a process description of a recipe essay

The Classroom | Empowering Students in Their College Journey

How to Write a Process Essay on Food

How to Write a Process Essay About Cupcakes

A process essay on food is either an essay that tells you how to make a recipe or one that tells you how a food product is made. Both essays are written in the form of step-by-step instructions. As you research and write your essay, you'll likely learn a lot, which can benefit you as the author, as baking brownies from scratch is time-consuming, but the final product is well worth the wait. It is important to keep your directions or process steps as simple as possible. If the process is a recipe, the article should teach the reader how to make it. If the process is how a certain food product was made, like name-brand factory products, the reader should understand all the steps that went into creating that food product.

Writing About How Food is Made

Find out everything there is to know about making the food product about which you are writing. Take notes, use legitimate sources and if possible, interview someone directly involved in the production of the food product. Consider all of the ingredients, staff and machinery necessary to make the food you are learning about. You may be writing about how a factory mass produces their brand of food, such as candy bars or toaster pastries, or how a private bakery is run. Ask questions appropriate to your topic.

Before you begin writing, first outline your essay. This will help plan everything you want to write about. Order everything in sequential order, so the reader will clearly understand how the food product is made. Next, write the body of your essay. Each paragraph should be one point or one step in the process to make the food product. Make sure the reader knows everything involved in the process you are writing about.

Finally, write the introduction and conclusion of your essay. It is best to write the introduction after the body, so you understand what you are introducing. An introduction should prepare a reader for your article and possibly give them some background information on the process. The conclusion should summarize all of your main points. Last but not least, go back over your essay and correct any grammatical or spelling errors.

Writing Recipes

Learn everything you can about the recipe you are writing about. Do some research and learn if there are different ways to make the food in the recipe. Make sure you are educated in the cooking methods required in the recipe. It's also important to cook or prepare the recipe yourself. When you have followed the steps you learned, you will understand how best to teach those steps to others, and you might pick up some new cooking skills as well.

Next, write down all of the steps to prepare the recipe. Be sure to write the recipe in chronological order. For example, for recipes that require baking, mention preheating the oven first, so it can be at the proper temperature when it's time to place your dish in the oven. Include a list of necessary ingredients.

Then, you'll be able to write an introduction to the essay. This is best done after you have written the steps, so you know exactly what you are introducing. Try to include background information on the recipe in question.

Finally, write a conclusion to the essay. In this section include any variations to the recipe. If certain ingredients can be exchanged for others, let the reader know. Also, don't forget to proofread your essay at least one more time for spelling and grammatical errors, and fix if necessary.

How to Donate Plasma for Money in North Carolina

How to Donate Your Body to Science for Money

How to Stay on Topic When Writing an Essay

How to Create an Animal School Project

How to Make Food Pyramids for a School Project

How to Write an Essay on Transportation Problems

Informative Writing Techniques

How to Write High School Research Papers

Excelsior Online Writing Lab: Essay Writing
Edit your essay for spelling or grammatical errors.

5 Process Essay Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Learn about our Editorial Process

A process essay is a type of essay that explains a process in detail. Good process essays don’t just explain the process but provides details about common mistakes to avoid as well as tips and methods to achieve success. Below are some example essays:

Process Essay Examples

#1 how to bake a chocolate cake.

1337 Words | 4 Pages

how to back a chocolate cake process essay

Thesis Statement: “The purpose of this essay is to guide readers through the enjoyable and straightforward process of baking a chocolate cake, highlighting the essential steps and tips to ensure a delicious and successful outcome.”

#2 How to Write a Resume

Thesis Statement: “This essay aims to provide a comprehensive guide on crafting an effective resume, detailing each step from gathering relevant information to finalizing the document, while offering practical tips and common pitfalls to avoid, ensuring a polished and professional presentation of one’s career achievements and qualifications.”

#3 How to Train for a Marathon

1508 Words | 5 Pages

Thesis Statement: “This essay provides a comprehensive guide to marathon training, detailing a strategic approach to building endurance, strength, and speed, coupled with essential advice on nutrition, hydration, and mental preparation, to equip runners of all levels with the knowledge and tools necessary for successfully completing a marathon.”

