The (Pretty Good) PROCESS ANALYSIS Page:

Short Description: By explaining how to do something, you make a point.

 

Long Description:

1. Find a blank piece of paper.

2. Find a pen or pencil or crayon.

3. Think of something to describe how to do. (See Topic Generator).

4. Think about why you want people to know the process.

5. Put the pen or pencil or crayon on the paper and make the marks we call words.

6. Use these words to explain carefully so that a reader could follow your steps.

6. If all you've done is jot notes or drawn a Map, write an exploratory draft.

7. Present your exploratory draft to a partner or the class or whomever.

8. Revise.. . .You may like to review the Revision Section. . . . . . . .

9. Edit carefully. 

10. Turn in and receive critical acclaim.  Or at least a passing grade.

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What's above is, of course, an outline of a process essay about how to write process essays.

Somewhat on the corny side, but it does make the point: a process analysis essay explains how to do something.  How something works.

Just to get things going, jot down a couple of things you know how to do well enough to explain to your MOP:

 

 

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Because you are writing an essay, you not only explain the process, you have a thesis.

Your essay makes a point. 

Why do you want the reader to know how to accomplish what you describe? 

The thesis in the example essay would be that I want you to understand how to do this essay so you will get a good grade.

What's your thesis?  It may be that you don't have one yet. 

Sometimes you need to write an exploratory draft to find out what your thesis is.

If you don't know about Exploratory Drafts, go here.

If you're ready to do an exploratory, here's a link to the Generic Work Sheet.

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A good thing to remember is that you can't assume the reader knows what you know.

You can't just say "draw a line"--what kind of line?

Dotted? 

Curved? 

How long? 

What color?  etc.

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Game:  Ask someone to sit with his back to you. 

He is to tell you how to draw a tic tack toe board.

You are to draw what he tells you, only with your own flourishes that can fit within what he says.

If he says, "Draw a line." he has not told you whether it is curvy or straight, how long, how wide etc.  Go crazy. Make it a one inch, wiggly line.

Keep doing this until he says he's finished.

Show him the crazy drawing you made.

Laugh heartily at his distress.

This will embarass him, and he will no longer be your friend.  Oh well...

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Stuck for a topic? Try the Topic Generator Page.

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My favorite writer of Process Analysis essays is John McPhee.  I forever wonder how he is able to take something  such as building a birch bark canoe and make it spellbinding. Check him out sometime.