understand what process analysis is

202

You Know This

You use processes all the time.

• You assemble something using the step-by-step directions.

• You follow rou-tine processes, like recycling.

Understand What Process Analysis IsProcess analysis explains either how to do something (so your readers can do it) or how something works (so your readers can understand it). Both types of process analysis present the steps involved in the process.

13Process AnalysisWriting That Explains How Things Happen

FOUR BASICS OF GOOD PROCESS ANALYSIS1. It helps readers either perform the steps themselves or under-

stand how something works.

2. It presents the essential steps in the process.

3. It explains the steps in detail.

4. It arranges the steps in a logical order (usually in chronological order).

In the following paragraph, each number corresponds to one of the four basics of good process analysis.

1 The Web site MapQuest.com can get you from where you are to

where you want to go in several easy steps. 2 First, type in the Web address

(www.mapquest.com), and wait for the home page to appear. Then, click

on the link titled “Directions.” You will be prompted to type your starting

address and the address of your destination. 3 It’s important to supply

■ IDEA JOURNAL Write about a goal you have and what you will do to accomplish it.

4 Steps arranged in a logical order

ANK_47574_13_ch13_pp202-217 r4 ko.indd 202 10/29/08 10:07:31 AM

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WRITING ESSAYSChapter 13 • Process Analysis 203

complete information, including the street address, city, and state (or

zip). 2 Next, click on “Get Directions.” This screen will present you with

written directions and a map showing the route to take. 3 The written

directions guide you step-by-step and include the mileage for each step.

The map allows you to zoom in and out to get a better view. Although

sometimes I have found errors in them, MapQuest directions are usually

correct and take me exactly where I want to go.

Whenever you give someone directions about how to do something or explain how something works, you are using process analysis. Here are some ways you might use process analysis:

COLLEGE In an information technology course, you write an essay explaining the process for implementing a new data management system.

WORK The offi ce has a new security system, and you are asked to write a memo to employees explaining how to access their work areas during and after normal business hours.

EVERYDAY You write directions telling your child how to operate the LIFE microwave oven.

Main Point in Process AnalysisYour purpose in process analysis is to explain a process so that readers can either do it themselves or understand how it works. Your main point lets your readers know what you think about that process — for example, whether it’s easy or complicated. The topic sentence of the paragraph on page 202 does just that:

The Web site MapQuest.com can get you from where you are to where you want to go in several easy steps.

A thesis statement for a process analysis usually identifi es the process and the point you want to make about it. The thesis should also suggest what you want your readers to know or learn about the process.

Process + Main point = Thesis statement

Wallpapering a room takes careful preparation and application.

4 Steps arranged in a logical order


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WRITING ESSAYS204 Part Two • Writing Different Kinds of Essays

In process analysis, include your thesis statement in your introduction so that readers know from the start what the process and the purpose are.

Support in Process AnalysisA clear process analysis presents all the essential steps in the process; these steps constitute the major support. Each step is explained by sup-porting details. For example, the writer of the thesis Learning how to use the advanced functions on my computer is frustrating might identify several essential steps and the details to explain each step.

ESSENTIAL STEPS

• Step 1: Using the Help feature

SUPPORTING DETAILS

Trying to fi nd the right search terms

Finding that none work

• Step 2: Consulting a reference book such as Word 2007 for Dummies

SUPPORTING DETAILS

Trying to fi nd the function in the table of contents and index

First fi nding advice that isn’t really what you need

Finding the right explanation

Deciding that you don’t want to use the function

• Step 3: Trying to undo automatic functions

SUPPORTING DETAILS

Reading about the Undo function and trying it with no luck

Finally calling a friend

Etc.

Make sure to include all of the essential steps in the process, particu-larly if you want your readers to be able to do something using only your instructions. Read the following process analysis example. What essential step is missing?

Please do the laundry before I get home. The clothes are in the baskets next to the machine. One of the baskets has all dark clothes. Put these in the washing machine, with the heaviest, biggest items on the bottom. You

■ For online exer-cises on main point and support, visit Exercise Central at bedfordstmartins .com/realessays.


