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PROCESS ESSAY

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PROCESS ESSAY

*BRIEF DEFINITION:o the careful, detailed explanation of a

particular procedure

*TYPES of PROCESS-ANALYSIS: o DIRECTIVE: how to perform a task

o *you will write this type of process essayo how to change of flat tire

o INFORMATIVE: explain how something workso how the gulf stream works

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TRAITS

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Process Essay VS

First 3 Essays

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*DESCRIPTIVE:

o dominant impressiono sense details with similes (to support DI)o arranged spatiallyo pan like a camera

PROCESS ESSAY vs. FIRST ESSAYS

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PROCESS ESSAY vs. FIRST ESSAYS

*ILLUSTRATIVE:

o reasons, proof, examples o supported by stats, anecdotes, instanceso arranged logically, emphatically o emphatic order—save the best for last

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PROCESS ESSAY vs. FIRST ESSAYS

*NARRATIVE:

o narrative details of a moralistic storyo arranged chronologicallyo linear time sequence—beginning, middle,

end

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*PROCESS-ANALYSIS ESSAY:

o detailed steps in a processo arranged chronologicallyo step by step by stepo use description, narration, illustrationo use transitions between steps

o AND…..

PROCESS ESSAY vs. FIRST ESSAYS

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YOU, YOU, YOU

* The Process Essay is the only one in which you are directly addressing the reader, so get all the you’s out of your system now.

o you, you, you, you, you o “you are” o “you’re” is NOT allowed (no contractions)o “UR” is NOT allowed (no text-messaging lingo)o “your” is allowed

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POV

“YOU”o 2ND-person POVo directly addressing the reader

“I”o 1st-person POV (*more informational process essay)o speaking from personal experience (*more Narrative)

“YOU” with “I” (*recommendation*)o directly addressing the reader (“YOU”)o offering personal examples for illustration (“I”)o “For example, I prefer to add my fabric softener at

the end of the third cycle.”

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INTRODUCTION

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INTRODUCTION

**SCENARIO:

o Create a context for this process o What situation would dictate the reader

needing to know how to perform this task?o Why should the reader know how to do this

activity?o purpose: answer the “so what?!” factor

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INTRODUCTION

*OVERVIEW:Now that you have gained our interest and

created a need by virtue of the scenario, now tell us exactly what we are in for in an overview of the entire process—

o How many steps?o What is the difficulty level?o How long should it take?o Divide into recognizable partso Describe the result (sense details; “After following my

easy, five-step process, you will have safely, properly changed your flat tire.”)

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INTRODUCTION

**PURPOSE STATEMENT:o like a thesis statemento what essay will concern o why readers should doo combine “overview” with your purpose to

get a thesis statement:

purpose: answer the “so what?!” factor

In six easy steps that should take you approximately ten minutes, you can create a

new, exciting, flattering look for yourself.

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INTRODUCTION

**PURPOSE STATEMENT:

DO NOT ANNOUNCE:o Rather than “I am going to tell you how to

make this” OR “In this essay I will show you how,”

o Write “If you follow this easy six-step process, you will be able to create…”.

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INTRODUCTION

*EXAMPLES OF CREATING A SCENARIO & INTRODUCING THE TOPIC:

o Have you ever been driving home late at night on a dark, deserted road out of cell phone range when you felt the car pulling sharply to one side and you heard the unmistakable thumping sound of a flat tire?

o End Intro with Purpose Statemento BODY’s 1st sentence: The first step in

changing a tire is to….

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BODY

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BODY

*COHERENCE:

o *CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER do NOT place steps out of sequence no “But before that” if a step comes before another, then place it

before the other

o *TRANSITIONS

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BODY: Coherence: Transitions

FORMS:

o Transitions often come in the following forms: o SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS:  since,

because, if, when, althougho COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS:  and, but,

yet, or, nor, for, soo PREPOSITIONS:  after, during, behind,

beyond, duringo ADVERBS:  once, never, always, frequently

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BODY: Coherence: Transitions

Transitions for the Process-Analysis Essay:Time and Sequence/Order

o First, second, thirdo Next, then, finally, lastlyo After, afterwards, following, o At this time, at this pointo Simultaneously, concurrentlyo Subsequently, while, meanwhileo When, during, immediately, now, later, in the

future, earlier, sometimes, always, never, whenever, once

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BODY: Coherence: Transitions

* Examples of transitions in a process essay:

1) First, pull off the road a safe distance from any possible traffic, and park on a flat surface.

2) Next, put the car in park and put on your emergency brake.

3) Then, after you activate your four-ways, you must gather all the necessary equipment, such as a flash light, crow bar, jack, and, of course, spare tire. All these items should be located in your trunk.

