Requirements for Essay 4
Essay 4
It could be a letter to the editor of a particular paper or an extended blog entry or a speech, or an article in a paper
Essay 4 = add 5-6 pages including academic and nonacademic research. Six new sources
Six-Step Problem-Solving Technique (AKA Six Sigma)
· MLA format cover page
· 5-7+ pages of writing. The essay must be 5-7 full pages (not 4-1/2 or even 4-3/4).
· At least 6 sources (at least three must be academic sources from the COC- College of the Canyons Library) in proper MLA in-text and end-of-text format.
· Primary research: At least one interview, poll, survey, case study, etc. that can bring the expertise of a community partner to help support your thesis.
· A minimum of 3-5 original charts (they do NOT count toward the page length requirement)
· A list of illustrations page in proper MLA format (these illustrations will be your original charts plus any academic ones that can help you to illustrate the problem you and your team are attempting to solve).
· A list of works cited
· CHARTS FOR THIS SECTION Present State -à Desired State Duncker Diagram Priority Analysis Pareto Diagram
· Historical Timeline
MORE BRIEFLY
Section One : Introduction
Hook: Start with the attention-grabbing story: Capture your listeners’ attention right away with a detailed story, an anecdote about the problem. You will explain that if this happened, there must be a problem that should be solved. Make sure that we can clearly understand that this local problem is important, and we must do something about it right away. Remember, few readers will care about a topic unless you make them care. Briefly identify effects and indirect effects that you will develop in the second section. End with your thesis statement. Be clear and concise about your solution and why it will succeed.
SECTION TWO: PROBLEM ANALYSIS
Problem Analysis: This section details the history, causes, and effects of the problem. Offer background information: Historical or background information will put your topic into a broader context. You will detail how and when the problem began and continued to be a problem. Help us to understand the causes and effects of the problem. You will identify, explain, and support with research the causes and effects of the problem. You should also use this section to help us to understand any definitions we might need to know. Be sure to read the supplemental textbook to understand how to write this section and create original charts. I strongly encourage you to include at least one historical timeline chart to help us to understand why we now have a problem. How did we go from the status quo to now having to deal with the problem? Charts that work in this section include: The Duncker Diagram, a Priority Analysis, Trouble Shooting Analysis, and the Fishbone Diagram. Please note that you are not required to use all of these charts, but I do strongly urge you to include one or two to help make your points visible.
SECTION THREE: ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
This section of the essay is where you help us by examining various alternative solutions to the problem. You will want to consider the pros and cons of each possible solution and then decide upon which solution is the best one. Remember that you will have to base your solution upon the fact that you have limited time and monetary resources. It may not be the very best solution in the whole world, but it is the best solution given your restrictions. Charts that work well here are the SWOT Analysis chart, Random Stimulation, Futuring, Osborne’s Checklist, and Other People’s POV. It is often useful to use your research and your interviews to help guide you as to which solutions you want to discuss. I recommend that you explore at least three options. Remember—you are discussing the pros and cons of the alternative solutions. This section is where you also discuss the criteria that you will use to evaluate whether your solution is successful.
SECTION FOUR: BEST SOLUTION
This section of the essay is where you discuss your solution. You will want to name your solution and why it will be successful: Your solution should have a catchy name and include two to three reasons why it will be successful.
Be sure that you identify and describe your plan to solve the problem that you previously discussed. You will also explain why your solution will work better than other ones, and what distinguishes it from others. Also, you must prove the ideas stated in your thesis statement, which is the statement of what your plan is and why it is the best solution.
Distinguish your solution: Your solution should be unique, so here’s your opportunity to explain what sets it apart from other, equally good solutions. What is missing from other solutions, and what makes your solution the better option? Some solutions may be untested just as yours is, and you will argue why these other untested solutions won’t work as well as yours will. Essentially you must argue that your solution is the best solution compared to what is currently being done about the problem, as well as what others have suggested for solving it. The only conclusion that the reader will have is that your solution is the only one that anyone should consider, as all other possibilities have been eliminated as viable. Please note that you are advancing your unique solution to the problem. This solution may be partly based on what someone else has proposed but if so, you must document and cite that solution. Do not feel compelled to propose certain solutions just because research exists for them. Very often the problem still exists because the solution being enacted to solve the problem is simply not working and nobody is willing to admit it.