#4 How to Prepare for a Job Interview

1309 Words | 5 Pages

Thesis Statement: “This essay outlines a comprehensive strategy for job interview preparation, encompassing in-depth company research, personalized response formulation, professional presentation, and logistical planning, to equip candidates with the tools necessary for making a compelling and confident impression in their pursuit of career opportunities.”

#5 How to Write an Essay

1473 Words | 5 Pages

Thesis Statement: “This essay outlines a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to essay writing, from understanding the prompt to the final stages of revision and editing, providing essential tips and strategies to enhance writing skills and ensure the creation of a well-structured, persuasive, and effectively communicated piece.”

How to Write a Process Essay

The following template provides an overview of a process essay structure:

Grab this process essay template here.

Instructions: To write a process essay, start by introducing the process and its significance, ensuring the reader understands the purpose and value of the instructions. Next, present the preparation and materials required, before outlining each step of the process in a logical order, offering detailed explanations, tips, and potential pitfalls to avoid, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding. Conclude by summarizing the main steps and reinforcing the benefits or results of completing the process, leaving the reader with a clear understanding and the confidence to undertake the task.

How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Process

To write a thesis statement for a process essay, identify the process you’re explaining and clearly state the purpose or goal of the essay. Concisely outline the primary steps or stages involved in the process, ensuring clarity and direction for the reader. The thesis should be informative, indicating what the reader can expect to learn and achieve by following the essay.

💡 AI Prompt For Writing a Process Essay Thesis Statement “Create a thesis statement for a process essay on [TOPIC] that clearly identifies the specific process being explained. The thesis should state the purpose of the essay and briefly outline the main steps or stages involved in the process. Ensure that the statement is concise, informative, and guides the reader on what they will learn and achieve by reading the essay.”

Read Also: 101 Thesis Statement Examples

Ready to Write your Essay?

Take action! Choose one of the following options to start writing your essay now:

Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 119 Bloom’s Taxonomy Examples
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ All 6 Levels of Understanding (on Bloom’s Taxonomy)
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Self-Actualization Examples (Maslow's Hierarchy)
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Forest Schools Philosophy & Curriculum, Explained!

How to Write a Process Essay

Last Updated: December 6, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 168,065 times.

A process essay, otherwise known as a how-to essay, tells a reader how to perform a particular task. The best process essays follow a clear step-by-step organization. Start by providing your reader with a time estimate and general summary of the task. Then, move on to a more detailed explanation of each and every necessary step. When you are finished with your essay, read it over carefully to ensure that you haven’t left anything out.

Getting Ready to Write

Step 1 Assess your audience’s skill level.

For example, a process essay intended for professional chefs could probably skip a description of how to chop carrots and just say, “Finely chop the carrots,” instead.

Step 2 Make a list of the materials needed.

You could also include a comprehensive “Things You’ll Need” section at the beginning of the paper. Or list the materials needed after the introduction.
If an item on the list is a bit unusual, such as a particular type of hand tool, then make sure to clearly introduce it within the text. For example, “The pin hammer has a finer tip than a standard hammer, making it suitable for more detailed work.” You can also include a picture of the item, particularly if the essay will be published online.

If you are writing an essay about how to cook lasagna, your initial outline might just state, “Mix in basil.” Before you start writing, you could expand your outline to say, “Briefly mention taste differences between dried and fresh basil.”
Note that the more specific your article or essay topic, the more specific your details needs to be.

Crafting an Introduction

Step 1 Grab your reader’s attention within the first 1-2 sentences.

For instance, you might write, “The process of preparing lasagna has a rich heritage all of its own.”

If your process essay focuses on a cooking task, this is where you might advise your readers to consult the ingredients or materials list and put every item on the counter.
For example, you might write, “This recipe requires 30 minutes of active preparation time, along with 45 minutes of baking time.”

Step 3 Present the thesis statement as a problem.

For example, your thesis might be, “This essay will explore how to create a complicated lasagna dish in a short period of time by preparing the noodles and sauce in advance.”

Writing Your Body Paragraphs

Be especially careful with items that contain multiple steps. Make the transitions clear and acknowledge prior steps regarding a particular item, if applicable.

Step 2 Structure the body of the essay in paragraphs.

For instance, when making pasta, consider writing a paragraph on how to boil pasta and another paragraph on how to make the sauce. This separates the ideas for easy clarification.

Step 3 Add transitions in between steps.

