Guide for writing influential Process Analysis Essays with 6 easy to understand steps and 8 compelling tips. A process analysis essay goes into the steps required to complete an event. This article will describe the format a writer can use to complete a process analysis essay.
What Is A Process Analysis Essay?
A process analysis essay is one that follows a series of steps in showing how a process comes to its end result. It follows a sequential order so that the reader can be guided step by step. In order to produce a usable process analysis essay, the writer must fully understand all aspects of the process so as to properly explain each step and how they relate to one another and result in the final outcome. The essay should be well structured and provide clear and concise instructions that a reader will be able to understand and follow.
There are two possible outcomes to a process analysis essay, the first is to direct the reader by having them follow step by step instructions and the second is to explain the process and analyze how it works. Both outcomes are meant to relay information in the end.
Instructions (6 steps)
1. Select a Topic
As with all essays, the first step is to select the type of process you want to write about and do the research. The writer must obtain full information on the process and clearly understand it in order to convey it to the target audience via an essay. The writer will also need to decide if he or she is willing to describe the entire process or focus on just a portion of it. Some processes can be quite lengthy and would require a long document to describe them fully. The writer may decide to rather focus on just a portion of the process or categorize the processes that make up the whole in such a way that is easily understandable to the reader.
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The writer must fully comprehend how the process flows and each step works. It is only in this way that he or she will be able to make it understandable to the reader. The writer may need to comprehend highly technical language and translate it into layman’s terms so that the reader will be able to keep up.
2. Break the Process Down into Steps
Once the writer has taken time to understand the process first, he or she will need to break up the whole into simple to understand steps. This is how the writer will be able to effectively guide the reader through the process and hold their interest in the subject. This is part of the reason that some writers may decide to not fully explain a lengthy process but rather focus on some key areas or just a portion. A lengthy process description easily confuses readers or has them lose interest.
3. Know your target audience
It is important that the writer be aware of the kind of reader who will ready the essay. For instance if the readers are professionals in the field, they would be familiar and appreciate the use of technical terms. If the target audience is made up of novices, then simple words must be used together with descriptive diagrams to help them know how the process is flowing.
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It also helps to know what the target audience is meant to do with the essay. For instance the descriptive essay that accompanies a new phone is meant to familiarize a layman with the parts of the phone and how each part works. The process analysis essay for a mobile phone repair technician will however be quite different, consisting of technical terms he or she should already be familiar with and leading them into technical processes they should be able to follow in order to perform a repair job.
The kind of language, detailing and technical terms used will therefore depend on who is the target audience. If the audience is actually meant to make use of the process information to perform tasks then the second person language such as ‘you’ should be made use of. For instance ‘You can open the back of the gadget by pushing against slot B in a sliding motion.’
4. Introduction
The introduction portion should give some basic information on the process and convey what the reader should ultimately learn by the time they finish with the essay. For instance ‘You should be able to assemble the cabinet easily without assistance by the end of this document.’
5. Arrange the Main Body
The main text should follow a chronological order. It should guide the reader step by step on how to complete the process. If not arranged in the correct order, the reader will become confused and is likely to make errors.
6. Conclusion
The conclusion should give a brief over view of the process carried out. Do not bring in new steps to be cried out at the end. Simply end by detailing how the end result should appear for the reader to know they have been successful in following your instructions. If you have only described a portion of a process in the essay, you can advise the reader to move on to the next portion if they have successfully completed the process already described.
Tips
1. Clear and Concise Language
Use clear and concise language. Remember that the reader could very well be performing the tasks as you have put them down so keep it short but precise.
2. Target Audience
Remember that not all readers re of the same technical proficient so be sure to know what level of knowledge your target audience will be.
3. Visual Aids
If the process is being described to newbies, then it is advisable to have visual aids that will help the process described make sense. Diagrams are very helpful in such cases. They may also be of great use to even the most expert technician.
4. Insert Comments
Insert comments like ‘and then’, ‘wait until’ and ‘once that is done’ to show when the reader can move to the next step. The writer does not have to be too descriptive but such terms will help the reader know what they have to complete before moving forward.
5. Chronological Order
Keep the actions moving in a chronological order. Do not go backwards and avoid referring readers to another part of the document while the process is in flow.
6. Test run of Instructions
Do a test run of your instructions, or better yet have a friend of the same knowledge level as the target audience do it. This will allow you to know if your process is well laid out and easy to follow. Take note of any questions your friend has to ask in order to move forward. You may have to include them in your final revision.
7. Target Audience
If the target audience is wide cross-section of people of varying technical ability, you may want to spend some time defining the technical terms so as to avoid the reader losing track.
8. Heading and Sub Heading
Feel free to make use of heading and sub headings just as long as they allow the process explanation to flow easily. Be sure that each paragraph closes off a part of the process so that the reader can focus on the next step.