PROCESSPROCESSESSAYESSAY

2YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOUYOU

*This is the only essay in which you are directly addressing the reader, so get all the you’s out of your system now.

you, you, you, you, you “you are” NOT “you’re” “your” is allowed

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONSCENARIOSCENARIO

**SCENARIO:

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

needing to know how to perform this task?

Why should the reader know how to do this activity?

purpose: answer the “so what?!” factor

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONOVERVIEW OF THE ENTIRE PROCESSOVERVIEW OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS

*OVERVIEW:Now that you have gained our interest andcreated a need by virtue of the scenario, now

tellus exactly what we are in for—

How many steps?What is the difficulty level?How long should it take?Divide into recognizable partsDescribe the result (sense details; “After

following my easy, 5-step process, you will have created a warm, nutritious meal.”)

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION**PURPOSE STATEMENT:**PURPOSE STATEMENT:

**PURPOSE STATEMENT:

like a thesis statementwhat will concern; why readers should doCombine “overview” with your purpose to

get a thesis statement:

purpose: answer the “so what?!” factor

In six easy steps that should take you ten minutes, you can create a fast yet nutritious meal for yourself.

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION EXAMPLES EXAMPLES

*EXAMPLES OF CREATING A SCENARIO & INTRODUCING THE TOPIC:

1) Have you ever been driving home late at night on a dark, deserted road and…..

2) Girls, are you tired of being seen as only sex objects? OR Feminism is dead, and women are now, more than ever, seen as simply sex objects. Well, girls, if that is how they are going to treat us, then we should use it to our advantage. One of the best instances to use, as Mama always said, “the gifts th’ Good Lord gave ya” is when you are pulled over by a police officer for a moving violation. I have three simple steps for getting out of a speeding ticket.

BODY’s 1st sentence: The first step in changing a tire is to….

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BODYBODY*STEP-BY-STEP: assume nothingpresume your audience=NOVICESreader knows nothing about your topicreader has never performed this task

before

DIRECTIVE (how-to, technical writing) vs/

INFORMATIVE (close to narrative)

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BODYBODY*THIS IS AN ESSAY, SO…

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

CONCLUSION paragraphs

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BODYBODY*COHERENCE:

*CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER*TRANSITIONS

first, then, next,* “First, get the….” AND “Next, use

the…” (vs.) “The first step is to…” AND “The next task involves…”

*SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS after, before

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BODYBODY*DETAILS:

* STEP #1: gather all materials 1st (items should NOT just magically appear in the middle of the process)

* “HOW EXACTLY” (don’t skip over steps; the devil is in the details)

use DESCRIPTIVE DETAILSsince this is not necessarily a 5-paragraph

essay, group steps into related PHASES/STAGES

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BODYBODY*FLAVOR:

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

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

is not obvious (do this to prevent a mess)

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BODYBODY*GRAMMAR:

spell “INGREDIENTS” correctlyno “THINGS” (steps, tasks) (items, utensils)350 degrees (not the symbol for degrees)medium-sized pan (hyphen, -ed)“THEN”=not a conjunction (use “, and then”)COMMAS (“Introductory subordinate

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

ingredients: milk, sugar, and flour.”)

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION*CONSIDER THE PROCESS AS A WHOLE:

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

describe the FINISHED PRODUCT (smells, taste, sight, feel, sound)

total TIME of the processCLINCHER SENTENCE

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LITMUS TESTLITMUS TEST

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

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TOPICSTOPICS*HOW TO:

SCHOOL:Take Notes StudyPrepare for a TestPrepare for a Job Interview Create a RÉSUMÉDeal with Stress (in a healthy manner)Deal with a Death in the Family

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TOPICSTOPICS*HOW TO:

KIDS: brush teeth, tie shoe laces, tie a tie

FOOD: make lasagna, spaghetti, German apple cake, cheeseburger, grilled cheese, PB&J, home-made Easter candy, dye Easter eggs, Jell-O shapes

SPORTS: play football (be specific: block, pass, punt, tackle); shoot foul shot, jump serve in volleyball, swim (specific stroke or dive)

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TOPICSTOPICSPAMPER: give yourself a pedicure, make

Jane’s special bubble bath

CAR: change a tire, change brakes, change oil, change wiper blades, pump gas, drive standard/manual transmission (stick shift), buy used car/the perfect car for you

JOB: waitress/server, nurse’s aide, transfer patient, install carpet, customer service

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TOPICSTOPICSHAIR: wash, perm, color, treat, highlight

CLEAN: wash hair, clothes, car, dog; clean hamster cage

OTHERS: plan a vacation, plant a garden, ice fish, follow the traditions of Islamic ablution, convert to Judaism

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FINAL HINTSFINAL HINTS*REMEMBER, this is an essay and not a

recipe, SO…

essay format, no lists (does NOT look like a recipe card)

when gathering supplies, write as items in a series (not as a list, not as a recipe card)

“After doing that step, you will need to gather the following materials: x, y, and z.” (notice the colon after “the following”; do not use a colon after a Linking Verb)

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PREWRITINGPREWRITING1) LISTS:

3 tasks done at work each time

3 foods you like to make

3 technical/electrical/mechanical skills you have

3 chores done weekly

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PREWRITINGPREWRITING2) STEPS:

brainstorm

list every step in the process

list related sense details

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PREWRITINGPREWRITING3) 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

23HOW TO MAKE HOW TO MAKE MACARONI & MACARONI &

CHEESECHEESESTEP#1

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STEP #2STEP #2

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STEP #3STEP #3

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STEP #4STEP #4

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STEP #5STEP #5

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STEP #6STEP #6

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STEP #7STEP #7

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

31OTHER OTHER PROCESSESPROCESSES

32OTHER OTHER PROCESSESPROCESSES