Process essay

Steps in the Process Essay

In your process essay, you should describe this process and make your description absorbing and clear. To deliver a good process essay, you must know the procedure inside out.

In an ideal process essay, the title informs the reader what process will be described.

Like all good writing, a process essay requires a thesis to tell the reader the significance of the process.

Process papers are often written in the second person (you), but some teachers prefer that you avoid this. (NO “I”; Use an alternative such as an individual, one a person, etc. )

In the introduction, you will include necessary background of the process. It will help the readers to perform safely and efficiently. You may include the appropriate context to show the importance of the process to the readers. Present the aim of the procedure, but leave out specific details. Explain some specialized terms you will use in your description.

Your essay body serves as a step by step guide in carrying out the process. Start describing each step with defining its aim. Introduce the steps in logical order and create coherent transitions from one paragraph to the next. Your essay should show how to follow procedure correctly with examples.

In your final paragraph, which is your conclusion, you will summarize the activity you have just described and you will reiterate the importance of understanding the process. When the paper is complete, be certain to read it again in order to check for grammar and punctuation errors. In addition, read to make sure the essay flows naturally and has a logical order.

If you are writing about a process that may be confusing to the reader or that requires an understanding of certain information or processes, you might need to provide a bit of background information in your paper as well. Similarly, you will need to discuss any equipment that might be necessary to complete the process.

You should include precautions when necessary before the step to which they refer. Consider the differences between the types of precautions and choose the most suitable for your particular case:

· Warning! implies immediate threat to life and/or limb if the step is mishandled.

· Caution! indicates immediate threat of bodily harm if the step is mishandled.

· Attention! emphasizes that there is an immediate probability of making a common error with the step.

What to consider when writing a process essay

A process paper either tells the reader how to do something or describes how something is done. As you write your process essay, consider the following:

· What process are you trying to explain? Why is it important?

· Who or what does the process affect?

· Are there different ways of doing the process? If so, what are they?

· Who are the readers? What knowledge do they need to understand this process?

· What skills/equipment are needed for this?

· How long does the process take? Is the outcome always the same?

· How many steps are there in the process?

· Why is each step important?

· What difficulties are involved in each step? How can they be overcome?

· Do any cautions need to be given?

· Does the process have definitions that need to be clarified?

· Are there other processes that are similar and could help illustrate the process that you are writing about?

· If needed, tell what should not be done or why something should be done.

· Your responses to these questions and statements should enable you to write an effective process essay.

Suggested transition words to lead readers through your essay

Process essays are generally organized according to time: that is, they begin with the first step in the process and proceed in time until the last step in the process. It's natural, then, that transition words indicate that one step has been completed and a new one will begin. Some common transitional words used in process essays are listed below:

After a few hours Afterwards

Immediately following Initially

At last .In the end

At the same time Before

In the meantime Before this

In the meanwhile Currently

During Later

Eventually Meanwhile

Finally Next

Soon after First, Second, Third, etc.

Previously First of all

Simultaneously Formerly

Subsequently Immediately before Then

Process Essay Topic Suggestions

*Please see eLearn for the directions for the assignment