What are some problem and solution topics?

100 Problem Solution Essay Topics with Sample Essays

Virginia has been a university English instructor for over 20 years. She specializes in helping people write essays faster and easier.

What are some problem and solution topics?

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Struggling to find a great topic? Scan the lists below to find questions my students have generated to find something you want to write about. Topics are divided into:

1. Social Issues

2. Relationships

3. Sports

4. College Life

5. Education

6. Family Life

7. Driving and Transportation

Remember you can adapt these general ideas to fit your own school, town, or situation.

Problem-Solution Essay Topics—Social Problems

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If you look around, you’ll see social problems that affect society every day. There are plenty of problems, even on your own campus, that need to be resolved.

Proposing solutions to social problems might seem challenging, especially when the issues seem so entrenched. Yet the point of a good problem-solution essay is to suggest solutions that are actionable–something that your readers can do.

A good problem-solution essay includes actionable solutions—something that your readers can do.

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Addressing specific problems will lead to specific, well-articulated solutions and to the most interesting and compelling essays. Here are five problem-solution essay topics that touch on social problems.

1. Problem: Undocumented immigrants

What are some problem and solution topics?
What are some problem and solution topics?

  • Solution #1: Should the US government step up its deportation of undocumented immigrants, or should it offer asylum for those currently living in the country?
  • Solution #2: How should the government address trade policies that affect the economies of South American countries and lead to immigration?
  • Solution #3: Will ending the war on drugs provide some relief to the rise of undocumented immigrants arriving in the United States? Should there be more coordination between the US and Central American countries in how they deal with drug policies, and if so, in what ways?

2. Problem: Sexual assaults on college campuses

  • Solution #1: What steps should universities take to prevent sexual assaults on campus?
  • Solution #2: Should colleges provide safe places for victims to report rapes, and if so, how? What responsibilities should the administration have in protecting victim’s identities once they’ve reported the crime?
  • Solution #3: In what ways should students be educated about rape culture, and what responsibility should colleges have in providing that education?
  • Solution #4: Should student social services address rape culture? Should fraternities and sororities be more involved in educating students on rape culture? If yes, in what ways?

3. Problem:Mass shootings

  • Solution #1: What role should mental health providers play in determining prevention? What policies or programs should be enacted that will provide greater care for people suffering from mental health issues?
  • Solution #2: Should violence in the entertainment and gaming industry be addressed for a possible influence? How about the news media?
  • Solution #3: What kind of gun control laws should be enacted? What role should gun manufacturers have? Should technology be used to decrease mass shootings? If so, in what ways can it be used?

4. Problem: Police brutality

  • Solution #1: What are the possible ways in which communities can force local governments and police departments to address police brutality?
  • Solution #2: What role should voting play? Should communities have a say in who heads the police department? What other ways should communities be able to review how local law enforcement polices communities?
  • Solution #3: In what ways should the police department address cultural attitudes among officers about the people they police?
  • Solution #4: What role does militarization in police departments play in police brutality? Should the federal government supply local police departments with military weaponry? If not, should there be a law against it? How should such a law be shaped?

Looking for a few articles about police brutality to get the research process rolling? Read 12 Articles to Support Your Police Brutality Essay.

5. Problem: Suicide

  • Solution #1: What obstacles prevent people from getting help? Are there ways in which those obstacles can be addressed? What about social pressure, such as shaming? Should the public be educated about suicide? How might such programs be put into place?
  • Solution #2: What roles should schools, colleges, police, social welfare, or other institutions play in recognizing those who are at risk, and how would they go about doing that?
  • Solution #3: Should there be more therapy programs that are accessible for people? What about mental health programs for people who can’t afford them? In what ways should they be made available?

Example problem-solution essays on social issues

  • Why Ignoring Race in Education Is a Big Mistake
  • Unfit and Uneducated Parents Raising Children
  • Conflict Theory and Activity of the Aged

Problem Solution Essay Topics For College Students

Below is the problem solution essay topics for college students:

  • How to reduce sexual assaults on college campuses?
  • How can online classes become more effective?
  • Colleges and universities should not allow permitted guns on campus
  • What are the best methods to prevent procrastination?
  • How can students start earning while in college?
  • How to improve online class attendance?
  • How an education at Monroe college will benefit you in the future?
  • How can mental health be improved among students?
  • What are some best ways to overcome homesickness?
  • How can students reduce their stress levels?
  • Can colleges become safer? If yes, how?
  • How can managing finances become easier for students?
  • Students in college should not be given child support
  • What is the role of government in supporting college education?
  • How can social media influence one’s academic results?