For instance, you could write, “Next, place the pot on the stove,” to move from one paragraph to the next.

Step 4 Avoid using first person pronouns.

For example, you could write, “This essay shows…” instead of “I’ll show.”

For example, you might caution a reader to, “Cook the meat until it is no longer red in the center.” This advice will help them to avoid a foodborne illness.

Wrapping It Up

Step 1 Mention the end product and what to do with it.

In the case of the recipe, you could write something like, “You now have a bowl of boiled pasta and finished Bolognese sauce. Serve up plates of pasta and sauce to your family, topping them with parmesan, if desired. You can serve garlic bread or a side salad with this dish, too.”

Step 2 Restate the importance of the task.

A simple example for our newly-made dinner might be, "And there you have it! A delicious yet quick meal fit for the entire family that you can make over and over again without complaint. Next time, experiment with different herbs and spices to find your own spin on this classic dish."

Step 3 Check your essay for ease of reading.

Look to see if there are places where you can eliminate steps or condense your instructions. A reader is more likely to finish directions that they can easily skim through.
Ask someone to read through the essay to see if they can understand the process. If possible, pick someone from your intended audience demographic.

Don’t rely on spell-check alone, as it cannot account for context and doesn’t catch every error.

Expert Q&A

If there are alternative ways to do a particular step in the process, make sure to mention these as you go along. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Give your readers pacing instructions as well. If they need to go slowly while performing a certain task, tell them early on. The same rule applies if a task requires speed for success. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/essay-outline/
↑ https://www.georgebrown.ca/sites/default/files/uploadedfiles/tlc/_documents/hooks_and_attention_grabbers.pdf
↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-clinton-englishcomp/chapter/2-the-process-essay/
↑ http://www.butte.edu/departments/cas/tipsheets/style_purpose_strategy/procress_paper.html
↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/readability-scores/

About This Article

To write a process essay, begin by writing an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention so they’ll want to keep reading. Then, end the first paragraph with a thesis statement presenting a problem for which you are offering a solution. Next, explain the process, making each step its own paragraph, and using transitions like "next" or "then" to move from one task to another. As the final step, let the reader know what to expect from the finished product and what to do with it. Finally, close your essay by reiterating why the process is helpful to the reader. For tips from our Education reviewer on how to proofread for common errors in a process essay, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

ChinaTeacherAlan

Dec 2, 2018

Did this article help you?

Juliana Kim

Jan 8, 2017

Nov 19, 2016

Hasan Hasan

Dec 16, 2016

Dec 11, 2018

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

How to write a process essay

August 25, 2023

Process essays are one of the most common types of essays . It’s simply explaining a process of how to do something.

In this article, we’ll show you how to write a process essay in steps with interactive examples.

Process essay definition

Let’s take a look at the steps outlined below to write a clear and effective process essay.

Choose a topic

You should start by choosing a topic that not only interests you but also attracts your target audience.

Whether it’s brewing the perfect cup of coffee or conquering the art of origami, your topic should be engaging and well-defined. Let’s have a look at topic examples:

Crafting Exquisite Miniature Bookbindings
Building a Sustainable Vertical Garden
Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee

So for this guide, I’ve chosen “Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee”. Now let’s continue with the next steps.

Create a process essay outline

Now that you’ve your topic at hand, it’s time to create an outline to present the steps chronologically. Outline will also help you organize your thoughts and ideas so you won’t get lost during the writing process.

Let’s examine this step with an example of a process essay explaining “Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee”.

Process essay outline example

Thesis statement
Provide safety precautions if necessary.
Address to the reader
Provide any variations or customization options if applicable.
End with a memorable concluding thought or call to action.

By presenting the steps in chronological order, your readers can follow the process smoothly.

During this step, just make sure to:

Expand on each step you outlined earlier.
Use clear and concise language.
Make use of bullet points or numbered lists to make the process visually appealing.

After completing the outline, it’s time to write an interesting introduction.

Write an introduction

Hook the reader's interest with a hook sentence
Offer a brief overview of the topic and its significance
Introduce and explain the process with a thesis statement at the end of introduction

Process essay introduction example

Introduction

Now that we have an intro on our hand, you need to tell what materials you need to finish the process.

Write the materials needed for the process

Listing the necessary materials for the process is a best practice for process essays. Typically found just after the introduction, this paragraph is devoted to outlining the necessary materials.

