What is a process?
       What is a process?
   A process essay 
   A process essay 
   explains how to do 
   explains how to do 
   something or how 
   something or how 
   something occurs.
   something occurs.
   An obvious example 
   An obvious example 
   of process writing is a 
   of process writing is a 
   recipe.
   recipe.
    Characteristics of Process Writing
    Characteristics of Process Writing
      Strict chronological order
      Strict chronological order
      If the steps described are repeated, the same outcome 
      If the steps described are repeated, the same outcome 
      should always be achieved.
      should always be achieved.
      Fixed order 
      Fixed order 
      Clarity extremely important
      Clarity extremely important
      Transitions essential
      Transitions essential
       Two Types of Process Writing 
       Two Types of Process Writing 
       1.   Directional (Gives 
        1.  Directional (Gives 
            Instructions):
            Instructions):
           – Enables readers to perform a 
               Enables readers to perform a 
               process. Describes how to 
               process. Describes how to 
               do something.
               do something.
           – A recipe, a handout, an 
               A recipe, a handout, an 
               operating manual are 
               operating manual are 
               examples of instruction 
               examples of instruction 
               writing.
               writing.
           – Use imperative mood.
               Use imperative mood.
           – Subject of sentences is “you” 
               Subject of sentences is “you” 
               understood; speak directly to 
               understood; speak directly to 
               reader.
               reader.
                    2. Process Explanation
                    2. Process Explanation
        •   Purpose is to help reader understand how a process 
            Purpose is to help reader understand how a process 
            is carried out i.e. explains how something happened.
            is carried out i.e. explains how something happened.
                        st           rd
        •               st           rd
            Use either 1  person or 3  person; not second 
            Use either 1  person or 3  person; not second 
            person or imperative mood.
            person or imperative mood.
        •   May be in present or past tense, depending on 
            May be in present or past tense, depending on 
            whether the writer is explaining a process that takes 
            whether the writer is explaining a process that takes 
            place regularly or one that occurred in the past, and 
            place regularly or one that occurred in the past, and 
            on whether the writer or someone else carried out the 
            on whether the writer or someone else carried out the 
            process.
            process.
                        First Person                          Third Person
                        First Person                          Third Person
                        “After I place the chemicals in       “After photographers place the 
       Present  “After I place the chemicals in  “After photographers place the 
       Present  the tray, I turn out the lights in            chemicals in the tray, they turn 
                        the tray, I turn out the lights in    chemicals in the tray, they turn 
       Tense            the darkroom.”                        out the lights in the darkroom.”
       Tense            the darkroom.”                        out the lights in the darkroom.”
                        (habitual process performed           (habitual process performed by 
                        (habitual process performed           (habitual process performed by 
                        by the writer)                        someone other than the writer)
                        by the writer)                        someone other than the writer)
                        “After I placed the chemicals         “After the photographer placed 
       Past             “After I placed the chemicals         “After the photographer placed 
       Past             in the tray, I turned out the         the chemicals in the tray, she 
                        in the tray, I turned out the         the chemicals in the tray, she 
       Tense            lights in the darkroom.”              turned out the lights in the 
       Tense            lights in the darkroom.”              turned out the lights in the 
                                                              darkroom.” 
                        (process performed in the             darkroom.” 
                        (process performed in the 
                        past by the writer)                   (process performed in the past 
                        past by the writer)                   (process performed in the past 
                                                              by someone other than the 
                                                              by someone other than the 
                                                              writer)
                                                              writer)