The Process Essay

What is a process essay?

• A process is a series of actions leading to an expected or planned outcome.
• There are two types of process essays: those that instruct and those that explain or analyze.
• Directional process essays: might explain how to find an apartment. The purpose of this type of essay is to clarify the steps in the procedure so that the reader can re-create the steps and the results.
• An informational process essay: explains or analyzes a process--tells how something works, how something happened, or how something is or was done. For example, you could explain how World War II began or how hurricanes form. The informational process essay, has a purpose different from that of a directional process essay. Its main purpose is to inform, explain, or analyze. The reader is gaining an understanding of the process; he or she does not necessarily expect to be able to recreate the process.

What format does the body of the essay take?

To develop the thesis or unifying idea, each paragraph in the body of the essay treats on major stage of the procedure. Each stage may group several steps, depending on the nature and complexity of the process. These steps are presented in chronological order, and are only interrupted for the writer to give definitions and advice. Every step must be included and must appear in its proper place. Throughout the body of a process essay, transitional words and phrases are necessary so that each step, each stage, and each paragraph lead logically to the next. Transitions like after this, next, then, etc are used to establish sequential and chronological relationships that help the reader follow the process. Particular words should not be repeated so often, that they become boring.


Here is a sample outline:

I. Introduction

II. Body
A. Stage I
1. Step 1
2. Step 2
3. Step 3

B. Stage II
1. Step 1
2. Step 2
3. Step 3

C. Stage III
1. Step 1
2. Step 2
3. Step 3

III. Conclusion