Here, p rioritizing the list is important; the more influential a component is, the higher its position on the list should be.

Example material list for process essay

Body paragraphs

Materials needed

High-quality coffee beans that align with your flavor preference.
A grinder for optimal flavor extraction.
Equipment for brewing methods, such as a pour-over apparatus, a drip coffee maker, a French press, or an espresso machine.
Fresh and clean water for brewing.
Optional additives like milk, cream, sugar, flavored syrups, or other preferred elements.

Start writing the process

Right after listing the materials needed, it’s time to start writing the process itself.

When describing your process, be careful not to make it too complicated. To keep your readers on track, use transitional words like “after,” “eventually,” “first,” “then,” and others help you maintain an understandable tone.

Or simply use a 1,2,3, bullet point structure as seen in example below to remind readers of their step during the process.

Body paragraphs - Process writing example

Materials needed ...

Grind the beans just before brewing for optimal freshness. Use a burr grinder and adjust the coarseness to match your brewing method (coarse for French press, fine for espresso).
Weigh your coffee grounds using a scale. A standard ratio is 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water, but adjust to your taste.
Ensure the water is heated to the ideal temperature, typically between 195-205°F (90-96°C). Water that's too hot or too cold can affect the taste.
Pay attention to the brewing time. Generally, 4-5 minutes is suitable for most methods, but again, adjust based on your preference.
After finishing, regularly clean your coffee maker or French press to prevent rancid oils and residue from affecting your coffee's taste.

As seen from the example above, using an imperative language structure is generally preferable. It makes total sense as you’re describing a process in steps and usually don’t need a full sentence structure.

Give tips and supporting details

After explaining the process above, it’s now time to provide tips and supporting details. Here, make use examples, tips, and even warnings if necessary.

In other words, anticipate the questions your readers might have and address them as you go along.

Body paragraphs - Supporting details

Supporting details & tips

Ensure safe handling of hot water and coffee-making equipment.
Water that's too hot can result in over-extraction, while water that's too cold won't extract enough flavor.

Write a conclusion

At this step, you simply need to write a conclusion paragraph to end your process essay. First summarize the key points, and restate the process in a concise and short sentence. And finally, finish your process essay by a memorable sentence or a call-to-action.

Process essay conclusion example

Revise and polish your essay.

Now that you’ve written your essay, take a breath, and then come back for some editing. Check for consistency, correct sentence structure, efficient transitions , tense selection , and other linguistic issues that may arise.

If possible, make use of proofreading tools like QuillBot or Grammarly .

Think about potential reader misunderstandings and address them. If needed, explain what should be avoided.
Offer explanations for steps that might seem unusual or complicated.
Define any unfamiliar terms or materials that the reader might not understand. This ensures clarity in your essay.

So you’ve successfully learned how to write a captivating process essay. Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you write, the better you’ll become.

Recently on Tamara Blog

How to write a discussion essay (with steps & examples), writing a great poetry essay (steps & examples), how to write a process essay (steps & examples), writing a common app essay (steps & examples), how to write a synthesis essay (steps & examples), how to write a horror story.

How to Write a Process Essay

The process essay, also known as the "how-to" essay, is commonly written for people or companies that need tutorials or a set of instructional steps. Whether it's building a robot or cooking a chocolate cake, process essays use a similar format for any variations. They follow a step-by-step style, with the initial step influencing the second, which influences the third, and so on. Each step carries its own importance, and a poor explanation of one step can ruin the entire process. It's important to stay concise and efficient. However, before you begin writing your essay, you should do some small preparations. Let's discover them with our research writing service .

What Is a Process Paper?

A process essay is a type of essay that explains a process step by step and gives guidance for a certain process, working mechanism, procedure, etc. Process essays range from very simple ones, such as instructions for how to ride a bicycle, to more complex ones, such as a chemistry lab report of an oxidative reaction experiment. The goal of a process paper is to give its readers guidance and directions.

Feeling Overwhelmed Writing a Process Essay on Your Own?

Simply send us your paper requirements, choose your paper writer and we’ll get it done fast.

