Chapter 10 Process Analysis: Writing About Doing

Chapter 10 Process Analysis: Writing About Doing

Writing Process Analysis

If you need to explain how to do something or how something was (is) done, you will engage in process analysis. You will break down your topic into stages, explaining each so that your reader can duplicate or understand the process.

Two Types of Process Analysis: Directive and Informaitive

• Directive process analysis explains how to do something. As the name suggests, it gives directions for the reader to follow. It says, for example, "Read me, and you can bake a pie [tune up your care, read a book critically, write an essay, take come medicine." Because it is presented directly to the reader, it usually addresses the reader as "you," or it implies the "you" by saying something such as "First [you] purchase a large pumpkin, and the [you]...." In the same ways, this study addresses you or implies "you" because it is a long how-to-do-it (directive process analysis) statement.
• Informative process analysis explains how something was (is) done by giving data (information). Whereas the directive process analysis tells you what to do in the future, the informative process analysis tells you what has occurred or what is occurring. If it is something in nature, such as the formation of a mountain, you can read and understand the process by which it emerged. In this type of process analysis, you do not tell the reader what to do; therefore, you will seldom use the words you or your.

Working with stages

Preparation or Background

In the first stage of firective process analysis, list the materials or equipment needed for the porcess and discuss the necessary setup arrangements. For some topics, this stage will also provide technical terms and definitions. The degree to which this stage is detailed will depend on both the subject itself and the expected knowledge and experience of the projected audience.

Informative process analysis may begin with background or context rather than with preparation. For example, a statement explaining how mountains form might begin with a description of a flat protion of the earth made up of plates that are arranged like a jigsaw puzzle.

Steps or Sequence

The actual process will be presented here. Each step or srquence must be explained clearly and directly, and phrased to accommodate the audience. The language, especially in directive process analysis, is likely to be simple and concise; however, avoid dropping words such as and, a, an, the, and of, and thereby lapsinig into "recipe language." The steps may be accompanied by explanations about why certain procedures are necessary and how not following directions carefully can lead to trouble.

Order

The order will usually be chronological (time based) in some sense. Certain transitional words are commonly used to promote coherece: first, second, third, then, soon, now, next, finally, at last, therefore, consequently, and-especially for informative process analysis-words used to show the passage of time such as hours, days of the week, and so on.


Basic Forms

Consider using this form for the directive process (with topics such as how to cook something or how to fix something).

How to prepare Spring Rolls

I. Preparation

A. Suitable cooking area

B. Utensils, equipment

C. Spring roll wrappers

D. Vegetables, sauce

II. Steps

A. Season vegetables

B. Wrap vegetables

C. Fold wrappers

D. Deep-fry rolls

E. Serve rolls with sauce

Consider using this form for the informative process (with topics such as how a volcano functions or how a battle was won).

How Coal is Formed

I. Background or context

• Accumulation of land plants
• Bacterial action
• Muck formation

II. Sequence

• Lignite from pressure
• Bituminous from deep burial and heat
• Anthracite from metamorphic conditions

Combined Forms

Combination process analysis occurs when directive process analysis and informative process analysis are blended, usually when the writer personalizes the account.

Useful Prewriting Procedure

All the strategies of freewriting, brainstorming, and clustering can be useful in writing a process analysis. However, if you already know your subject well, you can simply make two lists, one headed Preparation or background and the other steps or sequence. Then jot down ideas for each. After you have finished with your listing, you can delete parts, combine parts, and rearrange parts for better order. That editing of your lists will lead directly to a formal outline you can use in Stage Two of the writing process. Following is an example of listing for the topic of how to prepare spring rolls.

Notes:

Listinig is a useful prewriting activity for process analysis. Begin with the romannumeral headings indicated in basic forms.

The order of a process analysis will usually be chronological (time based) in some sense. Certain transitional words are commonly used to promote coherence: first, seond, third, then, soon, now, next, finally, at last, therefore, and consequently.


Source:Brandon, Lee. Brandon, Kelly. Paragraphs and Essays with Integrated Readings, Tenth Edition. Boston, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008