The Process Essay

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The Process Essay

• A process paper either tells the reader how to do
  something or describes how something is done.

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• WARNING THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS A NARRATIVE
  WHERE A WRITER TELLS A STORY IN CHRONOLOGICAL
  ORDER.

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• 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

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• 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.
• Process papers are often written in the second
  person (you) but I prefer that you avoid this.
  Dont use you in this paper.

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Sample Thesis Statements

• (General introductory material comes before the
  thesis)...Once those decisions have been made
  the difficulty of learning all the steps involved
  in diaper changing comes preparation procedure
  and clean-up.
• ...There are many delicious shrimp recipes.
  However I enjoy preparing a French appetizer
  called Shrimp Bordelaise.
• ...to maintain a healthy attractive and happy
  Shih-Tzu a regimen of weekly grooming is
  required. (Regimen indicates a process something
  repeated.)
• ...To make this popular Y shaped necklace
  several easy steps must be followed.
• After selecting the theme of the party
  preparations focused on planning the invitations
  designing the games and choosing the food. (Also
  notice that active verbs such as preparations
  focused on planning is better than the next step
  was. To be verbs are usually boring.

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INTRODUCTION

• 1. State what the process is and why it is
  important.
• 2. Give background information and define the
  process.
• 3. State the thesis sentence to include the
  purpose and the main idea of the essay.

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A sample (creative) introduction

•     The rain pours down as if running from a
  faucet lightening streaks across the dark
  restless sky and thunder pounds the roof and
  walls of the house. Abruptly the wind kicks up.
  Trees sway madly back and forth loose objects
  are picked up and thrown all around. The house
  creaks and moans with every gust of wind. Windows
  are broken by pieces of shingle from a neighbors
  roof or by loose objects picked up by the wind.
  Power lines snap like thread. The unprepared
  house and its occupants are in grave danger as
  the awesome hurricane approaches. Had they
  prepared for the hurricane they might not be in
  such danger. Indeed careful preparation before a
  hurricane is essential to life and property.

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Body Paragraphs

• First major step
• Definition and purpose
• Special conditions needed for the specific step
• Applicable sub-steps
• a.
• b.
• transition
• Second major step
• Third major step

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INTRO Recently we accomplished the American
dream of owning our own home. Walking through the
house for the first time we knew that there was
going to be quite a bit of work involved. Our
goal was to own a place where we could put our
personality into each room. The room that we
picked for our son had faded yellow paint with a
baby duck border along the top of the walls
forty year old sash windows that refused to open
without a fight and carpet that smelled like a
wet dog had rolled around on it for about three
years. For my sons third birthday his
grandparents purchased several matching primary
colored bedroom pieces that have a transportation
theme. We converted his dismal bedroom into a
delightful and wildly imaginative little boys
room.
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Body paragraphs

• Organize the series of steps.
• Regardless of whether you write an informational
  or directional essay it is critical to organize
  the steps in the most logical order.    The two
  most widely used methods for organizing a process
  essay are chronological order and order of
  importance. 
• Offer concrete explanations.
• This is another type of writing which requires
  strict attention to details--concrete details. 
  You cannot be too specific as a writer with this
  type of writing.  A writer should assume when
  writing process that the audience knows very
  little or nothing.  While you certainly dont
  want to write at such a level as to insult
  someones intelligence write so that it is clear
  for those who would be novices at what you are
  describing.  Define any technical terms and offer
  plenty of examples where necessary.

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• Most processes are organized according to
  time  what is needed first how to begin and
  how to proceed to the end. Be sure that there
  are no gaps in the steps.  Be thorough.  Have
  another person read through the steps to see if
  there are areas that need further explanation or
  clarification.  A set of directions should be
  clear organized easy to understand and easy to
  follow. 

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• Transition words
• A few hours
• Immediately following
• Afterwards
• Initially
• At last
• In the end
• At the same time
• In the future
• Before
• In the meantime
• Before this
• In the meanwhile
• Currently Last
• Last but not least
• Lastly

During Later Eventually Meanwhile Finally Next
Soon after First Second Third
etc. Previously First of all Simultaneously Forme
rly Subsequently Immediately before Then.
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Concluding Paragraph

• Paraphrase the thesis sentence.
• Summarize the main steps of the process.
• Describe results of process
• Offer follow up advice about what could be done
  next or refer reader to further sources of
  documentation
• Give troubleshooting advice in case something
  goes wrong.

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Conclusion Knowing our son is a train
fanatic we gleefully led him into the completed
room so that we could see his reaction. His eyes
opened wide and he immediately cried out
Daddy its pretty! He started to name all the
colors and excitedly pointed out every single
train as if we did not realize that they were
there. It was definitely worth any sore muscles
to see how much he embraced the welcome change.
Although it has been several months he will
still drag any visitor by the arm to see his new
room and to the surprise of the individual he
still points out every single train.
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The End