A process paper is characterized, first of all, by explaining a process using a description. Some words that are frequently used in process essays are “further”, “then”, “next”, “first”, “last”, “finally”, and “initially”. It is really important to remember that every process essay includes features, such as:

clear and straightforward narration - the last thing you want to do is to confuse your reader with complex language and an unorganized thought thread;
chronological order - avoid skipping steps and shifting them around, as it will result in misunderstanding and frustration for the readers;
transition words - make sure to separate the next step from the previous ones by using transition words;
descriptions of the steps - make sure your steps are clear and easy to follow.

There are several types of process essays. The first one is directional - it explains the “how to” for something. It can take on a wide range of subjects, such as how to apply for a credit card, how to get your driver’s license, how to plan a wedding, etc. The outcome of the directional essay should be a result. In the cases of the examples above: a credit card, a driver’s license, or a carefully planned wedding. The other type of process paper is informational - it explains how something works. Here are some examples: how a weather forecast is determined, how a space rocket works, how intermittent fasting changes your body, etc. An informational essay explains something to a reader and does not necessarily end up with a result, like directional does.

Another type of essay that is similar to a process essay is a process analysis essay. The biggest difference is that a process analysis essay not only explains the steps, but also analyses them in depth. It has all of the characteristics of a process essay, although goes into more detail about the causes and consequences of every step.

If you need any additional information for process analysis essays, check out our article: HOW TO WRITE A PROCESS ANALYSIS ESSAY

Writing a process essay is not extremely difficult. By following simple rules and a set of steps, a successful, well-structured essay can be guaranteed.

Prepare The Small Stuff

Here we gathered some small general tips and advice that you should follow throughout your writing process to make sure that all of the expectations of a process paper are met.

Determine the Audience's Skill Level. It's important to base the level of complexity of the essay on who the readers will be. For example, if you need to teach a friend how to do a simple fix or create a certain tool, then it would be most reasonable to stick to more basic terminology. However, if you are writing an essay for your astrophysics professor about the creation of a black hole in the universe, use more sophisticated and informative terminology.
Make a List of Materials. Obviously, the creation of anything comes with some prerequisites. Whether it's items or ideas, the importance of knowing the necessities beforehand and having them ready to go is essential. Make sure to place each item in accordance with its importance. The more impactful a part is, the higher up on the list it should be.
Write out Each Task. In a step-by-step tutorial, each individual task carries some sort of weight. Since an entire process can not be complete if a step is skipped, it's crucial to write out every single step. However, don't go overboard in your explanations. It's not necessary to bring the tutorial to a microscopic level, but each step should be understandable and competent.

If you still have difficulty writing, you can get essay help online from our service.

Process Essay Topics

Choosing a topic for a process paper can be quite challenging. A good place to start is with your passions. If you pick something you are excited about, you can make it interesting for your readers and fun for yourself to write about. If your professor limits you to write a process essay on something you have very little knowledge of, choose a topic that is intriguing and triggers your interest. Then, conduct enough thorough research to make sure you understand everything perfectly before you go ahead and try to explain it to someone else.

How to Pick a Process Analysis Essay Topic

Another very important thing to consider while writing a process essay is your audience. It is highly unlikely that college students are interested in instructions for “How to Get Into Your Dream School” or “How to Pass Your SATs”. Make sure your topic relates to the subject you are studying and you are following your professor’s prompt guidelines.

Here are some ideas that might be of interest for you:

How to lose weight on a keto diet
How your immune system fights COVID-19
How to start selling on Amazon
How to improve your credit score
How to decrease your social media usage
How to apply for unemployment insurance
How to improve your college performance
How to open your first bank account

It's important to note that these essay topics are just some common examples used by several college students for their course papers. Feel free to use any one of them if you want, or think of one on your own. Just make sure it's a PROCESS!

Process Essay Outline

Most essay outlines follow the standard scheme: Intro > Body Paragraphs > Conclusion . follow the standard scheme: Intro > Body Paragraphs > Conclusion. A good process essay outline should look like this:

Introduction — brief your reader on your topic, explain why you have chosen it and how you are planning to approach the explanation of the process.
Body — the biggest part of your essay that should be divided into paragraphs for easier understanding and structure. Make sure each paragraph is flowing smoothly into the next one with connective words.

Paragraph 1. First step of the process. Explain what the step is, what the best way to perform it is, and how to avoid common mistakes when doing it.

Paragraph 2. The next step of the process (the same as in Paragraph 1). Thoroughly explain what this step is about.

