× PREFACE
  CHAPTER 1
What is Academic English?
  CHAPTER 2
Academic Vocabulary
  CHAPTER 3
Useful Sentence Structures and Language for Academic Writing
  CHAPTER 4
Paraphrasing, Summarising and Quoting
  CHAPTER 5
Paragraph Structure
  CHAPTER 6
Common Academic Text Structures



Home > Chapter 6: Common Academic Text Structures

Chapter 6: Common Academic Text Structures

6d: Problem and Solution

"Problem and solution" is a text structure commonly used in persuasive texts in academic contexts. Writers are often asked to identify problems associated with a situation, convince people to care about the problem and suggest possible ways to solve or alleviate the problem. Below is an example of a "problem and solution" writing topic:

The Internet facilitates quick access to information and communication. However, it has also created many problems. Identify some problems associated with the Internet and suggest some solutions to the problems.

For a better understanding of the "problem and solution" structure, the following will be introduced in this section:

i) text organisation
ii) coherence

i) Text organisation

"Problem and solution" can be used as an overall organisational framework for a single text or used within a paragraph/paragraphs in a longer text as below:

Block Structure

Introduction
to introduce the topic and outline the situation
Main Body (Part 1)
to discuss the problems
(one paragraph for each problem if elaborated in detail)
Transitional paragraph/sentence
Main Body (Part 2):
to suggest solutions
(one paragraph for each solution if elaborated in detail)
Conclusion
to sum up key points and ideas


Point-by-point Structure

Introduction
to introduce the topic and outline the situation
Main Body (Part 1)
to discuss Problem 1 and solution(s) to Problem 1
Main Body (Part 2)
to discuss Problem 2 and solution(s) to Problem 2
Main Body
more parts for additional problems and solutions
Conclusion
to sum up key points and ideas



 Activity 8

Study the two texts and decide whether they are organised in block or point-by-point structure.

Text A adopts the ( block point-by-point) structure.
Text B adopts the ( block point-by-point) structure.