THE PROCESS ESSAY
ASSIGNMENT
What is a process essay?
There are 2 types of
processes:
1)
2)
A directive process
An informative process
You may choose either
type for the process
essay assignment.
The directive process
So what’s a directive process you ask?
A directive process is any process a reader can do for herself. If a
reader can’t perform the task, the process IS NOT directive. (Remember
it this way—a directive process gives directions.)
The directive process

The reader can physically follow your directions

Your title probably begins “How to . . .”

You use “you” often (because you assume the reader will
carry out your instructions)
The directive process
EXAMPLES:
 How to prepare for a duck
hunt
 How to teach your child water
safety
 How to find student loans in
Texas
 How to get along with your
mother-in-law through better
communication
 How to set a trotline
 How to prepare for a surfing
competition





How to lay tile
How to tell if your
boyfriend/girlfriend is “the
one”
How to buy shirts for the
curvy woman—5 things you
should know
How to shop for a used car on
a budget
How to properly stretch
before a track meet
The directive process
MORE EXAMPLES:
 How to install speakers in
your car
 How to keep a 5-year old
occupied with craft projects
 How to become more
politically involved
 How to become a nurse
 How to buy a wetsuit
 How to improve your credit
score
 How set up a prenuptial
agreement





How to find a date in
Houston, Texas
How to play Fantasy
Football successfully
How to perfect your golf
swing
How to plan a baby
shower your friends will
love
How to avoid common
pitfalls when planning your
vacation to Walt Disney
World.
Start generating ideas!
All of the previous essay examples were just
possibilities to help you begin brainstorming.
Choose a topic that interests you.
Moving on . . .
So that’s the directive process. Now
let’s talk about informative
processes.
The informative process

Intended as information (not to be followed)

Describes a process someone else performs

Uses “I,” “he,” “she,” “they” (because you’re
describing a process that someone else, not the reader,
performs)
The informative process
EXAMPLES
 Steps to care and feeding
of gorillas at the zoo
 Steps to coaching defense
for a winning NFL team
 Steps to sentence someone
to the death penalty
 Steps in mining diamonds in
the U.S.
 Steps FedEx takes to ensure
customers receive packages
on time






Steps to understanding the
electoral college
Steps to creating the
perfect zombie movie
Steps involved in fire rescue
Steps to decreasing the
African malaria epidemic
Steps to understanding how
hurricanes develop
Steps to understanding
gravitational pull
The informative process
MORE EXAMPLES
 Steps to convert to Judaism
 Steps to understanding how
chocolate is made
 Steps to starting a Subway
restaurant franchise
 Steps to understanding
tooth decay
 Steps to understanding how
the Wall Street trade floor
works





Steps to understanding
Wal-Mart’s business model
Steps to getting rich by the
age of 30 through investing
wisely
Steps to becoming a
spoiled celebrity
Steps to understanding city
planning
Steps to understanding how
fashion trends begin
Again, these ideas are just examples. You may
write either an informative or directive process.
Choosing a Topic
Picking a topic
As with any essay, it’s important to pick a collegelevel topic that provides your reader with new
information. Review the presentation on choosing
topics if you have questions.
Remember, as with any
essay, your topic must be
VERY NARROW. If your
topic is too big, your process
will be underdeveloped and
confusing for your reader.
Picking a topic
So how do you avoid talking down to your reader or
overwhelming them with new information?
Think about it:
How much do you know about fishing?
Picking a topic



Do you need a writer to tell you what “tackle” or
“fishing pole” means?
Do you need the reader to tell you what a “trolling
motor” is?
What about “tension?” “PFD?” “Polyamide
monofilament line?”
Picking a topic
Consider what your reader is likely to know and
work from there.
Not sure how much a reader might already know
about your topic? Post to our discussion board, talk
to classmates and find out!
Some “taboo” topics
There are a few topics I don’t allow:
No recipes
 No changing a tire
 No changing the oil
 No driving a stick shift
