Writing a Process Essay

1. Writing a Process Essay

Process writing can be classified into two types according to its purpose.

Writing a Process Essay
There are two types of process writing.
One type explains how to do something.
The other type explains how something works.


2. How to do something

This type process writing is designed to tell someone how to do something. The reader should be able to follow the directions your essay and successfully do what you are explaining.

How to do something
How to find a new boy or girl friend.
How to get a better hotel room
How to repair your computer
How to plant a garden

3. How Something Works.

The purpose of this type of process essay is to inform the reader. The reader is not going to do the process explained in the essay, but the reader will understand the process when he or she finishes reading the essay.

How Something Works.
How your car engine works
How a plant traps the sun’s energy
How a new federal law is created
How jurors are selected

4. The Introduction

The introduction to a process essay may tell the reader about a problem. The thesis statement, which is usually the last sentence of the introduction, tells the reader how to solve the problem. In the example introduction, the writer presents a child with a behavioral problem; then the writer presents a solution to the child’s behavioral problem. The writer uses a psychologist name Dr. Mo to present the solution to Reza’s son’s problem. Do you think Dr. Mo, Reza, and little Ali are real people?

The Introduction
One way to start your process essay is to present a problem in the introductory paragraph; then present your thesis as the solution to the problem you presented.
Example:
Yesterday, when Reza tried to get his three year old son Ali to eat, little Ali threw his dinner on the floor. After Reza put some more food on Ali’s plate, Ali threw it on the floor again. Frustrated, Reza called called Dr. Mo, his son’s psychologist. Dr. Mo recommended these three steps to overcoming infant temper tantrums.

5. The Body

When describing a process, it is important to make a plan so you don’t skip any important steps. It is also important to list all the materials that the reader needs to have in order to follow the steps. It is important to be very familiar with the process you are writing about. Think the process through very carefully and make sure you have included all the necessary steps and that they are in the correct order.

The Body
The body paragraphs of a process essay are the steps.
Each step is presented in the topic sentence of its paragraph. Example: The first step in overcoming infant temper tantrums is understanding why the child is misbehaving. Usually the answer is he or she wants attention.
If you need materials, you should say what these are in the first supporting paragraph.
Example: Before you start working on your computer, make sure you have the necessary tools. First, you will need a set of small screwdrivers. Second, you should have a grounding clip. This is used to …..

6. The Conclusion

The conclusion may be similar to the introduction. It will remind the reader of both the problem and the solution. The conclusion sometimes warns the reader about the dangers involved in following the steps incorrectly or offer suggestions about overcoming certain difficulties.

The Conclusion
The concluding paragraph will remind the readers of what they can do next time they have the problem you mentioned in the introduction. The conclusion may also offer some advice or warnings about the process.
Example: The next time your three year old behaves badly at the dinner table, just follow Dr. Mo’s three easy steps. However, be careful not to repeat them to many times because…….
Transitions

7. Transitions

Since process essays follow time order, they use time order transitions. Be careful to use the correct punctuation with each transition. Use these transitions to help mark the steps in your process essay so they are easy to follow.

The first step is
Second,….
After that,….
Before doing the next step, …..
The next to the last thing you need to do is…
Finally,….
Last,….
The last step is ….