The Process Essay

1. The Process Essay ESL 33

2. Overview Every day we perform many activities that are processes such as Making breakfast Loading film into a camera Getting ready for school

3. Overview continued A process essay explains How to do something How to make something How something occurs in steps

4. Considering Purpose and Audience We see process essays all the time in what we read. For example, we might see magazine cover stories with titles such as “How to Impress Your Boss” “How to Add Romance to Your Life” “How to Dress Like a Movie Star”

5. Purpose The process essay gives a reader instructions or information. Directions or instructions - (how to make chocolate chip cookies) Information – (what steps or stages are involved when the body converts food into energy) or (how to get financial aid)

6. Audience If giving directions or instructions, you may write in the second person - “you” If providing information, use the more formal third person.

7. General Outline 1. Thesis Statement (Introduction) 2. What is the first major step? a. Give detailsb. Give detailsc. Give details 3. What is the second major step? a. Give detailsb. Give detailsc. Give details 4. What is the third major step? a. Give detailsb. Give detailsc. Give details 5. Conclusion

8. Outline – Process Essay (Information) I. Introduction   Thesis: Ingestion, digestion, and absorption are the three major steps involved in the digestive process. II. Food is ingested A. Food enters the mouth.    B. Food is chewed.    C. Food is ready to travel to the stomach. III. Food is digested    Food is mixed with acidic gastric juices in the stomach.    The partially liquid food moves from the stomach to the small intestine.    Enzymes are secreted IV. Absorption     The digested food passes through the walls of the small intestine.     The digested food is absorbed into the bloodstream. V. Conclusion     Paraphrased Thesis: The digestion process involves three major steps: ingestion, digestion, and absorption.

9. A PROCESS OF DIGESTION - Sample Essay     The digestive process is important in maintaining the lives of living organisms and in providing them with needed energy. Groups of organs, such as the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines, work together to perform this complex task. Digestion is the process of breaking down food from large molecules into small ones to make it easier for absorption. The three major steps involved in the digestive process are ingestion, digestion, and absorption.    Ingestion, which occurs in the mouth, is the first step of the digestive process. After food enters the mouth, the teeth chew it. Saliva, which is produced by the salivary glands, plays a major role in breaking down the food into smaller pieces. These small pieces travel to the stomach through the esophagus.    In the stomach, the second step of the digestive process begins. When the chewed food reaches the bottom of the esophagus, a valve lets the food enter the stomach. Contraction of the stomach wall mixes the food. Acidic gastric juices, which are secreted by the gastric glands in the stomach, help in mixing the food and in turning it into a partial liquid so it will have the ability to move into the small intestine. In the small intestine, enzymes are secreted, and digestion is completed.    The last step in the digestive process is absorption. Absorption takes place in the small intestine. The wall of the small intestine is lined with small, finger like projections called villi. Small molecules of food are absorbed by the huge number of villi. Some of these absorbed molecules enter the bloodstream to be distributed throughout the whole body.    In conclusion, the digestive process involves three major steps: ingestion, digestion, and absorption. Ingestion, which occurs in the mouth, helps to increase the surface are of the food particles and prepares them for digestion. In the stomach, digestion begins, and it continues until it reaches the small intestine, where absorption takes place. The digestive process maintains organisms' lives by providing them with energy needed for different functions.

10. Transitions to Use in a Process Essay after, after a while before during first, second, third, the final step first of all, then, next, soon later In the meantime, meanwhile currently eventually, finally

11. Topics How to maintain a good relationship with your neighbors How to lose or gain weight How to get over a broken heart How to choose a pet How to shop for a car How to shop for groceries in minimum amount of time How to end terrorism How to always be happy at your place of work How to maintain a good relationship with a person from a different culture How to continue to be attractive to your husband or wife How to make a good impression on your first date How to help children do their homework How to cheat on a test How to get a date How to be a successful student How to make a favorite dish

12. Sample Essays in College Writing Skills Read “Successful Exercise” on page 227 – CWS Read “How to Complain” on page 228 – CWS Read “How to do Well on a Job Interview” on page 234 - CWS