Conclusion . Here you need to explain why your instructions are valuable. It is your opportunity to persuade your reader(s) that the steps you presented and the process they learned will be useful for them in the future.

Every process is different: some can take a couple of minutes, while others can take months or years to complete. The length of the essay is generally based on the difficulty and number of steps it takes. However, the structure doesn't maneuver.

Introduction

The first thing that you want to do as a writer for your process paper is to help your readers be interested in your individual process. Be descriptive about it, paint a picture for your readers. A joke or a personal reference can be a great attention grabber and can pull your reader right in. For somebody to be keen on approaching your process, they have to express interest in it. Though, it generally goes without saying that many writers ignore this fact. Let's break it down into subsections:

Give a little bit of historical background. People often want to know the origins of whatever it is that they're working on. Introducing this part of the process helps to intrigue your readers, as well as give them a sense of purpose for the task.
Create an approximate timeframe. Unfortunately, your readers don't have all day to spend on this one event. In addition to learning about its purpose, people want to know how long the task will take. This way, they can decide how to break up the work. If it's a quick fix, then they can knock it out in one session. However, if it's a large-scale operation, then your readers will obviously have to create their own time schedule.

For example, let’s say that the topic of your essay is “How to Save Money”. You can start the introduction of your process essay by explaining that as a college student, you often find yourself in need of extra money and you are stuck with bad money habits. This will create a good connection with your readers, because almost everyone has been in a situation of needing to be savvy with their finances. Another thing you can mention is the importance of saving money and the multiple opportunities it presents, such as being able to invest it, being able to pay off a credit card debt, or being able to save up to avoid taking out a student loan.

Feeling Overloaded and Stressed?

Our professional writers are ready to help you 24/7!

Body Paragraphs

This is the point in the process essay where you start introducing the step-by-step process your readers will need to take. A lot of the time, it helps to break down each process into subsections. For example, if a step has many parts to it, it would be clever to create a paragraph on its own just for that step. Remember, it's important to keep things smooth and efficient. Break down the body paragraphs in unity with the steps. Let's go into more detail about each step:

Each step should be carefully explained. Every step will vary in length. Think about it: every instruction manual has several steps. Some are more difficult to comprehend or perform than others. For this reason, create your steps and explanations accordingly. You should be able to get a sense of their length and difficulty based on the explanation.

Don't forget to explain the purpose. People don't want orders barked at them aimlessly. Besides just accomplishing a task, people want to learn as they perform.

Why did they do this?
What was the purpose of this method?
Why did we do it this way and not this other way?

To make everything flow smoothly use transitions. Make the steps flow one after another to create a well-structured essay. As you introduce the next step, consider using transition words like “next”, “now”, “then”, “so that”, etc.

Before writing the steps out in full sentences, it is a great idea to create an outline for your body paragraphs. Here is an outline for the body paragraphs of a process essay on “How to Save Money”:

Paragraph 1:

keep track of your expenses
organize your collected data
decide what you can skimp on in your spendings

Paragraph 2:

create a realistic budget
check weekly to ensure you are sticking to it
save 15% of every monthly income
set a tangible goal for saving, such as a car

These process essay examples use only two body paragraphs, but feel free to include more to ensure a better understanding and cohesive flow for your paper. Although, do not include excessive unnecessary details that clutter your essay and make understanding it even more difficult. While writing your essay, include small brief explanations for each statement. For example, “Even though eating out and grabbing a coffee on your way to class sounds tempting, setting a budget and saving 15% of each of your monthly earnings aside can help you have enough to put down a downpayment on a new car.” Here the reader will understand that there is a direct relationship between each step and the result it is going to give.

Showing the readers that they are learning and not just repeating is one of the most effective ways to lock down their attention and keep them coming back!

After going through every step meticulously and explaining the whole process, a process essay needs a confident conclusion. This paragraph should be short, sweet, and to the point. It's main goal is to accomplish the following tasks:

Discuss the main result. After the readers have completed the process, they should be left with a final result. It's important that you explain to your readers what the end result will look like, and what can be done with it.
Restate the process’s general purpose. After completing the task, you obviously would like to know its overall purpose. When your readers feel that they have accomplished a challenge, learned something from it, and have a path to take the result towards, they will be satisfied!
State your Overall Conclusion. To put a pretty tie around your process essay means that you need to neatly wrap things up! Restate some of the highlightable points as well as the process’s key overall purpose. Make sure that your readers feel accomplished after going through your process, and ensure that you strengthen the necessity of its purpose with a nice concluding sentence!

