Writing—Process Essay
If you are a mother or father, you probably
have had to assemble a toy for your child.
If you work in an office, perhaps you have had to change the ink
cartridge in a printer, clear a paper misfeed in a copier, or fax a
document. At home, you probably follow
directions for preparing meals; you may read the directions on a box or follow
a family recipe. Have you ever had to
give someone directions to reach a certain destination? If you receive financial aid, you had to
apply for it. All of these activities
are processes. Even writing an essay is
a process. For each process, there is
an expected outcome, a goal to reach, a good reason for performing each
process, and definite steps to follow.
Process is a pattern of thought and organization whereby the writer explains steps or stages that lead to an outcome. In some processes, like a recipe, the sequence of steps is essential. You cannot fold blueberries into the muffin batter before you put in the flour and egg. In other processes, like how to manage time, the sequence of steps may not matter.
When writing about a process, you must include a few things. The PowerPoint presentation on process writing discusses those things.