Good Problem Solution Essay Topics

Here are a few shortlisted problem solution essay topic ideas you can take inspiration from:

  • How to limit the effects of video games on a child’s lifestyle?
  • Should parents be held responsible for their child’s unhealthy lifestyle? What can be done to prevent this problem?
  • How can families help in promoting a positive body image among kids?
  • How the syndrome of multitasking is affecting relationships?
  • How can the spread of the Corona Virus be controlled?
  • What measured to take to eliminate the texting while driving problem?
  • How to encourage people to shift towards public transport?
  • List down some of the worst traffic violations? What are some effective prevention remedies?
  • How to help a depressed patient?
  • How can you start blogging in 2021?
  • How can you multitask without compromising the quality of your performance?
  • Is shifting career paths in middle age possible? What can be done?
  • What can you do to remove the misconceptions regarding the feminist movement?

What are some problem and solution topics?
Problem and Solution Essay Writing Tip #1

60 Innovative Problem-Solution Essay Topics

The key to getting a great grade is finding a problem-solution essay topic about which you feel passionate. These innovative ideas are designed to spark your interest and make you want to research and write an amazing essay. These essay prompts present a problem and urge you to find the best solution. That solution and the problem statement become the thesis of your essay.

What are some problem and solution topics?
Teenager typing essay on laptop computer

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A List of 179 Problem Solution Essay Topics & Questions

A problem solution essay is a type of persuasive essay. It’s a piece of writing that presents a particular problem and provides different options for solving it. It is commonly used for subject exams or IELTS writing tasks.

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In this article, we’ll take a look at how to write this type of essay. We will also provide a variety of good topics for problem solution essays to ease your writing process. But first: check out our custom writing service in case you need academic assistance!

Comprehensive List of Typical Problem-Solution Essay Topics

In this segment, we will look at 10 different themes and provide samples for each theme. Following the example will help you understand what to write and how to arrange your words to create good problem solutions topics. Also, keep in mind that these are problem solution speech topics college students can use for their various purposes.

Here are 50 problem solution essay ideas suitable for any US university be it Stanford or Yale. Unlike some philosophy essay topics, each of these 50 offers a suitable solution to some most burning social issues.You are encouraged to get inspired by these examples and create your own topics, but it’s okay to pick any of these and modify them to your preference.

Education Essay Topics

  • Sexual Abuse of Students in the US

Solutions

  1. Stricter measures should be enforced for offenders.
  2. Students should get a constant orientation on how to say ‘No.’
  3. Intensified screening for newly-employed teachers in the sector.
  • Problem of Violence in Schools

Solutions

  1. Better enforcement of security.
  2. Teaching self-defense.
  3. Ban on gun possession in American schools.
  • Poor Grades Problem

Interventions

  1. A more individualized approach to working with every student.
  2. Creating time and space for additional explanations.
  3. Reviewing results per session and finding new ways to get students into understanding the subject.
  • Bullying Issue

Ways Out

  1. Topic on educating learners about dangers of bullying.
  2. Working with parents to keep children in the best behavior.
  3. Discouraging any form of bullying, no matter how insignificant.
  • Poor Teaching Quality Problem

Interventions

  1. Additional training for teachers before they commence teaching.
  2. Regular assessment to be completed by all teachers.
  3. Educating teachers on knowing their teaching strengths.
  • Poor Attendance of Classes Problem

Solutions

  1. Encouraging teachers to initiate home visits to affected students.
  2. Stimulating parents to take an active part in their children’s studies. They should also be accommodating to teachers who need to make home visits.
  3. Creating attractive incentives that will motivate students to attend classes regularly.

Family and Relations Essay Topics

  • Domestic Violence Issue

Interventions

  1. Topic on educating women on self-defense.
  2. Educating men on the dangers of domestic violence especially for kids.
  3. Working hand-in-hand with various counseling organizations across the US.
  • Problem of Poor Socioeconomic Situation

Ways Out

  1. Empowering families to become independent income owners.
  2. Creating relief programs would help.
  3. Discussing all available relief program options for these sets of people.
  • Lack of Time for Children

Interventions

  1. Choosing fewer problematic jobs that allow one more availability at home.
  2. Going to the games with your kids; cheering and supporting their efforts.
  3. Putting away all one is doing at a particular time to answer any doubts the kids might have.
  • Problem of Favoritism

Solutions

  1. Serious topic on parents treating their kids equally.
  2. Never making a show of doting on one more than others.
  3. Give each ward the same reward for jobs well done.
  • Lack of Respect in Family

Interventions

  1. Do not argue as guardians in front of younger children.
  2. Be mindful of your language even when you are angry with your partner.
  3. Show respect for young and old family members alike.

