Process Writing

Aka “instructional writing”

How you will use process writing…

As a learner you will• read/hear instructions

or directions• read/hear about stages

or cycles or other natural processes

• use the transitions common to process writing for note taking

As a writer you will• write essays and papers

to show you understand the processes and cycles

• write short answer exams

• write a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation, part of which will use process writing

Vocabulary words in process writing that you NEED to

know…

• Step• Directions• Recipe• Easy• Difficult• Follow • First

• Next• Finally• Process• Procedure

Real examples…

From a business class• In a two- to three-page

paper, give advice to a new manager about how to successfully perform the four functions of management – planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

From a human physiology class

• After the brain organizes incoming messages, it sends responses to the body. Describe this process. (30 points)

Our modal example…

How to wash a dog

Brainstorm for ideas…

• Get it wet• Brush its hair• Get shampoo• Wash well (don’t

forget under the legs or near the tail)

• Clip nails• Put on collar and leash• Take outside

• Put shampoo on dog• Rinse the shampoo off

the dog• Scrub the dog• Dry the dog• Brush its hair• Give it a treat

Elements of Process Writing

• 1) a “process” topic sentence• 2) steps, cycles, or stages• 3) chronological words and phrases• 3a) time clauses• 4) imperative verb tense• 5) modals of suggestion or necessity• 6) passive voice

“time” or “sequence” organization

“process “organization

academic organization

grammargrammar

grammar

Element #1 – The Topic Sentence for Process

Writing• #1 (using an infinitive + topic as object)

• #2 (using a gerund + topic as subject)

It is + adjective Infinitive + topic Dependent clause of condition

It is easy to make scrambled eggs when you follow this recipe.

It isn’t difficult to make a bookcase if you follow these steps.

It is simple to get an A when you follow this procedure.

Gerund + topic “is” + adjective Dependent clause of condition

Making scrambled eggs is easy when you follow this recipe.

Making a bookcase isn’t difficult if you follow these steps.

Getting an A is simple when you follow this procedure.

Wash a dog…

It is easy to wash a dog if you follow these steps.

Washing a dog is easy if you follow these steps.

Practice Raise your hands to make a “process” topic sentence

• Make a cake (infinitive)• Play dominoes (gerund)

• Change a tire on a car (gerund)

• Dance the samba (infinitive)

• Make new friends in Portland• Lose ten pounds in one week

It’s easy to make a cake if you follow this recipe.

Playing dominoes is easy when you follow these steps.

Changing the tire on a car is easy when you follow these steps.

It’s easy to dance the samba if you follow these directions.

Making new friends in Portland isn’t difficult if you follow these steps.

It’s easy to lose ten pounds in one week if you follow this procedure.

Element #2 – The steps, cycles, or stages

First, a “process” topic must be divided into steps, cycles, or stages.

• Stages and/or cycles – biological, evolutional, chemical, or meteorological topics

• Steps – directions and/or instructions

Wash a dog…

• Get it wet• Brush its hair• Get shampoo • Wash well (don’t

forget under the legs or near the tail)

• Clip nails• Put on collar and leash • Take outside

• Put shampoo on dog• Rinse the shampoo off

the dog• Scrub the dog• Dry the dog• Brush its hair• Give it a treat• Don’t get soap in its

eyes

2nd- put remaining

steps in order

2nd- put remaining

steps in order

1st – cross out off-topic

steps

1st – cross out off-topic

steps

Remember, some steps have more

than one action in them!

Remember, some steps have more

than one action in them!

(before)

11

2

2

2

2

3

3

4

Make an outline…0. buy dog shampoo at pet store1. take it outside * use collar & leash * help to keep house clean2. get it wet & wash with shampoo * start w/ head and end w/ tail * scrub hard & extra at feet & tail3. rinse it * careful not to get soap in its eyes * be sure to rinse all soap out4. dry it * use towels or let it shake itself off

Element #3 – Chronological words/phrases (time

clauses)• Very important! They help the reader follow

your organization by signaling time order (chronological) information.

• There are two main ways to show your reader the correct time order:

#1 – Time words/phrases

Comma• First, Second, Third, etc.• Next, • After that,• Before/After + noun,• Finally,

No comma• The first step is • The second step is• The next step is• Then• The final (last) step is

#2 – Time clauses

• Often used when the previous step involved several sentences of instruction. This is because the dependent clause shows a summary of the previous step (“After the ingredients are mixed well, …”).

• “While” complex sentences are often used to show two steps taken concurrently (“While the cake is baking, …”).

