This power point slide can be used in writing or composition Class of English

1. Choronological Order:
Choronological Order:
Process Essays
Process Essays

2. What is choronological
What is choronological
order/process essays?
order/process essays?
 It is a way of organizing ideas in the order of their
It is a way of organizing ideas in the order of their
occurrence in time.
occurrence in time.
 It is used to tell stories, to relate historical events,
It is used to tell stories, to relate historical events,
and to write biographies and autobiographies.
and to write biographies and autobiographies.
 It can be used to explain processes and procedures.
It can be used to explain processes and procedures.
For example: how to take a photograph, how to
For example: how to take a photograph, how to
make a piece of pottery, how to perform a chemistry
make a piece of pottery, how to perform a chemistry
experiment, or how to set up an accounting system.
experiment, or how to set up an accounting system.

3. Characteristics of Process Writing
Characteristics of Process Writing
 Strict chronological order
Strict chronological order
 If the steps described are repeated, the same outcome
If the steps described are repeated, the same outcome
should always be achieved.
should always be achieved.
 Fixed order
Fixed order
 Clarity extremely important
Clarity extremely important
 Transitions essential
Transitions essential

4. Two Types of Process Writing
Two Types of Process Writing
1.
1. Directional (Gives Instructions):
Directional (Gives Instructions):
– Enables readers to perform a
Enables readers to perform a
process. Describes how to do
process. Describes how to do
something.
something.
– A recipe, a handout, an operating
A recipe, a handout, an operating
manual are examples of instruction
manual are examples of instruction
writing.
writing.
– Use imperative mood.
Use imperative mood.
– Subject of sentences is “you”
Subject of sentences is “you”
understood; speak directly to reader.
understood; speak directly to reader.

5. 2. Process Explanation
2. Process Explanation
• Purpose is to help reader understand how a process
Purpose is to help reader understand how a process
is carried out i.e. explains how something happened.
is carried out i.e. explains how something happened.
• Use either 1
Use either 1st
st
person or 3
person or 3rd
rd
person; not second
person; not second
person or imperative mood.
person or imperative mood.
• May be in present or past tense, depending on
May be in present or past tense, depending on
whether the writer is explaining a process that takes
whether the writer is explaining a process that takes
place regularly or one that occurred in the past, and
place regularly or one that occurred in the past, and
on whether the writer or someone else carried out the
on whether the writer or someone else carried out the
process.
process.

6. First Person
First Person Third Person
Third Person
Present
Present
Tense
Tense
“
“After I place the chemicals in
After I place the chemicals in
the tray, I turn out the lights in
the tray, I turn out the lights in
the darkroom.”
the darkroom.”
(habitual process performed
(habitual process performed
by the writer)
by the writer)
“
“After photographers place the
After photographers place the
chemicals in the tray, they turn
chemicals in the tray, they turn
out the lights in the darkroom.”
out the lights in the darkroom.”
(
(habitual process performed by
habitual process performed by
someone other than the writer)
someone other than the writer)
Past
Past
Tense
Tense
“
“After I placed the chemicals
After I placed the chemicals
in the tray, I turned out the
in the tray, I turned out the
lights in the darkroom.”
lights in the darkroom.”
(
(process performed in the
process performed in the
past by the writer)
past by the writer)
“
“After the photographer placed
After the photographer placed
the chemicals in the tray, she
the chemicals in the tray, she
turned out the lights in the
turned out the lights in the
darkroom.”
darkroom.”
(process performed in the past
(process performed in the past
by someone other than the
by someone other than the
writer)
writer)

7. Using Process Writing
Using Process Writing
 College writing for science, literature, history,
College writing for science, literature, history,
or any other subject.
or any other subject.
 Use process writing to persuade or to inform.
Use process writing to persuade or to inform.
 A process essay should have a clear thesis
A process essay should have a clear thesis
statement that identifies
statement that identifies the process and tells
the process and tells
why it is performed.
why it is performed.

8. Keys in organizing process essay
Keys in organizing process essay
1.
1. Discuss the steps in your process in the order in which they
Discuss the steps in your process in the order in which they
occur. Divide the steps into separate paragraphs where groups of
occur. Divide the steps into separate paragraphs where groups of
steps occur. For Example, to write about how to make a ceramic
steps occur. For Example, to write about how to make a ceramic
vase, you might divide the body into four:
vase, you might divide the body into four:
I.
I. Introductory Paragraph
Introductory Paragraph
II.
II. Body paragraph
Body paragraph
A. Shaping the vase
A. Shaping the vase
B. First (bisque) firing
B. First (bisque) firing
C. Glazing
C. Glazing
D. Second Firing
D. Second Firing
 Concluding Paragraph
Concluding Paragraph
2. Write a thesis statement that names the process and indicates time
2. Write a thesis statement that names the process and indicates time
order.
order.
3. Use chronological order signal words and phrases to indicate the
3. Use chronological order signal words and phrases to indicate the
time sequence.
time sequence.

