Process Essay
We often use Process Essay in university writing to explain processes, procedure or some thing
happening in chronological order (time order)
UNDERSTANDING CHERNOBYL
Clouds of radioactive steam shoot into the sky. Fires burn unstoppably, sending radioactive smoke and
particles into the atmosphere…. This was the scene at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former
USSR in April 1986. Are such fears justified ? To understand how the accident at Chernobyl happen, it is
necessary to understand how nuclear power plant is constructed and how one operate.
A nuclear power plant contains a nuclear reactor that uses controlled nuclear fission to produce
electricity. The reactor consists of fuel rods alternating with control rods inside a very large
container called the reactor core. The fuel rods…
How do nuclear reactors produce electricity? First, a series of nuclear fissions are produced by
bombarding the nuclei of uranium-235 with neutrons. When a neutron strikes a nucleus, the
nucleus splits, …
How did the accident at Chernobyl happen? It happened because on the day of the accident,
the safety system on the reactor had been disabled while operators performed an experimental
test. During the test, …
In the end, the cost of the Cher-nobyl accident was enormous . Thirty-one people died, … A
well-designed nuclear power plant using normal fuel is not dangerous as long as proper safety
procedures are followed. However, poor design and/or disregard for safety regulations can
lead to catastrophe.
Technique Questions
1. What is the thesis statement?
How does it indicate that at least part of this essay will use chronological organization?
2. Which two paragraphs explain processes (how something works or how something happens)? What
two processes are explained?
3. Which paragraph describes the design of a nuclear power plant?
4. What kind of introduction does this essay have-"funnel" or attention-getting?
5. What kind of conclusion does it have? Does it summarize the main points or paraphrase the thesis, or
is it a different kind? Does it give a final comment?
Three Keys
Here are three keys to organizing a process essay.
1. Divide the steps into separate paragraphs
where natural breaks or groups of steps
occur.
For example:
Topic: How to make a ceramic vase:
I. Introductory paragraph
ll. Body
A. Shaping the vase
B. First (bisque) firing
C. Glazing
D. Second firing
III. Concluding paragraph
2. Write a thesis statement that names the process and indicates time order.
3. Use chronological order signal words and phrases to indicate the time sequence.
The Thesis Statement
A thesis statement for a process essay in some way indicates the time order.
Expressions such as the process of, the procedure for, plan, develop, evolve, five stages, and several
phases indicate that time order will be used.
Here are some examples:
Follow these steps to make a beautiful ceramic vase for your home.
The field of genetic engineering has developed rapidly in the past 10 years.
A child learns to share over a period of time.
Heating water by solar radiation is a simple process.
Sometimes the thesis statement tells the number of steps in the process.
The process of heating water by solar radiation involves three main steps.
The thesis statement may even name the steps.
The main steps in the process of heating water by solar radiation are (1) trapping the sun's
energy, (2) heating and storing the hot water, and (3) distributing the hot water to its points of
use.
PRACTICE 1
Identify thesis of chronological order
1. A child learns to handle responsibility in a series of small steps.
. . . 2. A person's intelligence is the product of both heredity and environment.
. . . 3. There are two main reasons I believe women in the army should not be allowed in a war zone
along with men.
. . . 4. The procedure for submitting expense reports has recently changed.
. . . 5. The tensions that led to last year's student riots had been developing for several years.
6. North American directness often conflicts with Asian modesty.
. . . 7. The two busiest travel days in the United States are the Wednesday before and the Sunday after
Thanksgiving.
. . . 8. Cultures celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of spring in different ways.
. . . 9. The preparation of the poisonous puffer fish for eating is a delicate process that is not for amateur
chefs.
. . . 10. The life cycle of the monarch butterfly is an interesting phenomenon.
PRACTICE 2 FILL-IN
Use each signal only once. Change small letters to capital letters and add commas where necessary.
as soon as the lesson begins
when you return first
in conclusion finally
in the next few minutes a third time
then next next
when he or she asks you to speak up
before you sit down second
How to Annoy a Teacher
It is quite easy to annoy a teacher- even the most patient, kind-hearted teacher in the world- if you
follow these simple steps.
(1) . . . . . always come to class just a little late.(2) . . . . . . . . make as much noise as possible as you
enter the room. (3) . . . . . greet all your friends with a cheerful wave- or even better, with a shouted
greeting. (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .slam your heavy backpack down on the floor next to your desk and do a
few stretching exercises. (After all, you will be sitting still for the next 40 minutes or so!) (5) . . . . . . . . .
make a big, gaping yawn and take your seat.
(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , raise your hand and ask to be excused to go to the restroom. (7) . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . be sure to slam the door, and again, make as much noise as possible while taking your seat.
(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .turn the pages of your book noisily, search in your backpack for a pencil, ask
your neighbor if you can borrow an eraser, and announce in a loud voice that you cannot find your
homework. (9) . . . . . . raise your hand and ask to be excused to look for it in your locker.
If the teacher should happen to call on you during the class, mumble an answer.
(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . mumble again-maybe a little louder this time, but still not
loudly enough to be heard. If the teacher dares to ask you (11) . . . . . . . . . . . give a loud and clear
answer to the previous question-the one your classmate answered a minute ago-and smile smugly as
you do so.
(12) . . . . . . . . . . . . if these techniques do not achieve the desired results, you can always fold your
arms across your desk, put your head down, and take a nap. Just do not forget to snore!
REVIEW
These are the important points covered in this chapter.
1. Using chronological order to organize an essay means putting the ideas in order or sequence by
occurrence in time.
2. Use chronological order for narrative essays (stories, history, biography, and autobiography) and for
process essays (how to do or make something).
3. Following are the three keys to success in writing a chronological order essay:
• Group the steps or events into paragraphs where natural breaks occur.
• Write a thesis statement that indicates chronological order.
• Use chronological order signal words and phrases to show the sequence of steps (in a process) or
events (in a narration).