The conclusion of an essay on “How to Save Money” would explain that the completion of all of the steps will result in saving money that can be used for a specific goal or for rainy day fund purposes. You can mention the importance of every step and briefly repeat some of the key points.

Post-Writing Tips

Here are some final tips to wrap up your writing process. Use them as a checklist for a successful and coherent essay.

Make sure the work is simple enough to follow. Worst-case-scenario: its author creates a feeling of absolute confusion in the reader’s mind. To avoid this problem, always remember that your readers can be beginners. Do not try to impress them with complicated words or sentences, use simple language to provide clear directions on how to do something. Give as many details as possible, but do it plainly. "Why is he making me do this?" "What was the purpose of this?" "I don't understand this step at all!" If the reader is asking themself these questions, then it's time to do some editing!
Experiment and try it for yourself or ask a friend. There's no better way to experience success than to actively attempt your process through your own instructions. If everything truly makes sense, then you should have no problem solving the task using your own words. Even better, ask a peer to try it through your words to get an outside point of view.
Choose the right topic for you and research it well
Maintain a logical order of steps, make it easy to follow
Avoid using imperative sentences - you do not want to sound like an Apple TV manual
Explain terms that are most likely outside of most people’s range of common knowledge

If you have a ready-made essay but need to make significant changes to it, you can use our rewrite my essay service .

Process Essay Examples

Now that you know all about process essays and how to write them, we have prepared some great essay topic ideas in case you are stuck and cannot choose one:

Building a business from scratch is an intricate process that entails a number of steps. Each of these steps should have specific objectives and measurable outcomes.The following analysis gives the basic steps followed when building any business from scratch.

Saving can be defined as a differed consumption or keeping aside a portion of your income for unexpected future uncertainties or plans. Read for reason and actual steps for saving more money

Read also a thesis statement example from our author. In this article, you can learn something useful for yourself.

Still Need Help?

If you still feel like you could use some help with your process essay, do not hesitate to seek help from our writing service. Our writers specialize in a wide range of essays of different types including creative writing essay , process essays, and would be more than happy to assist you with writing, editing, or direction if you are feeling uneasy. Click the button below and college admission essay writer will process your requests fast.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

4. Process Writing

4. process essay sample.

Take a look at the following student essay, which describes a process. Note the different tools the writer uses (Specific details; definition of terms; reasons; don’ts; possible pitfalls. It might be a good idea to actually print a copy of the essay and highlight the different process techniques used to develop each paragraph and to identify which pattern of development is used. Do you think you could rewrite this using one of the other two patterns we discussed?

Acine De Pe Pe Fruit Salad

Acine De Pe Pe Fruit Salad, a unique fruit salad sure to get you hooked after the first bite. This recipe has been passed down to me from previous generations in my family. The kids always request that I make this to bring to holiday or family gatherings because they can’t get enough of it! Even though this salad does take two days to make, the amount of time spent each day is minimal and worth the time spent preparing it. You will want to start the salad the day before you will be serving it.

The first thing that you will need to do is to go the grocery store to purchase the ingredients that you will need. Since this recipe has to be done in precise steps, if you forget an ingredient you cannot just buy it later and add it in, therefore, be sure to bring your shopping list of all ingredients with you to the grocery store. The list of ingredients you will need is:

· ½ box Acine De Pe Pe

Note: These are small macaroni ball looking pasta – similar consistency to tapioca. You can find the box in aisle with spaghetti and other pasta. I have found that not every store carries the Acine De Pe Pe pasta, so you may have to visit a couple of grocery stores before you find it.

