Chapter 2 focuses on writing process essays, which explain how to do something or how a process occurs, emphasizing clarity, chronological order, and fixed steps. It distinguishes between two types: instructional writing and process explanations, and outlines the structure of a process essay, including an introduction, body paragraphs for each stage, and a conclusion. The chapter also offers a checklist for revising process essays and suggests topics for writing process essays.

1. Chapter 2: Writing Skills
Organizing the process
essay

2. The Process Essay
The Process Essay

3. What is a process?
What is a process?
 A process essay explains how to
A process essay explains how to
do something or how something
do something or how something
occurs.
occurs.
 An obvious example of process
An obvious example of process
writing is a recipe.
writing is a recipe.

4. 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

5. Two Types of Process Writing
Two Types of Process Writing
1.
1. Instructions:
Instructions:
– Enables readers to
Enables readers to
perform a process
perform a process
– A recipe, a handout, an
A recipe, a handout, an
operating manual are
operating manual are
examples of instruction
examples of instruction
writing.
writing.

6. 2. Process Explanation
2. Process Explanation
• Purpose is to help readers understand how a process is carried out.
Purpose is to help readers understand how a process is carried out.
• May be in present or past tense, depending on whether the writer is
May be in present or past tense, depending on whether the writer is
explaining a process that takes place regularly or one that occurred
explaining a process that takes place regularly or one that occurred
in the past, and on whether the writer or someone else carried out
in the past, and on whether the writer or someone else carried out
the process.
the process.

7. 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)

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

9. Planning a process essay
Planning a process essay
 Keep reader’s needs in mind.
Keep reader’s needs in mind.
 Explain reasons for performing steps
Explain reasons for performing steps
 Describe unfamiliar materials or equipment
Describe unfamiliar materials or equipment
 Define terms
Define terms
 Warn readers of possible problems they may
Warn readers of possible problems they may
encounter.
encounter.
 Avoid ambiguity or surprises
Avoid ambiguity or surprises
 Avoid unnecessary shifts in tense, person,
Avoid unnecessary shifts in tense, person,
voice and mood.
voice and mood.

10. Using transitions
Using transitions
E.g. First, second, meanwhile,
E.g. First, second, meanwhile,
after this, next, then, at the
after this, next, then, at the
same time, when you have
same time, when you have
finished, and finally.
finished, and finally.

11. Structure of Process Essay
Structure of Process Essay
 Introduction: identifies the process
Introduction: identifies the process
and indicates why and under what
and indicates why and under what
circumstances it is performed.
circumstances it is performed.
 Includes thesis statement.
Includes thesis statement.
 Introduces whatever materials or
Introduces whatever materials or
preliminary steps may be needed.
preliminary steps may be needed.

12. Structure of Process Essay, cont.
Structure of Process Essay, cont.
 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
Each stage may involve
several steps
several steps

13. Structure of Process Essay, cont.
Structure of Process Essay, cont.
 Formal Conclusion
Formal Conclusion
 May not be necessary in very short,
May not be necessary in very short,
simple process essay.
simple process essay.
 Briefly reviews the procedure’s major
Briefly reviews the procedure’s major
stages
stages
 Reinforces the thesis by summarizing
Reinforces the thesis by summarizing
the results of the process, or explaining
the results of the process, or explaining
its significance.
its significance.

14. 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?

15. In Class Process Writing Exercise
In Class Process Writing Exercise
Look at the photograph to
the right. List the steps
involved in the process of
making a cake. Where dies
the process begin? Where
does it end?
What cautions and
reminders might be helpful
to someone who has never
made a cake?

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.

17. Most topic of process essay type
Most topic of process essay type
 How to move to a different city
 How to achieve academic success in college
 How to build and maintain a stable friendship
 How to write a great exam
 How to teach responsibility to a child
 How to quit smoking
 How to get around without a car
 How to make the perfect cup of coffee or tea