Wash a dog…0. Before you begin, Buy dog shampoo at pet store1. The first step is to take it outside * use collar & leash * help to keep house clean2. Next, get it wet & (when …) wash with shampoo * start w/ head and end w/ tail * While scrub hard & extra at feet & tail3. After the dog is completely washed, rinse it * careful not to get soap in its eyes * be sure to rinse all soap out4. The last step is to dry it * use towels or let it shake itself off

Be sure to use a

variety of time

signals

Be sure to use a

variety of time

signals

Element #4 – Imperative verbs

• Aka “command” verbs• Commonly used by parents to their children“Go to bed.” “Eat your vegetables.” “Stop

that!”

• Often used in the step sentences themselves

Wash a dog…0. Before you begin, buy dog shampoo at pet store1. The first step is to take take it outside * use collar & leash *help to keep house clean2. Next, get it wet & (when …) wash with

shampoo * start w/ head and end w/ tail * scrub hard & extra at feet & tail3. After the dog is completely washed, rinse it * careful not to get soap in its eyes * be sure to rinse all soap out4. The last step is to dry the dog. Dry it * use towels or let it shake itself off

imperative

imperative

imperative

imperative

imperative

imperative

imperative

imperative

Element #5 – Modal verbs of advice, necessity, possibility, or

prediction

• Can, might, should, have to, don’t have to, must, will

• Often used in the detail sentences that support the steps.

Wash a dog…0. Before you begin, buy dog shampoo at pet store1. The first step is to take it outside * should use a collar and leash * will help to keep house clean2. Next, get it wet & (when …) wash with

shampoo * should start w/ head and end w/ tail * have to scrub hard & extra at feet & tail3. After the dog is completely washed, rinse it * must be careful not to get soap in its eyes * should be sure to rinse all soap out4. The last step is to dry the dog. * can use towels or let it shake itself off

adviceadvice

prediction

prediction

adviceadvice

necessitynecessity

necessitynecessity

adviceadvice

possibilitypossibility

Element #6 – Passive voice

• Used to shift attention to the thing that receives the action of the verb.

• (active) The mouse ate the cheese. (mouse is subject of sentence, so the focus of the reader.)

• (passive) The cheese was eaten (by the mouse). (cheese is subject of sentence, so the focus of the reader.)

Why use passive voice?

• Passive voice is sometimes used when the person who does the action of the verb is not important. For this reason, it is often found in instructions and directions since these types of communication are meant to be done by any person.

• The dog should be washed all over. (It doesn’t matter who washes the dog.)

• The soap can be bought at a pet store. (It doesn’t matter who buys the soap.)

is usedis used

is foundis foundare

meantare

meant

Wash a dog…0. Before you begin, buy dog shampoo at pet store1. The first step is to take it outside * should use a collar and leash * will keep house clean2. Next, get it wet & (when …) wash with

shampoo (how?) * should start w/ head and end w/ tail * have to scrub hard & extra at feet & tail3. After the dog is completely washed, rinse it * must be careful not to get soap in its eyes * should be sure to rinse all soap out4. The last step is to dry the dog. * can use towels or let it shake itself off

A collar and leash should be used

The house will be kept clean

All soap should be rinsed off (say why)

The concluding sentence

• Should always start with a concluding transition

• Can (1) restate the topic sentence, (2) give a brief summary of the info, (3) state an opinion, (4) make a prediction, or (5) make a humorous suggestion

As you can see, In conclusion, In sum, Thus,

Wash a dog…

restatement As you can see, washing a dog is not so hard to do if you follow these simple and logical steps.

summary In sum, after washing, rinsing, and drying your dog, you will then be ready for a game of fetch with your clean, happy pet.

Restatement + opinion

In conclusion, this process is the easiest and best way to wash a dog.

Restatement + prediction

Thus, you will keep your pet clean and happy when you remember these easy steps.

Restatement + humorous suggestion

As you can see, washing a dog is easy, but it’s even easier when you get your brother or sister to do it!

Put it all together…• Process topic sentence (with words

“easy”, “follow these steps”• Process body sentences (step

sentences with imperative verbs and detail sentences with modal verbs)

• Clear time order words and phrases (including for the conclusion)

• Concluding sentence that restates or summarizes the topic

Washing a Dog

Washing a dog is easy if you follow these steps. Before you begin, you should buy special dog shampoo. You can find this shampoo at any pet store. The first step is to take the dog outside. The house will remain cleaner if a collar and leash is used to take the animal outside. Next, get the dog wet. You should start with its head and end at the tail. When the dog is totally wet, rub in the shampoo. You can repeat the head to tail directions, and you have to scrub hard, especially around the feet and tail. You want to be sure to get all the dirt out. After the dog is completely washed, rinse it with clear water. You must be careful not to get the soapy water in its eyes, and all of the soap should be rinsed away. If you don’t rinse all of the soap out, the dog might get a rash. The last step is to dry the dog. You can use towels to help dry it, or you can let it shake itself dry. Either way, it is important to dry the dog before you let it back into the house. As you can see, washing a dog is easy, but it’s even easier when you get your brother or sister to do it!