1. Process Analysis: Explaining Step by Step
AP English Language and Composition
Kortman
Adapted from the R. Caughey and the Bedford Reader

2. Two Purposes of Process Analysis
A Direct Process Analysis: Explains how to do something or make something. i.e. directions for assembly or following directions to a location.
An Informative Process Analysis: Explains how something is done or how it takes place. i.e. how an atoms splits, how Kortman became so darn cool, etc.

3. What is the Process of Process Analysis?
1. Understand clearly the process you are about to analyze. Think it through.
2. Consider your thesis. What are you bothering to tell readers about it? Why do they care? (The thesis is actually quite easy to compose with process analysis pieces).

4. The Process Continued
3. Think about the preparatory steps. If things must be done before the process begins, you must inform the reader. These are essential details.
4. List the steps or stages in the process. Duh. Try chronological order, one at a time, if possible. Some, however, can happen all at once.

5. The Process Continued
5. Check the completeness and order of the steps. Make sure your list includes ALL the steps and the CORRECT order. Sometimes a stage includes smaller stages, so do not leave anything out.
6. Define your terms. Ask yourself, “Do I need any specialized or technical terms?” If so, be sure to define them for the reader.

6. The Process Continued
7. Use time-makers or TRANSITIONS. These words or phrases are key to process analysis and indicate when one stage of a process stops and the next begins. (Please don’t make them prosaic: “In the fifteenth stage… In the sixteenth stage…”
The most common type of transition is the transitional expression, such as furthermore, consequently, similarly, granted, nevertheless, for instance, elsewhere, simply stated, finally, to conclude, and subsequently.
8. BE SPECIFIC. When you compose your first draft, state your analysis in generous detail, even at the risk of being wordy. You can, and probably will, delete words later.

7. The Process Continued
9. Revise. When your writing is finished, reread it carefully against the check list. Ask a friend if they could follow your process analysis without difficulty. Perhaps it unfolds in your mind but not in theirs– ask for suggestions to help make certain steps clear.

8. Process Analysis in Action
Please read Bill Bryson’s “How You Became You.”
Part 1: Pay attention to the manner in which he defines the thesis, the details he includes, the extensive steps included in the process, the transitions, the explanations of technical terminology, etc.

9. Process Analysis in Action
Part 2: Bryson introduced us to the cosmic and microscopic you. Now it is time for you to take over on a more personal level. Continue his structure but focus on aspects of your personality and what made you the you that we see today. What steps were most important? What can you skip? How can I repeat the process to get as many you’s as I can possibly need? (15 minutes- don’t be to hard on yourself, make it a celebration of your individuality)

10. Checklist for Revising A Process Analysis
THESIS. Does your process analysis have a point? Have you made sure your readers know what it is?
ORGANIZATION. Have you arranged the steps of your process in a clear chronological order? If steps occur simultaneously, have you grouped them so that the readers perceive some order?

11. Checklist for Revising A Process Analysis Continued
COMPLETENESS. Have you included ALL the necessary steps and explained each one fully? Is it clear how each one contributes to the final result?
DEFINITIONS. Have you explained the meanings of the technical terms your readers may need to know in order to follow your process?

12. Checklist for Revising A Process Analysis
TRANSITIONS. Do time-markers distinguish the steps of your process and clarify their sequence? Are your time-markers formulaic and prosaic?
CONSISTENCY. Have you maintained comfortable, consistent, and clear subjects and verb forms? (See handout for additional information).

13. Kortman’s Advice
AVOID CLICHES. All of them. They are as old as the hills.
BE ORIGINAL. Don’t choose to write about things that have undoubtedly been done before or will be chosen by everyone else.
REMEMBER THAT I WILL BE READING THIS. I am your audience.
PICK SOMETHING YOU KNOW. Don’t chose subjects that do not have any significant meaning to you. Own it.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO TAKE CHANCES. This is the place to try something new. Do it here and NOT on the AP Exam.
DON’T TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT: It would be sooooo very easy to write a lame process; however, take a chance and push yourself
HAVE FUN. Writing CAN, I promise you, be an enjoyable process; therefore, allow it to be.

14. Your Task Then, If You Choose To Accept It
Compose a process analysis paper
750 words maximum
Times New Roman
1.5 Spacing
MLA Formatting
Multi-drafted
Error free
Topic of your choice