Some General and Specific Tips and Guidelines for

Some General and Specific Tips and Guidelines for Writing Process Compositions

General Advice for Writing Process Compositions • • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Use chronological order. Keep your audience in mind. Be clear. Be thorough. Be exact. Stick to the point. Be complete.

Some More-Specific Advice for Process Compositions

Ordinary paragraphs and process compositions are different • • Ordinary Avoid “you” Avoid speaking directly to the reader Avoid imperatives Use “should” • • Process Use “you” Speak directly to the reader Use imperatives Avoid “should, ” except for true advice

1. Usually, start your process paragraph with a topic sentence. • a. announces the topic. • b. asserts that the topic is easy or possible, or some similar, general idea. • c. announces that the paragraph will have steps.

Examples of process paragraph topic sentences • Making noodle soup is easy if you follow three simple steps. • To make a good impression at a job interview, follow these directions. • It is easy to become president of the United States if you take the following steps.

2. Generally, avoid the phrase you should, except for true advice.

Avoid • You should begin by turning on the stove. • You should arrive early for your interview. • You should ask your supporters for a lot of money. Better • First, turn on the stove. • Arrive early for your interview. • Ask your supporters for a lot of money.

3. Most of the sentences in a process composition will use imperative form. a. Most imperative statements will be positive. b. Some imperative statements will be negative. c. Negative imperative statements are as important as positive ones.

Positive Negative • Cut the carrots into small chunks. • Don’t cut the pieces too small. • Shine your shoes a day before the interview. • Don’t make animal noises during the interview. • Use television ads to invite everyone to vote for you. • Don’t make promises that you cannot keep.

4. Some non-directional information is usually desirable.

Non-directional comments • The pot should be big enough to hold all the ingredients of your soup. • Companies often have a website that provides useful information. • People who were born outside of the United States cannot become president.

5. A concluding sentence is sometimes desirable, but not always. It may summarize your main points, repeat your main points, or indicate a positive result of following the steps.

Concluding sentence • If you follow these steps, you and your friends will be enjoying soup in a very short time. • In conclusion, remember to be on time, smile, and give a large amount of cash to the interviewer. • If you follow these steps, you will be the next president of the United States.

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