Review how to narrow down a topic to complete the following prompt:

• I wish to learn more about... [topic] because I want to know how, why, when, where, etc... [indirect question] in order to... [significance of the problem, relevance, big picture].

Note

• The problem statement is one sentence with no italicized text or brackets.
• The problem statement contains three parts: 1) the topic (general concept), 2) an indirect question that is related to the topic but is much more specific (i.e., usually a why or how question word), and 3) the significance of the problem that relates to the target audience and the purpose of the written text.
• The indirect question is the essential question of the entire text (i.e., five-paragraph essay, literature review, etc.). The thesis statement (see Thesis statement and skeleton outline) answers the (indirect/direct) question mentioned in the problem statement. The indirect question relates to the significance of the problem but should address a possible solution when writing a problem-solution essay. For a problem-solution essay, the problem is developed in the introduction paragraph while the thesis statement that concludes the introduction paragraph presents a possible solution. The subsequent body paragraphs unpack the three key points listed at the end of the thesis statement.
• The significance that concludes a problem statement reveals the actual problem explicitly. Consider what you (the author) want to do with your essay, your intention, etc. If you are persuading someone to take action or to think differently about something, who is the target audience? Be specific. What’s the relevance, big picture, overall purpose or reason for considering such an indirect question (and later thesis statement)?