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can fi ll the machine to the top, but don’t mash the clothes down. (If you put in too many clothes, the machine will stall.) After all of the clothes are in, set the level on Extra High. Then, turn the knob on the left to Warm Wash, Cool Rinse. Press the Start button. After about half an hour, the laundry should be done, and you can transfer it to the dryer.

MISSING STEP:

Organization inProcess AnalysisBecause process analysis explains how to do something or how something works, it usually uses chronological (time) order. Start with the fi rst step, and then explain each step in the order that it should occur. The plan for a process analysis often looks like the one on the right. Add transitional words and sentences to your essay to help readers follow each step in the process.

Introduction with thesis statementIncludes the process you are describing

First step in processDetails about the fi rst step (how to do it or how it works)

Second step in processDetails about the second step

Third step in processDetails about the third step

ConclusionReminds readers of the process and makes an observation related to your main point

PROCESS ANALYSIS AT A GLANCE

Common Transitions in Process Analysis

after eventually meanwhile soon

as fi nally next then

at last fi rst now when

before last second while

during later since

Read and Analyze Process AnalysisBefore writing your own process analysis, read the following three ex-amples of process analysis — from college, the workplace, and everyday life — and answer the questions that accompany them.


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Process Analysis in CollegeThe following is an excerpt from a textbook used in the fi eld of interper-sonal communication.

VOCABULARYThe following words are italicized in the excerpt: dilemma, accom-modate, forsake, ultimate, collaboration, enhance, incompatibility, empathic, stance, maintain, bogged down. If you don’t knowtheir meanings, look them up in a dictionary.

COLLABORATIVELY MANAGINGCONFLICT

Steven McCornack

1 Imagine that it’s a few weeks before Thanksgiving, and you and your

new romantic partner are making holiday plans. Each of you has always

shared the day with family. But now that you’re a couple, you face the

obvious dilemma of which family to spend the holiday with. You both

want to share the day together, but neither of you wants to miss your

traditional family gathering. Do you simply ignore the issue, avoiding the

confl ict until it’s too late? Does one of you accommodate the other, and

agree to forsake his or her family’s get-together? Do you compete with

each other, each person trying to dominate the ultimate decision? Or do

you search for a solution that will make both of you happy?

2 The most constructive approach for managing confl ict is collabo-

ration, treating confl ict as a mutual problem-solving challenge rather

than something that must be avoided, accommodated, or competed

over. Collaboration tends to increase relationship satisfaction and to

enhance trust and relational commitment.

3 To use a collaborative approach, openly discuss the incompatibility

of goals or the competition for resources that has fueled your confl ict.

Give equal attention to both persons’ needs and desires. For example,

to collaboratively manage the confl ict over Thanksgiving, you would

honestly discuss the matter with your partner, expressing empathic con-

cern and perspective-taking (“I know this is hard for each of us, and

PAUSE: Have you ever had such a confl ict? How did you discuss it? What do you ex-pect the rest of this piece will discuss?

■ For other examples of process analysis, see Chapter 46.


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I completely understand how important our family traditions are”).

Also, keep the conversation focused on solutions and take a fl exible,

respectful stance toward your partner (“Let’s try to fi gure out a plan

together so we can both end up happy”). Perhaps most valuable, be

courteous, respectful, and positive toward your partner, and avoid per-

sonal attacks.

4 Communications scholars William Wilmot and Joyce Hocker offer

four additional suggestions for collaboratively managing confl ict (2001).

First, attack problems, not people. When talking about the confl ict, sep-

arate the problem that’s the source of the confl ict from the people who

are involved. For example, in the Thanksgiving scenario, you would

stress that it’s the practice of spending the holidays with your families

that is the source of the confl ict and not the personality, values, or

attitudes of your partner. Avoid personalizing the confl ict through state-

ments such as “You don’t care about my family!” or “You’re always out

for yourself!” Second, focus on common interests and long-term goals

(“I know we both want to maintain close ties to our families as well as

spend important holidays together”). Arguing over positions (“I want

this,” “Well, I want that!”) endangers relationships because the confl ict

quickly becomes a destructive contest of wills. Third, create options

before arriving at decisions. Identify different possible routes for resolv-

ing the confl ict, and then combine the best parts of them to come up

with a solution. For instance, solutions to the Thanksgiving dilemma

might include spending the holiday with one family this year and with

the other family next year or eating turkey with one family and having

dessert and coffee with the other family. Don’t get bogged down search-

ing for the one “perfect” solution — it may not exist. Finally, critically

evaluate your solution. Ask: Is it equally fair for both of us?

