EXPLAINING HOW SOMETHING WORKS OR IS DONE.

Process Analysis Essay

What is Process Analysis?

Explains in step-by-step fashion how something works or how something is done or made.

Provide people with practical information Directions to do something Explanation of how something works

Audience either Wants or needs to perform the process Wants or needs to understand the process although

they will not actually perform it

Characteristics

Usually includes an Explicit Thesis Statement identifies the process to be discussed Suggests the writer’s attitude or approach Why the thesis is important or useful to the reader

Examples Recently, many consumers have been using debit

rather than credit cards, which is more costly for most customers in the end.

By carefully reading the terms of a college loan, you can save thousands of dollars in interest and hundreds of hours of hassle.

Characteristics Cont.

Organized in Chronological Order The order in which the steps happened or should

happen Ex. How to apply for a credit card. How the housing crisis occurred. Why did the merger of Merill Lynch and Bank of America

happen? For essays with a lengthy processes, the steps may be

grouped into categories to make the process easier to understand.

Characteristics Cont.

Defines Technical Terms Assume the audience does not know terminology of

the process Define these terms for the audience

Provides Background Info Scenarios which make the process important

How interest rates affect people and businesses before a discussion of how the fed determines interest rates

How much money college costs or how long it takes to pay off a loan before a discussion about choosing the best college loan for you.

Characteristics Cont.

Describes Necessary Equipment Describing a loan calculator for taking out a loan Describing how the internet has changed the stock

market before a discussion on how or when to buy stocks.

Appropriate Detail Consider your audience

Keep details aligned with the intended audience Students at Pine Valley High Stock Broker Banker

Characteristics Cont.

Anticipate Trouble and Offer Solutions What was difficult for you at first? How did you figure it out?

In an essay explaining how to apply for a mortgage, anticipate the difficulty of finding a cosigner and give advice of how to resolve that problem.

Warn readers of difficult , complicated, or critical steps

Organization

Introduction Background Info Thesis Statement

Body Paragraphs Transition, Topic sentence Example- Quote Explain Example- Quote Explain Connect to thesis and bridge to next body paragraph

Organization Cont

Conclusion Transition, Draws back to the thesis and draws the essay to a

close. Often times, you will refer back to how this solves the

problem set up in the background information.

Writing

Choose the topic Use the possibilities sheet to help you or make one of

your own that refers to banking/ finance.Consider Your Purpose

Informative: How to choose a credit card. Persuasive: How bailout money was used to avert

financial crisis in the U.S.

Writing Cont.

Consider the Audience What background information do they need? What terms should I define? What equipment should I describe? How much detail is necessary? How can I illustrate trouble spots to prevent confusion

or warn of danger?

Develop a Working Thesis

Tells Why the process is important,

beneficial, or relevant

Gather Details and List Steps

First Gather Information on the TopicThen List the Steps on a Graphic Organizer

What separate actions are involved? What are obvious to you but may not be obvious to

somebody else? What steps, if omitted will lead to problems or failure? 2 or 3 column notes work well for this

Find interesting facts and illustrations that will help the reader better understand what to do, or why it is important.

Re-Evaluate the Thesis

When you have gathered all information, decided on organization, etc., go back to the thesis.

The thesis statement should encompass everything you discuss in the paper.

It should be a complex sentence with complex ideas.

Draft

Write the paperUse at least 2 quotes/ paraphrases for each

step.Never quote or paraphrase without explainingInclude reasons for the stepsConsider HeadingsUse transitions to show relationships between

ideasEffective Introductions are imperativeAppropriate tone- 3rd person point of view, no

forbidden words, no contractions, be formalSatisfying Conclusion

REVISING

Is this the best order for the process?Is this the best example?Can I find some statistics to show how

important this is?Did I appeal to the fact based reader? How?Did I appeal to the emotional reader? How?Could somebody go out and do this after

reading the essay?

Editing and Proofreading

Check for forbidden words and contractionsIs everything cited correctly?Read entire paper aloud exactly as it is

writtenCheck for comma splices (two independent

clauses connected with only a comma)Check for run-on sentences and sentence

fragmentsCheck for spelling errors and typos not

caught by spell check (form for from)