1 PROCESS ESSAY

2 *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 essay o how to change of flat tire o INFORMATIVE: explain how something works o how the gulf stream works

3 TRAITS

4 Process Essay VS First 3 Essays

5 *DESCRIPTIVE: o dominant impression o sense details with similes (to support DI) o arranged spatially o pan like a camera PROCESS ESSAY vs. FIRST ESSAYS

6 *ILLUSTRATIVE: o reasons, proof, examples o supported by stats, anecdotes, instances o arranged logically, emphatically o emphatic order—save the best for last

7 PROCESS ESSAY vs. FIRST ESSAYS *NARRATIVE: o narrative details of a moralistic story o arranged chronologically o linear time sequence—beginning, middle, end

8 *PROCESS-ANALYSIS ESSAY: o detailed steps in a process o arranged chronologically o step by step by step o use description, narration, illustration o use transitions between steps o AND….. PROCESS ESSAY vs. FIRST ESSAYS

9 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

10 POV “YOU” o 2 ND -person POV o directly addressing the reader “I” o 1 st -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.”

11 INTRODUCTION

12 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

13 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 parts o Describe the result (sense details; “After following my easy, five-step process, you will have safely, properly changed your flat tire.”)

14 INTRODUCTION **PURPOSE STATEMENT: o like a thesis statement o what essay will concern o why readers should do o 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.

15 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…”.

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

17 BODY

18 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

19 BODY: Coherence: Transitions FORMS: o Transitions often come in the following forms: o SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS: since, because, if, when, although o COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS: and, but, yet, or, nor, for, so o PREPOSITIONS: after, during, behind, beyond, during o ADVERBS: once, never, always, frequently

20 BODY: Coherence: Transitions Transitions for the Process-Analysis Essay: Time and Sequence/Order o First, second, third o Next, then, finally, lastly o After, afterwards, following, o At this time, at this point o Simultaneously, concurrently o Subsequently, while, meanwhile o When, during, immediately, now, later, in the future, earlier, sometimes, always, never, whenever, once

21 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.

22 BODY *STEP-BY-STEP: o assume nothing o presume your audience = NOVICES o reader knows nothing about your topic o reader has never performed this task before o DIRECTIVE (how-to, technical writing) vs/ INFORMATIVE (close to narrative)

23 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

24 BODY *DETAILS:  STEP #1: gather all materials 1st o items should NOT just magically appear in the middle of the process o list them as “items in a series” & not as a bulleted or numbered list  “HOW EXACTLY” o don’t skip over steps o remember, readers have never done this

25 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

26 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)

27 BODY *GRAMMAR: o spell “INGREDIENTS” correctly o 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.”)

28 CONCLUSION

29 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 steps o *total TIME of process o *describe the FINISHED PRODUCT (smells, taste, sight, feel, sound) o CLINCHER SENTENCE

30 LITMUS TEST *** CAN THE READER DO IT? ***

31 Life is a PROCESS ESSAY (cognitive & social development)

32 TOPICS related to cognitive & social development

33 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 attacked o How to determine that you are in and/or how to leave an abusive relationship o How to catch your significant other cheating o How to get a PFA o How to win a custody battle

34 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 it o How to deal with the death of a loved one o How to start over o How to begin a diet, exercise regimen o 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

35 TOPIC PROMPTS *PERSONAL MAKE-OVER: o How to give yourself a manicure, pedicure o How to prepare a special bubble bath, facial o How properly to wax, tan o How to cut, treat, wash, perm, highlight your hair o How to have a tattoo removed o How to buy a used or new car

36 TOPIC PROMPTS *PERSONAL EDIFICATION: o Take Notes o Study o Prepare for a Test, Mid-Term or Final Exam o Prepare for a Job Interview o Create a RÉSUMÉ o Deal with Stress (in a healthy manner) o Deal with a Death in the Family (and school)

37 TOPIC PROMPTS *PERSONAL OCCUPATION: o Job Orientation/Training o As if you are training someone on his/her first day on the job o How to total the register, scan, waitress, bus tables, prepare dishes, create a display, unload a truck, stock shelves, stack a pallet, bundle cardboard…

38 TOPIC PROMPTS *PERSONAL INDISCRETION: On the Dark Side o How to plagiarize (and not get caught) o How to cheat on a test o How to cheat on your significant other o How to tell a lie o How to commit the perfect crime/murder o How to get out of a speeding ticket o How to file for ARD o How to fail a particular course

39 PREWRITING

40 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

41 PREWRITING 2) STEPS: Brainstorm. List every step in the process. Number the steps in chronological order. List related sense details.

42 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.

43 SAMPLE PROCESSES

44 How to Change a Flat Tire

45 How to Change a Flat Tire 4 6 5

46 How to Make MACARONI & CHEESE STEP #1

47 STEP #2

48 STEP #3

49 STEP #4

50 STEP #5

51 STEP #6

52 STEP #7

53 CONCLUSION

54 OTHER PROCESSES

55 OTHER PROCESSES

56 HOW TO BE A STAR LOOK, SOUND, PLAY, SMELL, TALK or SING COUNTRY, BLUES, ROCK’N’ROLL, GOTH, PUNK, GRUNGE, RAP, HIP-HOP, ’80s HAIR BAND, ….