Writing A Process Essay

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Writing A Process Essay

• As you come in write down 5 thoughts that you
  associate with your process word.

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The process behind the process

• TTAPP/brainstorming invention
• Professional excerpts mentor texts
• Group and/or individual practice
• Peer examples
• Editing refining
• Final draft

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A process paper either tells the reader how to do
something (directional) or describes how
something is done (informational).

• As you write your process essay, the following
  questions will help you to flesh things out a bit

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1. What process are you trying to explain?
Why is it important?
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2 Who or what does the process affect?
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3 Are there different ways of doing the
process? If so, what are they?
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4 Who are the readers? What knowledge do they
need to understand this process?
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5 What skills/equipment are needed for this?
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6 How long does this process take? Is the
outcome always the same?
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7 How many steps are there in the process?
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8 Why is each step important?
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9 What difficulties are involved in each step?
How can they be overcome?
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10 Do any cautions need to be given?
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11 Does the process have definitions that need
to be clarified?
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12 Are there other processes that are similar
and could help illustrate the process that you
are writing about?
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13 If needed, tell what should not be done or
why something should be done.
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14 Process papers are often written in the
second person (you), but some teachers prefer
that you avoid this. Check always with your
teacher.
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Finally, begin your writing. Focus on clarity
and tone. You need not use all these steps, but
they will help you to fully flesh out your paper.
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Example (a paraphrase)

• How to get to the Ft. Hall historic site in
  Idaho
• Take another odometer reading, but dont depend
  on your maps. You may get lost. Avoid asking
  the locals for directions as these will only
  serve to confuse someone unfamiliar with the
  terrain. The likelihood of having someone arrive
  to guide you to Ft. Hall is slim, but you may
  find a guide if you are lucky.

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Example (original)

• How to get to the Ft. Hall historic site in Idaho
  (from The Oregon Trail Revisited)
• Take another odometer reading then go outside the
  car and burn every damn map in site. If you get
  lost, die like a man. Dont ask any locals for
  directions because all those directions will
  bring you right back to where you should have
  died in the first place. Maybe if you are lucky
  a Sacajawea will be dispatched in her earthy
  pickup truck from on high to guide you to the
  site of old Ft. Hall.

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In your groups

• Choose a specific audience, purpose, point of
  view and tone
• Flesh out a brief paragraph that details your
  steps, adds context (rationale circumstance)
  and cautions, and uses two lesson 3 vocab words,
  begins with a periodic sentence and ends with a
  loose sentence. ?
• Highlight your transitions. You are not allowed
  to use simple time transitions (first, second,
  third, etc.)branch out and try something new.