— Steven McCornack, Refl ect and Relate: An Introduc-tion to Interpersonal Communication (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007), pp. 310–13

1. Double-underline the thesis statement. Note: It is not in the fi rst paragraph.

PAUSE: Summarize this paragraph in your own words.

PAUSE: Summarize the four steps in this paragraph.


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2. What important term is defi ned in this excerpt?

3. Underline each of the steps of collaboration.

4. Because this excerpt is not a formal essay, it lacks a concluding statement. Write a statement that would effectively conclude the excerpt.

5. Have you ever made a confl ict worse by not using collaborative communication to manage it?

Process Analysis at WorkThe following profi le shows how a nurse uses process analysis at work.

Patty’s Process Analysis

The following is from a report that Patty prepared for a patient’s fi le to document the steps taken to treat her. The report shows that when a nurse on the team and a resident disagreed as to the treatment called for, the

BACKGROUND: I was always a terrible student who was shy and lacking in confi dence. After high school, I took one course at a community college but quit because I didn’t think I could do it.

After working as a typist, I got a job as a nursing assistant at the Shriners Hospital in Boston, a thirty-bed pediatric burn hospital. This motivated me to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

As time went on, I wanted more responsibility, so I took courses that led, fi rst, to a registered nurse (RN) degree and, fi nally, to a master’s degree in nursing. In the various nursing degree programs I completed, I had to do lots of writing — long papers, summaries of articles, and analyses of diseases and of case studies.

COLLEGES/DEGREES: Massachusetts Bay Community College, Labouré Junior College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy (B.S.N.), Northeastern University (M.S.N.)

EMPLOYER: All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida

WRITING AT WORK: Observations of patients, notes about patients, memos to colleagues, instructions for junior staff, lots of e-mail

HOW PATTY USES PROCESS ANALYSIS: Notes on treatment are often process analyses. They need to be concise, precise, and clear because both I and others will need to refer to them for patients’ further treatment.

Profi le of Success

Patty MaloneyClinical Nurse Specialist


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nurse called for another opinion. This type of communication is frequent among medical personnel.

VOCABULARYThe following words are italicized in the excerpt: vital signs, resident, pneumothorax, rupture, attending physician. If you don’t know their meanings, look them up in a dictionary.

1 Patient: (name), female, age 8, with tumor and disease progression

2 Symptoms at arrival: Child had not eaten much for two days and

was withdrawn and uncommunicative.

3 Treatment process: First, we needed to determine if the child

was in immediate danger or in need of further medications for pain

control. We took her vital signs, which were within the range of normal

for her, with a slightly elevated heart rate. Then we interviewed the

child’s mother to see if she had administered any breakthrough pain

medication during the last 24 hours. We gave the child a short-term

pain medication.

4 As a next step, we had a discussion with the doctor in the unit,

and we then administered a breakthrough pain medication. We closely

monitored the patient’s vital signs, particularly noting if the heart rate

came down. We were documenting the signs every hour formally but

also checked on the child’s status in the Intensive Care Unit every 15

minutes.

5 During one check, one of our nurses noted that the child looked

pale, and her breathing was somewhat shallow. The nurse knew that the

child had fragile lungs and felt that she was at risk of the pneumothorax

collecting fl uid with a possible rupture of the lung lining and collapse

of the lung. Following procedure, the nurse immediately alerted the

resident, who felt that the child was fi ne and suggested that nothing but

continued observation was necessary.

6 The nurse disagreed with the resident’s diagnosis and at that point

sent another nurse to page the attending physician for another opinion.

