The Confident Writer Chapter 9: Explaining a Process

“When the Big Clouds Gather” by David H. Levy What is Levy’s thesis? Why is he writing? How is Levy’s essay organized? What is Levy’s tone about his topic? What is his attitude toward it? How can you tell? Think of all the storms you’ve weathered in your life. How could Levy’s essay have helped you?

Determine a Purpose for a Process Two kinds of processes: ◦Directional processes  Explain how to do something ◦Informational processes  Explain how things work

Create a Context for a Process How did you learn this process? Why do you perform this process? Where have you seen this process performed?

Think through Your Topic

Plan & Write Your Essay When you write about a process, make sure that you: ◦Tell readers about any special tools or equipment needed ◦Make the steps clear ◦Define any special terms