [Please note that the list of sources on the final page of your essay does not count to the total page count].

Required Structure:

The following is a basic outline for the essay. The problem solution essay should be structured in the following order of topics…

1. SITUATION – To set up the essay, you will paraphrase in your own words some of the prompt for this essay: Establish for your readers that work-life balance is indeed an important issue, and forecast with a thesis statement how your essay will address this subject. [Use the articles provided to help establish your argument/expertise on work-life balance, but only through proper academic paraphrase or quotations. These sources may be used throughout the essay, as appropriate to your thesis]. (This section may be 1-2 paragraphs)

2. PROBLEM – In the body of the essay, present the problem of how people (especially people in your specific field of work) deal with the problem of finding balance in life and work.

3. SOLUTION – Next, also in the body, explore the solutions that exist for people (specifically people in your field) to achieve balance, and/or how you yourself plan to deal with it in your profession. (The “problem” and “solution” sections comprise the essay’s body, and should thus constitute the bulk of the essay in terms of its length: At least 3 paragraphs, but possibly more)

4. EVALUATION – As part of your conclusion paragraph/section, please provide a brief review of the thesis and main ideas of your essay and end with a final observation about the best way for professionals in your field to seek work-life balance.

Please include a creative title in your piece. “Work Life Balance” And “Work Life Balance for [Name of Field]” are not creative in my opinion. Below are examples of creative titles (for other topics, not this essay topic):

· William Hooper Councill: A Man for All Seasons

· “Wait a Minute!”: An Essay Whose Time has Come

The two-part title structure–colon in the middle–isn’t required, but tends to work well. It’s common in academic essays.

Please include a works cited or references page (depending on the citation style used: MLA or APA). Use the style most commonly required in your major, which for most is APA.

Purpose: The main purpose of this assignment is to create an interesting, authentic, well-organized, and well-written problem-solution essay on the assigned topic and dealing explicitly with your major’s field of work.

Audience: Consider your audience a general reading public: People who enjoy reading as a practice and are eager to think about complex topics; who think critically. Also consider your audience to be composed of people with varying levels of interest in the subject of your essay: Try to engage a wide variety of readers.

Length: 3 to 4 pages (double-spaced, size 12 font, MLA or APA style). Write at least 3 full pages of text, with the list of references not counting toward the 3 pages requirement.

Grading: The piece will be graded on the overall writing quality, including higher-order concerns (clarity, organization, originality, accuracy of ideas, reflection of the readings, etc) and lower-order concerns (diction, style, grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, delivery). The most effective essays will have a clear purpose and thesis, and originality of thought – which, again, are what I call “higher-order concerns” in writing. The requirement to explicitly address the prompt, and use the required readings, will also be considered in the overall grade.