Process Analysis EssaysExpository Writing

Process Analysis:Explaining How

*Much of the material for this lecture comes from SSW, Chapter 10; please follow along in your textbook.

What is Process

Analysis?We perform processes daily, from making coffee, to planning a party, to preparing dinner. We perform processes at work, at home, and at school. Process Analysis is explaining in detail the process of completing a particular task.

Kinds of Process AnalysesProcess Analysis essays fall into two categories:1. Those intended for readers who will

perform the process described, and2. Those intended to explain the process

for nonperformers.Both types can range from highly technical and sophisticated to non-specialized and simple.

For Readers / Performers:This type of “how-to”

paper must include everything the reader needs to know in order to successfully complete the task described.

Directions take the form of a polite command.

This approach involves the reader and emphasizes that directions must be followed to ensure a positive outcome.

Note the transitions in the following example.

To prepare a bacterial smear for staining, first use an inoculating loop to place a drop of distilled water on a clean glass microscope slide. Next, pass the loop and the opening of the tube containing the bacterial culture to be examined through a Bunsen burner flame to sterilize them. From the tube, remove a small bit of culture with the loop, and rub the loop in the drop of water on the slide until the water…

For Readers / Non-Performers:These papers serve many

purposes – to satisfy popular curiosity, to explain the importance, difficulty, or danger of a process, or to cast a process in a favorable or unfavorable light.

Material is often presented with the use of personal pronouns – I, we, he, she, it.

The performer may also remain unnamed.

Thus, when I now approach a stack of three two-inch cinder blocks to attempt a breaking feat, I do not set myself to “try hard,” or to summon up all my strength. Instead, I relax, sinking my awareness into my belly and legs, feeling my connection with the ground. I breathe deeply, mentally directing the breath through my torso, legs, and arms…

Remember: •Unclear, misleading, incomplete, or erroneous instructions lead to frustration, loss of time, and a wide range of problems. •Be certain that you’ve included every necessary step in the process so that your reader will be able to follow the directions to a successful conclusion.

Writing a Process Analysis Select a familiar topic. Choose a topic that

interests you and about which you know a great deal.

Develop a complete list of the actions involved in the process.

Present each step clearly, accurately, and fully.

Include everything the reader needs to know. Note the reason for every action unless the

reason is obvious.

Flag with a cautionary warning any difficult or dangerous step or one that will result in undesirable consequences if not carried out.

If two steps must be performed simultaneously, tell the reader at the start of the first one.

In some places, tell readers what to expect if they have completed the instructions properly. Feedback lets readers know they are on track or that they need to redo something.

Revise, Edit, Proofread! Recheck each step for accuracy. Have you explained all necessary steps? Are your steps in the appropriate order? Have you edited for correct grammar, sentence structure, word choice, spelling, and punctuation? Don’t forget: Proofread…Proofread…Proofread!

Works Cited: Reinking, James A. and Robert von der Osten. Strategies for Successful Writing: a rhetoric, Research Guide, Reader, and Handbook. Ninth Ed. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.