Process
The following steps can help you develop a suitable process-analysis paper.
STEP 1: Prewriting—Focusing on the Subject
A satisfactory process analysis deals with a subject narrow enough for a thorough
discussion within the paragraph or pages planned. For instance, to analyze the pro-
cess of building a house, a writer must plan for a nearly book-length manuscript. On
the other hand, a writer can analyze the process of building footings for a house in
a few pages.
To focus on your own subject, complete the following sentence:
My paper will explain how _____.Now look at your sentence. Are you planning a paragraph or a book? Is your subject
appropriate to the length? If not, adjust it to be narrow enough, or broad enough, to
suit your purpose.
STEP 2: Prewriting—Determining Essential Details
When you have a focus for your paper, jot down the steps in the process. In addition,
must the reader anticipate other problems? Consider these ideas:
If the reader may actually complete the process,
- Are^ certain^ materials^ or^ equipment^ required^ to^ complete^ the^ job?^ Protective^
clothing or goggles? Tools? Special materials? Perhaps you can prepare a
shopping list for the reader.
-^ Must certain conditions prevail, either for satisfactory results or for safety
reasons? For instance, must the temperature lie between 50 and 75 degrees? Is
humidity detrimental? Should the workspace be well ventilated? - How^ long^ will^ the^ process^ take?^ A^ few^ minutes?^ Several^ hours?^ A^ week?^ Offer^
guidelines so that the reader can better decide how, or if, to follow the process. - Does^ he^ or^ she^ need^ additional^ terminology?^ Should^ you^ supply^ definitions^ or^
technical explanations? [See Chapter 9, Definition.] - Which^ parts^ of^ the^ process^ will^ be^ most^ difficult^ to^ understand?^ Can^ you^ provide^
clarifying examples, illustrations, and comparisons? [See Analogy (Chapter 5),
Classification (Chapter 7), and Comparison and Contrast (Chapter 8).]
As you jot down steps, add notes for whatever other information the reader needs to
understand the process.
Complete the list of steps before you go on to Step 3.
120 / Methods of Development