Common Mistakes

Problem Solution Sample Essay

Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st Century and sea levels are continuing to rise at alarming rates. 

What problems are associated with this and what are some possible solutions. 

If we look at this question we can see that the keywords are ‘global warming‘. This is our general topic. We are going to write about this, but we cannot write about any problems associated with global warming. If we do this, we have not answered the question properly. We, therefore, need to look at the micro-keywords.

The micro-keywords are ‘humans‘ and ‘sea level rise‘. So instead of writing just about the huge topic of global warming and any problems associated with that (such as increased storms, extinction of certain animals, erosion of soil), we have to talk about how particularly sea level rises will affect humans. If for example, we talked about the problems affecting the ‘planet’ or ‘animals’ or the ‘atmosphere’, we would not be answering the question.

The action words are problems and solutions. Our task is, therefore, to write about that and only that. It does not ask our opinion or about the disadvantages and advantages or about the causes, just the problems and solutions. If we talked about the causes of sea level rise, then we would not be answering the question.