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Process Description Guide for Academic Tasks

Tips for PROCESS- IELTS WRITING TASK 1

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
7 views7 pages

Process Description Guide for Academic Tasks

Tips for PROCESS- IELTS WRITING TASK 1

Uploaded by

Hà Mai
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PROCESS

Updated 2024

1. DEFINITION
If you are unlucky enough to get a process diagram in academic task 1, it is quite possible that you will

need to be able to describe one of procedures as below:

 PRODUCTION: an artificial production process of something coffee production, cement


production, electricity production, etc.
 LIFE CYCLE:
 MECHANISM

1. PRODUCTION PROCESS

2. MECHANISM PROCESS

3. LIFE CYCLE PROCESS


2. GRAMMATICAL FEATURES IN DESCRIBING PROCESS
 With Process Description, TIME is not provided in the question => Use simple present tense
 With Natural Process => The active voice is mainly used.
 With Production Process => The passive voice is mainly used.
 With Mechanism Process => The passive voice is mainly used.

3. READING A PROCESS DIAGRAM


o Step 1: To see where the process starts and ends
o Step 2: Understand the different stages of the process (TIP: ask yourself the WH
questions to analyze items illustrated in the picture)
o Step 3: Find a way of organising your description
o Step 4: Select key features to write the overview. Ask yourself these questions as below:
 Is there one simple process or are there variations within the process?
 How many stages are there in this process?
 What is the beginning stage?
 What is the ending stage?

4. WRITING THE INTRODUCTION


 Paraphrase the question
 Useful expressions:
o The chart/diagram (shows/describes/illustrates) how +clause
o The production of……………..
o The process of producing/ making………………
o How………….is produced/ made.
o How to produce/ make…………

5. WRITING THE OVERVIEW


In the overview, the candidate MUST answer:

 How many stages are there in this process?


 What are the beginning stage and the ending stage?
 If there are two diagrams => each process = one paragraph

A. Production Process
Templates for overview – BASIC

 There are ....main stages (steps) in the process/in the process of producing...,beginning with...and
ending with...
 The …………………….involves ………………….main steps/ stages beginning with………………and finishing
with…………………..
 There are … key steps to complete a full cycle, initiating with ………………… and completing with
…………..
Templates for overview- ACADEMIC

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Task 1: Point out two figure and write the overview for this PRODUCTION PROCESS

B. Mechanism Process
In the overview, the candidate MUST answer:

 How many stages are there in this process?


 What are the main parts of the item?
 What is the input?
 What is its protocol?
Task 2: Identify the input and the protocol from this MECHANISM PROCEDURE

C. Natural Process
In the overview, the candidate MUST answer:

 How many stages are there in this process?


 What are the beginning stage and the ending stage?
 During the development of how does the animal illustrated in the diagram change in SIZE and
SHAPE? (Optional)

Task 3: Write the overview for this LIFE CYCLE PROCES


6. WRITING THE BODY
A. Dividing the process into two sections
In general, there is no specific formula for dividing the given process into 2 parts for 2 body paragraphs.
The candidate need to read the whole diagram carefully before separating it into 2 sections.

In PROCESS DESCRIPTION, identifying the BEGINNING POINT and ENDING POINT is of paramount
importance.

B. Language for describing a process


i. Sequence Vocabulary
The first stage
 To begin with,
 First of all,
 In the first step,
 The first step in the process is
 The first stage in the process is
 At the first stage of ....
 At/In the beginning,
 The first stage is when…
 The process begins/starts/commences when…
 The process begins with + <n./n.p.>

The middle stage


 At the following stage,
 Following that,
 Followed by,
 The second stage is that…
 In the next/ subsequent step,
 ………. followed by……..
 After that, / After …….
 Subsequent steps,
 Subsequently,
 The process continues with...
 The next step is
 Then,

Steps happening simultaneously


 While,
 During
 At the same time
 Simultaneously,

The final step


 Finally,
 The last/ final process / step is that…
 The process finishes with ...
 The process concludes with ...

The repetition of the cycle


 The whole process is a cycle which can be divided into ________________ main stages
 At this point, a cycle has been completed and a new cycle will begin

ii. Structures suggested for describing process


Passive Tense
 S + to-be + V3/ed
Ex: At the beginning of the process, clay is dug from the ground.

Shortened Relative Clause with Passive Voice


 Being + V-ed
Ex: After being washed, the tomatoes are moved to the grilling stage.