In the meantime, while waiting for the attending, the nurse called for an

PAUSE: What do you think will happen next?


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x-ray. She then pulled the cart over to the patient in preparation for insert-

ing a tube into the lung cavity to reinfl ate the lung. When the attending

physician arrived and was briefed, he agreed with the nurse’s diagnosis.

The tube was quickly inserted, and the collapse of the lung was avoided.

7 The child continues in observation in the ICU. Her condition is

stable.

1. Underline the steps of the treatment process.

2. Though a description of a treatment process, the report does not give

many details. What is the purpose of the report?

3. How would the report differ if its purpose was to teach new nurses how

to do a particular procedure?

4. Write a possible thesis statement for the report.

5. Write a possible concluding statement.

6. Have you ever witnessed people disagreeing about what to do to help you? How would you describe their communication with each other?

Process Analysis in Everyday LifeVOCABULARYThe following words are italicized in the excerpt: options, survey, glitzy, blog. If you don’t know their meanings, look them up in a dictionary.

HOW TO CREATE AND USE MYSPACESilvio Testagrosso

1 A lot of my friends have MySpace pages. I wasn’t interested for the

longest time, but lately I started feeling left out. I thought creating my

own page would be a hassle, but it turns out I was wrong. Creating a

MySpace account is simple and fun. You can be creative about how

you want to portray yourself to others, and you can learn about a lot of

PAUSE: What do you think this essay will be about?


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new things. Most important, though, MySpace is a great communica-

tion tool for keeping up with friends and family and for meeting new

people.

2 To start, type “MySpace graphics” into your search engine. From

there, you will have thousands of sites that will lead you through creat-

ing an account. I used www.myspacejunks.com. First, you will have

to enter your e-mail address, a password, and a name for your account.

Then, if you have entered everything correctly, you can get to the fun

part, like choosing a look for your page.

3 Choosing a look is important, and you will have many choices.

When you get to the page with options for layout, survey lots of them

before choosing one. As you see images you like, bookmark them so

that you can return to them easily when you are ready to make your

fi nal choice. Although there are lots of very glitzy, animated, and fl ash-

ing images, don’t overuse them, or your page will be irritating to read.

Consider the colors you want to use and the overall impression the

page will create. What do you want to be — quiet and thoughtful, fun

and loud, or something else? Whatever you decide, keep in mind that

a prospective employer, a boss, or your mother can access your page as

easily as your friends can.

4 Once you have decided on the look, copy and paste the layout code to

the “Edit Profi le — About Me” section of your MySpace page. Then,

consider elements to put into the page, such as information about your-

self. Do you want to add your age, schools, interests, or videos of your-

self? You have complete choice here: You can tell everything about

yourself, including very personal information, or you can keep it to basic

facts. Again, though, remember that anyone can read what is there, so

don’t post anything you wouldn’t want everyone to know about you.

5 Next, you can start up a blog from your page. A blog lets you com-

municate with everyone about anything. You can talk about what you

did last night and include a video or photos, you can ask for other

people’s opinions or ask for help, or you can just write about what is on

your mind on any given day. People who visit your MySpace page can

PAUSE: Summarize the options for what you can put on a MySpace page.

PAUSE: Have you ever blogged? About what?


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comment and respond to your blog, so use it to fi nd out whatever you

want to fi nd out about. I’ve learned a lot by blogging. I’ve even gotten

ideas about assignments for school. Blogging is, for me, the best thing

about my MySpace account.

6 Finally, consider meeting new people through MySpace, which is,

after all, a social networking site. MySpace has groups for anything you

might be interested in — cooking, starting a business, music, and so on.

MySpace also has forums that give you a chance to talk with others

about issues that are important to you. You can meet and communicate

with hundreds of new people and really broaden your horizons.

7 Creating a MySpace account is easy, free, and creative. Using it is

informative and fun. Most of all, though, MySpace connects people who

might not otherwise meet, and it is one of the best and most enjoyable

ways I have found to communicate. I’d recommend creating a page to

anyone who doesn’t already have one.

