4.3 Purpose, Position Statement & Problem Statement

Task 1: Purpose Awareness
Check the answers for the comprehension check question sheet for Heineken Case and answer the guiding questions below:

Purpose Awareness
  • Can you identify the purpose(s) of this assignment as one of the following based on what we learned about case-based essays last week?
  1. Problem essay - defines and diagnoses a problem with proof of causes and suggested improvements
  2. Decision essay - recommends a decision with description/critique of several decision options
  3. Evaluation essay - provides a bottom-line evaluation of a case with description of evaluation criteria
  • Was this purpose achieved successfully with all necessary elements of the writing? Why or why not? 
If you want to write up a detailed answer to these questions in a paragraph, upload it in your Dropbox folder Unit 4 entitled as "your first name_purpose awareness" (homework option 1)

Task 2: Position Statement & Problem Statement
Read Powerpoint slides to understand the concept of position statement and problem statement

Note 1: In a case-based essay, the thesis statement is called "position statement" - a statement where a writer states a position and expresses an intention about the organization of the essay (Ellet, 2007, p.10). While a thesis statement of an essay is typically one or two sentences, a position statement in a case-based essay tends to be longer. However, the basic principles for an effective position statement and thesis statement are the same. Read "How to write a case-based essay" (pp.106-109) for more details.

Note 2: Slide 8~16 explain the similarities and differences between thesis/position statement and problem statement. While both are similar in that they both have a claim that structures and directs the purpose of a writing, there are some differences. For instance, a thesis can be an arguable/exploratory claim while, a problem statement defines/describes the main issue in order to potentially solve it. While a thesis statement comes at the end of the introduction paragraph, a problem statement tends to be part of the background information that comes before the thesis statement in order to provide a brief justification/contexualization for the thesis/position statement as highlighted in this good example memo. Read "How to write a problem statement for business" for more details.

Task 3: Write-up
Reflect on what you learned today about good thesis statements and problem statements. Use the following questions to analyze Hong's essay.

Thesis (position) statement 

  • What do you think is the thesis/position statement of this paper?
  • Does the statement satisfy all the criteria covered in the lecturer?
  • Does the statement also helps the reader predict the scope (main agenda for an argument), purpose, and direction of the paper, summarizing the conclusions that the writer has reached about the topic?
If you want to write up a detailed answer to these questions in a paragraph, upload it in your Dropbox folder Unit 4 entitled as "your first name_position statement"  (homework option 2)
 
Problem statement

  • What do you think is the problem statement of this paper?
  • Does this problem consider some of the 5W's: Who, what, when, where and why? If not, what needs to be explained more so that the problem statement is focused, specific and clear?
  • Does this problem statement also help the reader predict the scope, purpose, and direction of the paper, summarizing the recommendations that the writer has reached about the topic?
If you want to write up a detailed answer to these questions in a paragraph, upload it in your Dropbox folder Unit 4 entitled as "your first name_problem statement"  (homework option 3)

Homework: Write 1~2 paragraph(s) of your detailed analysis on ONE of the topics covered today (Refer to homework option 1,2,3 mentioned above).