9. Thesis Statements for Process Essay
Thesis Statements for Process Essay
 A thesis statement for a process essay in some way
A thesis statement for a process essay in some way
indicates the time order. Expressions such as the
indicates the time order. Expressions such as the
process of, the procedure for, plan, develop, evolve, five
process of, the procedure for, plan, develop, evolve, five
stages, and several phases indicate that time order will
stages, and several phases indicate that time order will
be used.
be used.
Examples:
Examples:
Follow these steps to make a beautiful ceramic vase for your home.
Follow these steps to make a beautiful ceramic vase for your home.
The field of genetic engineering has developed rapidly in the past 10 years.
The field of genetic engineering has developed rapidly in the past 10 years.
A child learns to share over a period of time.
A child learns to share over a period of time.
Heating water by solar radiation is a simple process
Heating water by solar radiation is a simple process

10. Thesis Statements for Process Essay
Thesis Statements for Process Essay
 Sometimes the thesis statement tells the number of
Sometimes the thesis statement tells the number of
steps in the process.
steps in the process.
The process of heating water by solar radiation involves three main
The process of heating water by solar radiation involves three main
steps.
steps.
 The thesis statement may even name the steps.
The thesis statement may even name the steps.
The main steps in the process of heating water by solar radiation are
The main steps in the process of heating water by solar radiation are
(1) trapping the sun's energy, (2) heating and storing the hot water,
(1) trapping the sun's energy, (2) heating and storing the hot water,
and (3) distributing the hot water to its points of use
and (3) distributing the hot water to its points of use

11. Using transitions
Using transitions
 Check list of transitions our booklet
Check list of transitions our booklet
 Specifically useful are such transitions as
Specifically useful are such transitions as
first, second, meanwhile, after this,
first, second, meanwhile, after this,
next, then, at the same time, when you
next, then, at the same time, when you
have finished, and finally.
have finished, and finally.
 Use transitions to establish sequential and
Use transitions to establish sequential and
chronological relationships between steps
chronological relationships between steps
in process.
in process.

12. Structure of Process Essay
Structure of Process Essay
 Introduction:
Introduction:
 Introduce your topic in an interesting way.
Introduce your topic in an interesting way.
 Present your thesis statement.
Present your thesis statement.
 Identifies the process and indicates why and
Identifies the process and indicates why and
under what circumstances it is performed.
under what circumstances it is performed.
.
.

13. Structure of Process Essay
Structure of Process Essay
 Body of essay
Body of essay
 One major stage of the process
One major stage of the process
in each body paragraph.
in each body paragraph.
 Each stage may involve several
Each stage may involve several
steps.
steps.
 Your body should be like this:
Your body should be like this:
1-
1- Topic sentence (Main idea)
Topic sentence (Main idea)
2-
2- Supporting details (Examples, fact,
Supporting details (Examples, fact,
statistic, short story)
statistic, short story)
3-
3- Closing remark (The function of this
Closing remark (The function of this
step)
step)

14. Structure of Process Essay, cont.
Structure of Process Essay, cont.
 Formal Conclusion
Formal Conclusion
 Show the result of the process.
Show the result of the process.
 Briefly summarize your major stages
Briefly summarize your major stages
 Reinforce and restate the thesis statement.
Reinforce and restate the thesis statement.
 Include interesting, humorous, or inspiring
Include interesting, humorous, or inspiring
closing remarks.
closing remarks.

15. Revising Checklist for
Revising Checklist for
a Process Essay
a Process Essay
 Does your assignment call for a set of instructions or a
Does your assignment call for a set of instructions or a
process explanation?
process explanation?
 Does your writing style clearly and consistently indicate
Does your writing style clearly and consistently indicate
whether you are writing a set of instructions or process
whether you are writing a set of instructions or process
explanation?
explanation?
 Does your essay have a clearly stated thesis that
Does your essay have a clearly stated thesis that
identifies the process and perhaps tells why it is (or was)
identifies the process and perhaps tells why it is (or was)
performed?
performed?
 Have you included all necessary reminders and cautions?
Have you included all necessary reminders and cautions?
 Have you included all necessary steps?
Have you included all necessary steps?
 Are the steps presented in strict chronological order?
Are the steps presented in strict chronological order?
 Do transitions clearly indicate where one step ends and
Do transitions clearly indicate where one step ends and
the next begins?
the next begins?

16. Grammar in context
Grammar in context
 Avoid unnecessary shifts in verb tense, voice
Avoid unnecessary shifts in verb tense, voice
and mood, and in pronoun person.
and mood, and in pronoun person.
 Link to Verb Tense explanation and exercises.
Link to Verb Tense explanation and exercises.
 Link to Verb Voice explanation and exercises.
Link to Verb Voice explanation and exercises.
 Link to Verb Mood explanation and exercises.
Link to Verb Mood explanation and exercises.
 Link to Pronoun Person explanation and
Link to Pronoun Person explanation and
exercises
exercises

17. 1st
Assignment (1 pt.)
Due next lecture
Write a process essay (No less than 400 words).
Possible topics:
-How to lose weight without losing your mind
-How a particular accident occurred
-How to end a relationship
-How to avoid a nervous breakdown during exams
-How to kick a bad habit

18. In Class Process Writing Exercise
In Class Process Writing Exercise
Look at the photograph to the right.
How is this jack-o’-lantern different
from the pumpkin from which it was
carved?
List the steps involved in the
process of carving a pumpkin into a
jack-o’-lantern. Where dies the
process begin? Where does it end?
What cautions and reminders might
be helpful to someone who has
never made a jack-o’-lantern?

19. Journal Entry
Journal Entry
 Write a set of instructions for someone who
Write a set of instructions for someone who
has never made a jack-o’-lantern. Using
has never made a jack-o’-lantern. Using
commands and present tense, explain each
commands and present tense, explain each
step in the order in which it occurs, including
step in the order in which it occurs, including
all necessary cautions and reminders.
all necessary cautions and reminders.