1. Double-underline the thesis statement.

2. What kind of organization does the essay use?

3. Circle fi ve transitions Silvio uses.

4. Does Silvio’s essay have the four basics of good process analysis? Be ready to explain your answer.

5. Do you have a MySpace account? How did you set it up, and how do you use it?

Critical Reading and Writing: Key College Skills 1. Summary. Briefl y summarize each of the three selections, including the

major steps of each of the processes described. How is each essay about a communication situation?

2. Analysis. Compare the three communications situations the selections describe. Which selection has the most detailed explanation of the com-

munication situation? Which has the least?

Why, do you think?

3. Synthesis. Discuss or write about the following: “Effective commu-nication is a complex skill, and it varies depending on the specifi c situation and people involved.” Draw from each of the selections to give examples.


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4. Evaluation. Using the four basics of good process analysis as a measure, which of the three selections do you think is the best example of a process analysis? Give specifi c examples to support your choice. Is your choice different from the one you fi nd most useful?

Write a Process Analysis EssayIn this section, you will write your own process analysis essay based on one of the following assignments. Before you begin to write, review the four basics of good process analysis on page 202. Also, read the Tips for Tackling Process Analysis in the box that follows.

ASSIGNMENT 1 WRITING ABOUT COLLEGE, WORK, AND EVERYDAY LIFE

Write a process analysis essay on one of the following topics or on a topic of your own choice.

COLLEGE

• How to apply for fi nancial aid

• How to study for a test

• How (a process in your major fi eld of study) works

WORK

• How to do one of your major tasks at work

• How to get a job at your place of work

• How to get fi red or how to get promoted

TIPS FOR TACKLING PROCESS ANALYSIS1. Read the assignment carefully, highlighting the key words. A

process analysis may ask you to describe the process of, but it may also use words such as describe the stages (or steps) of, how does __________ work?, and how can one (for example, use collaboration) to manage confl ict?

2. Think of the steps involved in the topic.

3. If you are explaining how to do something, pretend your reader doesn’t know anything about the process.

4. Give examples of how to do each step or how it works.

■ Use the diagram on page 205 to help you organize.


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EVERYDAY LIFE

• How to calm down or how to get to sleep

• How to do (something you do well)

• How to break up with someone

ASSIGNMENT 2 WRITING ABOUT AN IMAGE

Recipes are common examples of process writing. Take a few minutes to think about the “recipe” presented in the public service ad below. Then, write your own “recipe for disaster” — or, if you prefer, a recipe for happiness. Accompany it with an image if your topic allows it. Then, in an essay, explain what you mean by disaster (or happiness) and why you think following your recipe will lead there.


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ASSIGNMENT 3 WRITING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM

THE PROBLEM: Your friend is in an awful situation. Because of her great grades in high school, she was accepted at an excellent private university and received a lot of money in student aid. Even so, she began falling behind with tuition payments and had to drop out. At this point, her full loan payment came due. She wanted to transfer to a public university where the tuition was much lower; however, when she requested her transcript from the private university, she was told her records would not be sent until she had paid the charges on her loan. She wants to continue her studies but doesn’t know how to manage this fi nancially.

THE ASSIGNMENT: Working on your own or in a small group, research the options your friend has, and write some steps she could take to resolve her problem.

RESOURCES: Review the chart on pages 868–69 for advice on problem solving. Additionally, the Internet has many sites that offer advice on repayment of student loans. A good one to start with is at www.fi naid.org. Or try typing student loan repayment into a search engine. List any Web sites that you use.

ASSIGNMENT 4 WRITING ABOUT READINGS

Communication issues exist in all areas of our lives, as you can begin to see from the selections in this chapter. Choose one of the assignments below to explore further communication issues and situations.

• Nonverbal communication. Review Silvio Testagrosso’s essay on MySpace (p. 210), considering especially how choice of color and image can shape the effect that a page can have. Then, read Daniel Goleman’s “For Man and Beast, Language Shares Many Traits” (p. 781) and Amy L. Beck’s “Struggling for Perfection” (p. 829). Drawing examples from these selections, discuss how nonverbal communication plays a role in how we perceive ourselves and others.

