Writing problems solutions

1. Why do students
drop out of school?
How can this problem be solved?
Enda Tuomey
www.writefix.com

2. Step by step
• Plan
• Vocabulary
• Ideas
• Organize ideas
• Layout
• Introduction and Conclusion

3. Plan
Don’t start writing immediately. Instead:
• Make a plan on paper
• Spend 5 minutes planning
– Vocab
– Ideas
– Organize ideas
– Layout
– Intro and Conclusion

4. Vocabulary
• Think of synonyms (words which mean the
same)
• Think of related words and phrases
• Change
– nouns to verbs
– verbs to nouns
– adjectives to nouns, etc

5. Students drop out of school…
• Synonyms
– drop out = leave early, fail to complete, not
complete, do not finish
– school = education, schooling
• Verbs to Nouns:
– drop out = early leavers
– solve = solution
– school = education

6. Brainstorm ideas
don’t organize ideas - just write them down
• Doesn’t like school • Problems from father
• Doesn’t have money • Culture or society
• Lazy, wants to play • Peer pressure
• Has to get married • Already has job
• Has failed some subjects • School is boring
• Thinks school is boring • Has to work
• Has learning problems • Does not see benefit

7. Group related ideas - Family
• Doesn’t like school • Problems from father
• Doesn’t have money • Culture or society
• Lazy, wants to play • Peer pressure
• Has to get married • Already has job
• Has failed some subjects• School is boring
• Thinks school is boring • Has to work
• Has learning problems • Does not see benefit

8. Group related ideas - Social
• Doesn’t like school • Problems from father
• Doesn’t have money • Culture or society
• Lazy, wants to play • Peer pressure
• Has to get married • Already has job
• Has failed some subjects• School is boring
• Thinks school is boring • Has to work
• Has learning problems • Does not see benefit

9. Group related ideas – Academic
• Doesn’t like school • Problems from father
• Doesn’t have money • Culture or society
• Lazy, wants to play • Peer pressure
• Has to get married • Already has job
• Has failed some subjects• School is boring
• Thinks school is boring • Has to work
• Has learning problems • Does not see benefit

10. Aim for Three Groups!
• Social
– Lazy, wants to play • Academic
– Peer pressure – School is boring
– No support from family – Has failed some subjects
– Has learning problems
• Family
– Has to work
– Wants a car
– Has to get married
– Family not interested in
education

11. Write topic sentences for each group
• Many students drop out of school for family
reasons.
• Social pressures are another cause.
• Academic problems can be another factor.

12. Family reasons: Outline
• Many students drop out of school for family
reasons.
– get married
– no benefit from education
– family businesses

13. Develop ideas - Family
• Many students drop out of school for family
reasons. Some parents want their children to
get married early. Other parents do not see
the value or benefit of education. Some
families want their children to work in family
businesses, and think that the children do not
need a qualification.

14. Social pressure: Outline
Social pressures are another cause
– No support from family – family not interested in
education
– Lazy, wants to play – student prefers to relax or have
fun
– Peer pressure - student’s friends also not going to
college

15. Develop ideas – Social
• Social pressures are another cause. Some families
have no interest in education. They don’t see it as
important for their children. A second point is that
some students just prefer to relax and have fun,
rather than work. They don’t realize how to study or
understand why it can help them. Finally, peer
pressure is also a factor. If your friends drop out of
college, you may be tempted to do the same.

16. Academic problems: Outline
• Academic problems can be another factor
– failed some subjects
– has learning problems
– does not see benefit
– school is not interesting

17. Develop ideas- Academic
• Academic problems can be another factor.
Some students have learning difficulties.
Reading or writing can be huge problems for
them. Other students simply find school
boring. They prefer to do something
interesting or active. In addition, if students
have failed some subjects they may lose
motivation.

18. Layout
• Follow the same steps for solutions.
• Here are two layouts:
Intro Intro
Problems Problem 1: Solution
Solutions Problem 2: Solution
Conclusion Problem 3: Solution
Conclusion

19. Why do students
drop out of school?
How can this problem be solved?
Enda Tuomey
www.writefix.com