High School Problem Solution Essay Topics

High school topics don’t have to be overly complicated—but they should demonstrate a serious level of thought and consideration on your part. Think about issues that a high school student might find interesting or meaningful and try to consider real world ways in which these issues can be effectively addressed. Here a few to get you going

Why It’s a Problem: Schools should be safe—not places parents send their children not knowing if they’ll get them back at the end of the day.

Solution #1: All students should be psychologically profiled before being admitted. Those who are flagged must receive counseling.

Solution #2: Schools should have automatic lockdown security systems in place. This will make them safer in case a shooting does break out.

Solution #3: The proliferation of SSRIs—selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors—mood enhancers commonly taken by school shooters—must be stopped. This will help to mitigate the risk of students going postal.

What are some problem and solution topics?

2. Problem: Low Graduation Rates in Urban Areas

Why It’s a Problem: Education is the backbone of society. If too few people are graduating from the schools in America’s cities, decay is sure to set in.

Solution #1: Make cities and urban areas more respectable. Clean up the streets and get rid of the crime. Don’t give kids excuses to drop out early because opportunities seem more realistic out in the streets.

Solution #2: Give schools greater access to technology so that students are learning relevant 21st century skills. In other words, give them a reason to want to stay in school.

Solution #3: Make graduating a bigger deal, culturally speaking. The more emphasis communities put on it, the more kids will pursue it.

3. Problem: Truancy or Poor Student Attendance at Public School

Why It’s a Problem: Poor showings at school indicate a lack of interest and incentive on the part of students to receive the education offered them. Such disconnect between young people and the older generation that expects them to be the torch bearers of tomorrow signals nothing good for the coming era.

Solution #1: Incentivize students to come to school. Give them opportunities to co-op so long as they are working towards graduating—and make full-time job offers conditional upon graduating.

Solution #2: Get parents involved. Education starts in the home. Parents and teachers should work together.

Solution #3: Teachers should make more home visits. The more visible they are, the more likely school is to be a part of the student’s world.

4. Problem: Low Civic Engagement

Why It’s a Problem: In order for a democratic society to function effectively, its citizens have to take an active role in addressing the issues that normally and naturally arise in every community. If they don’t, problems don’t get solved.

Solution #1: Promote civic mindedness in schools, workplaces and churches.

Solution #2: Incentivize civic engagement. Give tax breaks to individuals who routinely go to council meetings.

Solution #3: De-centralize the government and give more power to the people at the local level.

5. Problem: Cultural Fragmentation

Why It’s a Problem: Culture is what binds people together. If the culture of society is fragmented, communities cannot grow together. Instead, they will break apart—and that is being seen today.

Solution #1: Respect other cultures but stop promoting multiculturalism. It does not assist in the process of cultural cohesion.

Solution #2: Identify one culture that everyone can agree is the best and shape society according to its ideals and values.

Solution #3: Limit the extent to which ideas and values contrary to the chosen culture may be permitted in the media.

6. Problem: The NBA is Too Soft

Why It’s a Problem: Before Malice in the Palace, NBA players used to be a lot more physical. It made the game both more entertaining and more surprising. Nowadays, refs are ready to “t” up a player if he looks at another cross-eyed.

Solution #1: Bring back the old school rules. Let players hand-check. Let them jaw at one another and get confrontational.

Solution #2: Get rid of the 3-point line. Today, everyone is jacking up 3’s trying to be Steph Curry. As a result, the game is just not very physical and not very exciting.

Solution #3: Get rid of at least 1 ref. Minimize their influence on the game. Let the players play.

What are some problem and solution topics?

7. Problem: Fake News is Everywhere

Why It’s a Problem: There’s reality—and then there’s fake news. With fake news trying to pass itself off as reality, tension is created in society between those who know reality and those who believe in fake news.

Solution #1: Take away the credentials of the biggest purveyors of fake news.

Solution #2: Restrict who has the right to publish.

Solution #3: Fake news is an outlet for the deep state. Root out the deep state and fake news will go with it.

Economics

1. Youth unemployment – practical training courses
2. Bad credit – personal finance management education
3. Rising inflation – monetary policy
4. Impoverished regions – government financing for small businesses

Law

5. Mass shootings – stricter gun control
6. Police brutality – advanced monitoring technology
7. Driving under influence – stricter checks and sanctions

Government and Politics

8. Businesses influencing political decisions through donations – state financing for political parties
9. Illegal immigration – all illegal immigrants to be returned to their home countries directly
10. Fairer political representation – proportional representation voting system
11. Terrorism – programs for minority integration