Gerund
 V-ing
Ex: After that, the ground, frozen liquid is dried in a vacuum so that the water evaporates,
leaving the coffee granules

Shortened Relative Clause


 V-ing+ Object, S + Verb + Object
Ex: Having mixed the pulp by hand, he uses a rolling pin to flatten the pulp.
Having been poured into a shallow tray with some water, the pulp is then mixed by hand.

iii. Combining steps


 Before/ after+ V-ing, S+ V+ O
Ex: After wilting, it undergoes rolling and slight fermentation before drying in the oven.
 S+ V+ O prior to SOMETHING
Ex: The production of small leaf black tea is similar, except that it is not rolled, but crushed prior
to full fermentation in order to produce smaller leaves.
 S+ V+ O as followed by something
Ex: Next, the moulded cans are checked so that they are all the same weight as followed by
passing through a rolling machine
 Until + S + V + O
Ex: The customers cannot receive his goods until the payment has been authorized.
 Once + S + V + O
Ex: Once the consumer’s bank has authorized payment, the good can be released to the
customers.

Common questions

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Using templates for writing introductions and overviews in process descriptions ensures consistency, clarity, and completeness. They provide a structured approach to starting descriptions by prompting the writer to clearly state the primary stages and objectives of the process. This method aids in maintaining an academic tone while ensuring that all necessary components, such as the start and endpoint, and major phases, are addressed systematically. Templates also aid less experienced writers in structuring their thoughts and ensuring no crucial information is omitted .

Dividing a process into two sections for body paragraphs is beneficial when the process is complex or involves multiple distinct stages that can be grouped logically. This division helps maintain clarity and facilitates focus on specific parts of the process, allowing for more detailed descriptions. It is especially useful if both sections share similarities or if one leads sequentially into the next part. Ultimately, dividing the content can make the description easier to follow and help emphasize key differences or similarities between the stages .

The passive voice is primarily used in describing a production process because it focuses on the action and the process rather than who performs the action. For example, in the sentence 'clay is dug from the ground,' the emphasis is on the process of digging rather than the digger. This grammatical choice allows a clear and structured depiction of each stage in the process without emphasizing the agent, which is often irrelevant in professional descriptions .

Using sequence vocabulary such as 'first of all,' 'following that,' 'subsequently,' and 'finally' is recommended as they clearly mark the progression of stages and transitions between them. These structures guide the reader through the process in a logical order, ensuring they can easily follow the sequential flow without confusion. Passive forms like 'is checked' and 'is passed through' emphasize the action, not the actor, which suits the impersonal and objective nature of academic and technical descriptions .

The passive tense provides an impartial and objective tone to descriptions, focusing on the process rather than the actors involved. This enhances the clarity of concurrent stages by ensuring that each action or event is viewed independently of its performer, promoting a clear understanding of each component's role. Phrases such as 'is mixed' or 'is isolated' demonstrate this efficacy by allowing the description of simultaneous actions without attributing them to specific agents, which can complicate or personalize the description .

Counting the stages in a process is essential for organizing and structuring a comprehensive description. This activity acts as a preliminary step that informs the writer of the number of sections needed, ensuring each stage is given appropriate attention and description. It guides the overall writing process by creating a framework within which each element of the process is explored, providing cues for the transition between stages, and helping define the story arc from inception to completion. It also supports the writer in estimating the complexity of the process and planning paragraph content accordingly .

When describing a natural process, the active voice is used predominantly since it reflects natural changes and developments, e.g., 'plants grow over time.' The progressive nature of natural processes also aligns with the simple present tense, signaling ongoing and universal truths. In contrast, artificial production processes rely heavily on the passive voice to focus on the actions or stages rather than the actors, e.g., 'cement is produced.' The use of passive voice in production processes is significant for maintaining an objective tone and emphasizing the completion of each stage as part of an overall sequence .

When analyzing a process diagram, asking WH questions like "What is the first step?", "How many stages are there in the cycle?", "Where does the process end?", and "What are the significant inputs and outputs at each stage?" can be instrumental. These questions help decipher the flow and structure of the diagram, facilitating the recognition of distinct stages and their respective functions. This analytical approach allows for identifying critical steps that should be highlighted in the description, enhancing the clarity and completeness of the narrative .

When organizing a process description, it is crucial to identify the start and end points to provide a sequential flow of information. Critical steps include understanding the different stages by asking WH questions, such as how many stages there are, what starts the process, and what concludes it. The aim is to select key features for an overview, particularly in academic contexts, requiring the candidate to discern if variations exist within the process and how to segment these into manageable sections. Proper organization enhances clarity and coherence in describing intricate processes .

Identifying the beginning and ending points of a process provides a clear framework that aids in structuring the entire description. It establishes the scope and sequence of the process, ensuring that the description logically progresses from start to finish. This identification helps in defining each stage's purpose and its connection to subsequent steps, fostering a coherent narrative that is easier for the reader to follow and comprehend. It also helps in recognizing possible variations or interruptions in the cycle that may require special attention .

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