Write a Process Analysis Essay

Write your own process analysis essay on one of the following topics or on a topic of your own choice. Use PROCESS ANALYSIS AT A GLANCE as a basic organizer (“Organization in Process Analysis”), and follow the Writing Guide: Process Analysis checklist as you write and revise.

COLLEGE
  • How to apply for financial aid
  • How to study for a test
WORK
  • How to do one of your major tasks at work
  • How to get fired or how to get promoted
EVERYDAY LIFE
  • How to wake up or how to get to sleep
  • How to break up with someone

WRITING GUIDE: PROCESS ANALYSIS

STEPS IN PROCESS ANALYSIS HOW TO DO THE STEPS
Focus.
  • Think about a process and its essential steps.
Explore your topic. See Chapter 2.
  • Make sure your process can be explained in a short essay.
  • Prewrite to decide on the steps and how you will explain them to your audience.
Write a thesis statement.image See Chapter 3.
  • Decide what you want your readers to know or learn about this process and write a thesis statement.
Support your thesis. See Chapter 3.
  • List all of the essential steps and details to describe them for your readers.
  • Imagine you are not familiar with the process. Would you understand it from the support you have listed, or do you need more explanation?
Write a draft. See Chapter 4.
  • Arrange the steps in a logical order (often chronological).
  • Write topic sentences for each essential step and paragraphs that describe them in detail.
Revise your draft. See Chapter 4.
  • Ask another person to read and comment on your draft.
  • Read to make sure that all the steps are there and relate to the topic.
  • Add transitions (often chronological).
  • Improve your introduction, thesis, and conclusion.
Edit your draft. See Chapters 16 through 18.
  • Correct errors in grammar, spelling, word use, and punctuation.
Evaluate your writing.
  • Does it have the Four Basics of Good Process Analysis (see “Understand What Process Analysis Is”)?
  • Is this the best I can do?