Process Analysis Essay EXPLAINING HOW SOMETHING WORKS OR

Process Analysis Essay EXPLAINING HOW SOMETHING WORKS OR IS DONE.

What is Process Analysis? �Explains in step-by-step fashion how something works or how something is done or made. �Provide people with practical information Directions to do something Explanation of how something works �Audience either Wants or needs to perform the process Wants or needs to understand the process although they will not actually perform it

Characteristics �Usually includes an Explicit Thesis Statement identifies the process to be discussed Suggests the writer’s attitude or approach Why thesis is important or useful to the reader �Examples Recently, many consumers have been using debit rather than credit cards, which is more costly for most customers in the end. By carefully reading the terms of a college loan, you can save thousands of dollars in interest and hundreds of hours of hassle.

Characteristics Cont. �Organized in Chronological Order The order in which the steps happened or should happen � Ex. How to apply for a credit card. � How the housing crisis occurred. � Why did the merger of Merill Lynch and Bank of America happen? For essays with a lengthy processes, the steps may be grouped into categories to make the process easier to understand.

Characteristics Cont. �Defines Technical Terms Assume the audience does not know terminology of the process � Define these terms for the audience �Provides Background Info Scenarios which make the process important � How interest rates affect people and businesses before a discussion of how the fed determines interest rates � How much money college costs or how long it takes to pay off a loan before a discussion about choosing the best college loan for you.

Characteristics Cont. �Describes Necessary Equipment Describing a loan calculator for taking out a loan Describing how the internet has changed the stock market before a discussion on how or when to buy stocks. �Appropriate Detail Consider your audience � Keep details aligned with the intended audience Students at Pine Valley High Stock Broker Banker

Characteristics Cont. �Anticipate Trouble and Offer Solutions What was difficult for you at first? How did you figure it out? � In an essay explaining how to apply for a mortgage, anticipate the difficulty of finding a cosigner and give advice of how to resolve that problem. Warn readers of difficult , complicated, or critical steps

Organization �Introduction Background Info Thesis Statement �Body Paragraphs Transition, Topic sentence Example- Quote Explain Connect to thesis and bridge to next body paragraph

Organization Cont �Conclusion Transition, Draws back to thesis and draws the essay to a close. Often times, you will refer back to how this solves the problem set up in the background information.

Writing �Choose the topic Use the possibilities sheet to help you or make one of your own that refers to banking/ finance. �Consider Your Purpose Informative: How to choose a credit card. Persuasive: How bailout money was used to avert financial crisis in the U. S.

Writing Cont. �Consider the Audience What background information do they need? What terms should I define? What equipment should I describe? How much detail is necessary? How can I illustrate trouble spots to prevent confusion or warn of danger?

Develop a Working Thesis � Tells Why the process is important, beneficial, or relevant

Gather Details and List Steps �First Gather Information on the Topic �Then List the Steps on a Graphic Organizer What separate actions are involved? What are obvious to you but may not be obvious to somebody else? What steps, if omitted will lead to problems or failure? 2 or 3 column notes work well for this �Find interesting facts and illustrations that will help the reader better understand what to do, or why it is important.

Re-Evaluate the Thesis �When you have gathered all information, decided on organization, etc. , go back to thesis. �The thesis statement should encompass everything you discuss in the paper. �It should be a complex sentence with complex ideas.

Draft �Write the paper �Use at least 2 quotes/ paraphrases for each step. �Never quote or paraphrase without explaining �Include reasons for the steps �Consider Headings �Use transitions to show relationships between ideas �Effective Introductions are imperative �Appropriate tone- 3 rd person point of view, no forbidden words, no contractions, be formal �Satisfying Conclusion

REVISING �Is this the best order for the process? �Is this the best example? �Can I find some statistics to show important this is? �Did I appeal to the fact based reader? How? �Did I appeal to the emotional reader? How? �Could somebody go out and do this after reading the essay?

Editing and Proofreading �Check forbidden words and contractions �Is everything cited correctly? �Read entire paper aloud exactly as it is written �Check for comma splices (two independent clauses connected with only a comma) �Check for run-on sentences and sentence fragments �Check for spelling errors and typos not caught by spell check (form for from)