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BODY

*STEP-BY-STEP:

o assume nothingo presume your audience = NOVICESo reader knows nothing about your topico reader has never performed this task before

o DIRECTIVE (how-to, technical writing)

vs/

INFORMATIVE (close to narrative)

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BODY

*THIS IS AN ESSAY, SO…

o *NO LISTS*o *NO RECIPES (keep in essay format)o *do not forget the ARTICLES (a, an, the)o *do not forget the INTRODUCTION &

CONCLUSION paragraphs

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BODY

*DETAILS:

STEP #1: gather all materials 1st o items should NOT just magically appear in the

middle of the processo list them as “items in a series” & not as a

bulleted or numbered list

“HOW EXACTLY” o don’t skip over stepso remember, readers have never done this

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BODY

*DETAILS:

o PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE: since this is not necessarily a 5-paragraph

essay, group steps into related PHASES/STAGES (like the Narrative Essay)

o use DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS

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BODY

*FLAVOR:

o make PERSONAL SUGGESTIONS or PREFERENCES (if no specific brand/flavor is required) (i.e., amount of salt)

o make TIPS (better use a pot holder)o give SPECIFIC INSTANCE if “it depends”o briefly explain the REASON for a step if it is

not obvious (do this to prevent a mess)

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BODY

*GRAMMAR:

o spell “INGREDIENTS” correctlyo no “THINGS” (steps, tasks) (items, utensils)o 350 degrees (not the symbol for degrees)o medium-sized pan (hyphen, -ed)o “THEN” = not a conjunction (use “, and then”)o COMMAS (“Introductory subordinate clause,”)

(between two I.C. joined by a C.C.)o COLONS (“First, gather the following

ingredients: milk, sugar, and flour.”)

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CONCLUSION

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CONCLUSION

*CONSIDER THE PROCESS AS A WHOLE:

o repeat/reference the PURPOSE of your process (why did you tell us how to do this) (scenario)

Process-as-a-whole: o #/difficulty of stepso *total TIME of processo *describe the FINISHED PRODUCT (smells,

taste, sight, feel, sound)

o CLINCHER SENTENCE

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LITMUS TEST

*** CAN THE READER DO IT? ***

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Life is a

PROCESSESSAY

(cognitive & social development)

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TOPICS

related tocognitive & social

development

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TOPIC PROMPTS

*PERSONAL PROTECTION:o How to handle inappropriate and/or

unwanted sexual advances at work, school, social setting

o How to defend yourself if attackedo How to determine that you are in and/or how

to leave an abusive relationshipo How to catch your significant other cheatingo How to get a PFAo How to win a custody battle

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TOPIC PROMPTS

*PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT:o How to quit smoking o How to determine that you have a

drug/alcohol problem AND how get help with ito How to deal with the death of a loved oneo How to start overo How to begin a diet, exercise regimeno How to train for your first 5k, 5-miler…o How to perform a basic dance step o How to find a new apartment/house

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TOPIC PROMPTS

*PERSONAL MAKE-OVER:o How to give yourself a manicure, pedicureo How to prepare a special bubble bath, facialo How properly to wax, tano How to cut, treat, wash, perm, highlight your

hairo How to have a tattoo removedo How to buy a used or new car

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TOPIC PROMPTS

*PERSONAL EDIFICATION:o Take Notes o Studyo Prepare for a Test, Mid-Term or Final Examo Prepare for a Job Interview o Create a RÉSUMÉo Deal with Stress (in a healthy manner)o Deal with a Death in the Family (and school)

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TOPIC PROMPTS

*PERSONAL OCCUPATION:o Job Orientation/Trainingo As if you are training someone on his/her

first day on the jobo How to total the register, scan, waitress, bus

tables, prepare dishes, create a display, unload a truck, stock shelves, stack a pallet, bundle cardboard…

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TOPIC PROMPTS

*PERSONAL INDISCRETION:

On the Dark Sideo How to plagiarize (and not get caught)o How to cheat on a testo How to cheat on your significant othero How to tell a lieo How to commit the perfect crime/murdero How to get out of a speeding ticketo How to file for ARDo How to fail a particular course

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PREWRITING

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PREWRITING

1) LISTS:

3 tasks done at work each time

3 technical/electrical/mechanical skills

3 tasks you have done for yourself lately

3 weekly chores

3 foods you like to make

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PREWRITING

2) STEPS:

Brainstorm.

List every step in the process.

Number the steps in chronological order.

List related sense details.

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PREWRITING

3) BEFORE YOU WRITE:

Do the process yourself.

Details are then fresh in your mind & you will not skip any steps.

Plus, suggestions make themselves apparent.

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SAMPLE PROCESSES

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How to Change a Flat Tire www.americredit.com/.../Learn2ChangeFlatTire.htm

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How to Change a Flat Tire

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How to Make MACARONI & CHEESE

STEP

#1

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STEP #2

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STEP #3

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STEP #4

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STEP #5

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STEP #6

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STEP #7

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CONCLUSION

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OTHER PROCESSES

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OTHER PROCESSES

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HOW TO BE A STARLOOK, SOUND, PLAY, SMELL, TALK or SING

COUNTRY,

BLUES,

ROCK’N’ROLL,

GOTH,

PUNK,

GRUNGE,

RAP,

HIP-HOP,

’80s HAIR BAND, ….