PROCESS PARAGRAPHS

MA. Hoang Nu Minh Chau

 WHAT IS A PROCESS PARAGRAPH?
• A process paragraph explains how to do something step by step. The
reader should be able to follow the steps to get desired result.

• There are two common types of process paragraphs:

 A paragraph that gives instructions on how to do something, for
example, how to cook an egg.
 A paragraph that explains how something works or happens, for
example, how a hurricane happens.
 A process paragraph that
gives instruction on how to
do something.
 A process paragraph that
explains how something
happens.
 Quiz
1. Which topic is a real-life process?
a. Telling someone how to order supplies
b. Telling someone that you have learned how to use the new photocopier
c. Telling someone what you did on the weekend
2. Which topic is a process?
a. A paragraph describing the laws of a country.
b. A paragraph describing who makes laws for a country.
c. A paragraph describing the way the government makes laws for a country.
3. Which topic is a process?
a. How friendly the people in your neighbourhood are.
b. How much it costs to live in your neighbourhood.
c. How people can travel to your neighbourhood on the bus.
 PROCESS ORGANIZATION
 Topic Sentence
- Introduces the process that the writer will explain.
 Supporting Sentences
- The middle sentences describe a sequence of steps that give detailed information about the
stages of the process.
- These sentences may also give background details that help define the process for the reader or
explain why this process is useful or necessary.
- Supporting sentences may also include the tools needed for the task.
 Concluding Sentence
- Restates the topic sentence using different words.
- May also include a suggestion or warning to help the reader do the task more easily.
 Writing Topic Sentences

It is easy to cook a fried egg if you
follow these steps.
or
There are four important steps you
should understand if you want to
cook the perfect fried egg.
There are a number of things Not everyone can be a good leader.
you should prepare before a job However, if you have a plan, you
interview. can acquire some excellent
leadership skills.
 BRAINSTORMING AND OUTLINING
Now let’s practice brainstorming!
1. How to impress your crush
2. How to make lemon juice
3. How rain is formed

 Think about how much information your audience, the reader, needs. If the reader
knows very little about the topic, then you need to give a lot of information.

 List all the steps necessary to complete the process.

 Put all the steps in chronological order.

 Put the steps in the appropriate order for
"Using an Automatic Bank Machine".
1 2
a. Push the button next to the account you want to use.
b. Punch in your personal identification number.
c. Insert your ATM card into the machine.
d. Count the money to make sure the amount is correct.
3 4
e. Enter the amount of cash you want.
f. Take your card and your receipt.
g. Push the button next to withdraw cash.

5 6 7
COMPLETING AN OUTLINE
A PROCESS

Topic Sentence

Supporting Sentences
- Background information
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
…

Concluding Sentence
DEVELOPING YOUR IDEAS
TIME TRANSITION
• Time transitions are words such as: first,
then, next, while, later, finally, etc.
• These words tell the audience when to do
something or when something happens.
They show the order of the instructions
and how each instruction connects with
another instruction.
IMPROVING YOUR WRITING
IMPERATIVE
• You can use the imperative verb form to give instructions.
• The imperative helps you avoid using the word "you" too much. Also use
imperatives to give warnings.

Ex: Get a pot big enough to hold one egg. Fill the pot 4/5 full with water. Put in the
egg. Put the pot on the stove. Turn the heat to high and wait until the
water boils. Boil the egg in the water for three minutes. Take the egg out of the pot
and put it in an egg cup. Eat the egg.
IMPROVING YOUR WRITING
MODAL
• You can use modals to give suggestions, emphasize certain steps, and give
instructions.

Ex: If you like hard-boiled eggs better than soft-boiled eggs, you should boil the egg
for five minutes. You can let the egg stand in hot water for two more minutes to be
sure it is hard enough. You must cook the egg more than four minutes.
IMPROVING YOUR WRITING
PASSIVE
• You can use the passive voice to show that an action is done. The passive avoids
saying who or what does the action.

Ex: First, a small pot is filled 4/5 full with water. The egg is placed in the water. The
pot of water is put on the stove and the heat is turned to high. When the water is
boiling, the egg is boiled for three minutes. Finally, the egg is taken out of the
pot, put into an egg cup, and eaten.
REVISING AND EDITING YOUR WRITING