• Gender and communication. Review the textbook excerpt on pages 206–07, considering the different ways that communication affects rela-tionships, especially male/female relationships. Then, read Dave Barry’s “The Ugly Truth about Beauty” (p. 817) and Deborah Tannen’s “It Begins at the Beginning” (p. 28). Drawing examples from these read-ings, discuss how men and women communicate differently. You may also want to read Carson Williams’s “Different but in Love” (p. 122) and bring in your own experience.

■ TIP: When you refer to an outside source, document it in the text and in a list at the end of your essay.


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WRITING GUIDE: PROCESS ANALYSIS

STEPS IN PROCESS ANALYSIS HOW TO DO THE STEPS

Focus. ■■ Think about the process you want to explain to your readers, the steps involved in the process, and the main point you want to make. Review the four basics of good process analysis on page 202.

Prewrite to explore your topic. See Chapter 4 for more on prewriting.

■■ Choose a process you know about and understand.■■ Use a prewriting technique to jot down some ideas about

the steps in the process and ways you can explain the process to readers who aren’t familiar with it.

Write a thesis statement.The thesis statement in a process analysis usually identifi es the process and the main point you want to make about that process.

Process + Main point = Thesis

Communication skills are varied and complex.

See Chapter 5 for more on writing a thesis statement.

■■ Decide on the main point you want to make about the process.

■■ Decide what you want your readers to know or learn about this process.

■■ Once you know your main point, write a thesis statement that contains both the process (your topic) and your main point about that process.

Support your thesis statement.The major support points in a process analysis are the essential steps involved in explaining how to do the process or showing how the process works.See Chapter 6 for more on supporting a thesis statement.

■■ List all the essential steps in the process.■■ Review your thesis statement, and drop any steps that are

not essential.■■ Choose the steps that are necessary for readers to perform

this activity or to understand how it works.■■ Add details that describe the steps and that would help

your readers do this activity correctly.■■ Imagine that you are not already familiar with the process,

and ask yourself whether you could do it or understand how it works after reading the essay.

Make a plan.See Chapter 7 for more on planning.

■■ Arrange the steps in the process in a logical order (often chronological).

■■ Make a plan for your process analysis that includes your major support points (the steps in the process) and supporting details. (See the diagram on p. 205.)


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STEPS IN PROCESS ANALYSIS HOW TO DO THE STEPS

Write a draft.See Chapter 8 for more on drafting.

■■ Write an introduction that gets your readers’ interest and presents your thesis statement. See if you can use one of the introductory techniques in Chapter 8.

■■ Write topic sentences for the essential steps in the process, supported by explanations of those steps.

■■ Add time transitions to move readers smoothly from one step to another.

■■ Write a concluding paragraph that has energy, refers back to your point about the process, and makes a fi nal observation or recommendation.

■■ Title your essay.

Revise your draft.See Chapter 9 for more on revising a draft.

■■ Ask another person to read and comment on your draft.■■ Revise your thesis to make it more energetic.■■ Reread the body of your essay to make sure you haven’t

left out any essential steps. Try to imagine that you have no idea of how to perform the process or how the process works. Add any details that would make the steps clearer, and cut details that aren’t relevant.

■■ Reread your introduction, and make changes if it is dull or weak.

■■ Reread your conclusion to make sure that it is energetic and convincing and reminds your readers of your main impression.

■■ Add time transitions to connect your ideas.■■ Make at least fi ve changes to your draft to improve unity,

support, or coherence (see pp. 127–40).■■ Check to make sure the draft follows the four basics of

good process analysis.

Edit your draft.See Parts Four through Seven for more on editing.

■■ Use the spell checker and grammar checker on your computer, but also reread your essay carefully to catch any errors.

■■ Look for errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Fragments and run-on sentences can be a particular problem in process analysis, so focus fi rst on those. Then, read for errors in subject-verb agreement, verb errors, and other areas where you know you often make mistakes.

■■ Ask yourself: Is this the best I can do?


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understand what process analysis is

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