The Process Essay

As the name suggests, the process essay explains the process of making or breaking something. These essays are often written in chronological order, or in numerical order to show step-by-step processes. They are written in descriptive or prescriptive modes. Although it is not a technical communication, it sounds like it has all the qualities of a technical document. The only difference is that it is often written in descriptive mode, while a technical document is mostly in imperative mode. As process essays provide a step-by-step approach to doing something, they typically have transition words. These transition words help readers understand what has been done and what will follow next. Some of the specific transition words could be immediately, initially, in the end, in the future, in the meanwhile, later, next, soon, eventually, finally or firstly, and secondly. Here's an example: "In any community, there are several and varying ways in which residents fulfill a sense of community: participating in intramural sports, attending farmers' markets, walking with neighbors, attending political meetings, helping the elderly, visiting the library, and volunteering for youth groups." An process essay gives the reader a sense of complete how-to-do process of making or creating some objects or things. Readers, after going through the essay, are able to create and make things. Although it is not like imperative instructions, it gives full details in a descriptive or prescriptive mode. It is because its major objective is not to present trite and dry instructions, but lively language to make readers read it with interest and do the act with enthusiasm.