Charts that work well here are Wants Needs Charts, Flow Charts, and Gantt Charts.
You may add additional pages for the appendix if needed, such as transcripts of interviews, surveys, polls, etc.
SECTION FIVE: IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUR SOLUTION
For this section, you will not only detail how the solution will bring about benefits, but you will also take action on the solution yourself! This section is where you actually do something to solve the problem. Be sure to explain why the investment of time and money is worthwhile, and detail the materials or resources needed to start. In this section of your draft, you will expand on these ideas, specifically organizing your paper according to the aspects detailed below.
Offer a costs/benefits analysis: In this part, you will prove to the reader that your plan is worthwhile in terms of time, energy, money, or a combination of these three. A chart or graph will show clearly that these benefits outweigh any costs. To determine the benefits of the solution, look back at your thesis statement at the end of the introduction because your benefits should prove what you outlined earlier in your thesis. If you are using a solution that is partly based on one from research, you will include the numbers from this source and cite it. If you are using your solution not based on anything you have found in research, you will have a reasonable estimation of the numbers without the need for a citation.
Identify necessary materials or resources: Include the materials and/or resources that are needed to make your solution a successful reality. Look back at the previous section, Section III, for your major steps in operationalizing your solution. Determine what is needed if these steps are to be followed. You don’t know yet what will be needed in the long term; at least in the short term or to get started, identify the materials and resources needed.
You must also list all major steps in operationalizing your solution: Identify the major steps that must be taken so that your solution can be implemented. The major steps may also include minor steps, so be sure to include those as well. This part is the nuts and bolts of your plan: What person or entity would be in charge of implementing the solution, what is their expertise, where are they to be located, when exactly will they begin, and so on?
Summarize the deliverables: This section ends with your explanation of what deliverables can be expected when the solution is implemented.
Contingency Plan: Be sure to give us a detailed contingency plan. What if your original plan to implement the solution isn’t possible? Help us to know that you have thought about what you would do if you can’t implement your solution for some reason. Again, review the supplemental textbook for help.
SECTION SIX: EVALUATE YOUR SOLUTION
In this section of the essay, you evaluate your success or failure in terms of what you did to implement the solution. Remember, you must actually take action upon the solution you suggest is the best one. What criteria will you use to determine if you were successful? My general rule of thumb is that you must affect at least one human being. What did you do when you implemented your solution to solve the problem and make the situation better? The solution doesn’t have to be grandiose, but you have to do something that helps.
SECTION SEVEN: CONCLUSION
The final section of the project is the conclusion. This is not the area in which you simply repeat earlier information. End with memorable ideas and details, including a call to action; use persuasive ideas that sell the solution to the reader. CALL TO ACTION – what should we do about this problem? Make us want to implement your solution!
One technique is to end with contact information and the next steps; include contact information, which would be your e-mail address (a fake one is fine) and how the audience should contact you. Also indicate what the next steps would be for the audience.
INCLUDE A VISUAL SOMEWHERE IN THE ESSAY. NOTE: THIS VISUAL CAN APPEAR ANYWHERE IN THE FIRST SECTION OF THE PAPER. Be sure to include a visual, with a title, caption, and source information. Place the visual closest to where you will explain it further or connect it to an idea.
APPENDIX A: WORKS CITED
Put your sources cited in-text above here in alphabetical order, starting with the first line flush left and hanging indent of the second and each subsequent line. Each in-text citation should have a corresponding reference entry here. Look up the correct format, because sources have different formats depending on their type and location.
Put your sources cited in-text above here in alphabetical order, starting with the first line flush left and hanging indent of the second and each subsequent line. Each in-text citation should have a corresponding reference entry here. Look up the correct format, because sources have different formats depending on their type and location.
Put your sources cited in-text above here in alphabetical order, starting with the first line flush left and hanging indent of the second and each subsequent line. Each in-text citation should have a corresponding reference entry here. Look up the correct format, because sources have different formats depending on their type and location.
