Process Analysis

Process analysis expectations This essay should be about 500-700 words long. When printed, this means about 1½ -2 pages, typed, double-spaced. It should have a header on the top right of the first page consisting of your name, my name, the class name, day and time, and the date. Your essay should have an introduction paragraph and a concluding paragraph and three to four body paragraphs as appropriate. This is not a research essay, and should not include outside sources. You should choose a topic you can write about from your own experience. The goal of the process analysis essay is to describe the steps of a specific process, i.e. “how to do/make such and such” or “how such and such is done”. You should have 3 or 4 distinct body paragraphs which describe separate parts of the process. Common elements of a process analysis essay include a series of steps, necessary materials to accomplish the task, and warnings about what might go wrong. Mistakes to avoid: Do not use a recipe as your topic. Yes, that is a form of process writing, but if I get one of those as your essay, I will ask you to re-write the essay.  Make sure that what you are describing is a process, that is a set of steps which must be done one after the other. So, “how to be a good friend” would probably be a bad topic because it is not step 1, then step 2, then step 3, etc. Another example of what not to do would be “how to stay safe during a pandemic” because, again, it is not a sequence of steps one after the other, but a set of general guidelines. I offer a few suggested topics below. You are free to choose another topic for your essay, but please check it with me before you write your full essay. Suggested topics: How to play (pick a sport or game) How to plan and go on a road trip or vacation How to (pick a common household chore) How to apply for a job