· 20 oz. can of Crushed Pineapple

· 16 oz. can of Mandarin Oranges

· 1 lg. container of Cool Whip

· 16 oz. jar of Maraschino Cherries

· ¾ cup of Sugar

· 2 Eggs

· 4 tsp. of Flour

Once you have all of these ingredients, it is time start to prepare the salad. You will need a 5 quart pasta pan to boil the Acine De Pe Pe noodles in; a medium saucepan to mix ingredients together and boil ingredients to create your sauce mix; a large mixing bowl to mix ingredients together; a wooden spoon to mix ingredients together; a strainer to drain the crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges into your saucepan and also to drain and cool your pasta in once cooked; a can opener to open the cans of crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges; a paring knife to chop the mandarin oranges and maraschino cherries; tin foil or plastic wrap to cover the bowl before putting into the refrigerator to sit overnight; and, a cutting board to chop the mandarin oranges and maraschino cherries on. One you have gotten all the above out on your countertop, you are ready to prepare the salad.

On the first day of preparation you will start out by filling your 5 quart pasta pan ½ way with hot water, put on the stove and bring to a boil on medium heat. Once the water is boiling, add ½ a box of Acine De Pe Pe macaroni balls and stir. Boil on medium for approximately 11-13 minutes. Remove from stove, drain by pouring into strainer over the sink. Let sit and cool while you are preparing the other steps. These noodles are very tiny, so you may see quite a few fall through the holes in the strainer. To prevent this, I usually put two strainers together, one inside the other.

While your noodles are cooling, use the can opener to open and drain 1 (20 oz.) can of crushed pineapple and 1 (16 oz.) can of mandarin oranges. Drain the juice from both the pineapple and the mandarin orange cans into the medium size saucepan on the stove. I usually like to use two cans of mandarin oranges as I like extra fruit in my salad, this is a personal preference. You will then add 2 eggs, ¾ cups of sugar, and 4 tsp. of flour to the juice in the sauce pan. Stir all the ingredients together with your wooden spoon. Cook on medium heat until it starts to bubble a little bit. Stir every every couple of minutes or so until it starts to thicken. The consistency that you are looking for is not too watery, but not as thick as pudding. Once it gets to this consistency, set aside to cool. It is very important not to add too much flour. At first the mixture seems very watery and seems like it will never thicken up, but it will if you stick to the 4 tsp. of flour. If, for some reason, you find it is not thickening up, you can add one or two extra teaspoons of flour, a little at a time.

While the sauce is cooling, place your cutting board on the counter, place your mandarin oranges on it and cut each slice of orange in half with your paring knife and then pour into your large mixing bowl.

Pour your crushed pineapple into the mixing bowl along with the mandarin oranges and stir together with your wooden spoon. Once your Acine De Pe Pe macaroni noodles are cooled, pour them into the large mixing bowl along with the crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges and mix with your wooden spoon.

Once the sauce is in your medium sized saucepan is cooled, pour over the Acine De Pe Pe macaroni noodles, crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges in your large mixing bowl. Mix together with your wooden spoon. Cover the bowl with either tin foil or plastic wrap and place in your refrigerator overnight. Even though this does not look like a large portion in your bowl right now, the noodles will

expand in size overnight in the liquid.

The next morning, take the mixing bowl out of the refrigerator and place on the countertop. Take the Cool Whip and the jar of maraschino cherries out and place on the countertop. Drain the jar of maraschino cherries and take the stems off of them. You will need your cutting board and paring knife to cut the maraschino cherries each in half. Pour all of the maraschino cherries, except 8 halves into your mixture in the large mixing bowl and stir with your wooden spoon. Stir all of the Cool Whip, except ½ cup, into the mixture in the large mixing bowl. Mix well. You can adjust the amount of Cool Whip accordingly, depending on how sweet you prefer. I use according to the recipe (if not more) as I like it sweet.

You can now transfer your salad in to a fancy bowl that you are going to want to serve it in on your dinner table and flatten out the mixture with your wooden spoon. Clean off your wooden spoon so that you can place the remaining Cool Whip on the top of the salad and smooth out over the whole surface, just enough to coat the top of the salad. You will then add the remaining maraschino cherry halves creatively on top of the cool whip to make it look pretty. I usually place them in a circle with about ½ inch in between each of the maraschino cherry halves. Put the salad back in to the refrigerator until you are ready to eat it at your meal.

Congratulations, you have now created a masterpiece sure to please all that sit at your dinner table! There are varying opinions on whether this salad is a dessert or part of a meal, we will let you decide after your first bite!

Authored by : Jeff Meyers. Provided by : Clinton Community College. License : CC BY: Attribution

How to Write a Great Process Essay

Otherwise Known as a How-To Essay

CSA-Archive / iStock Vectors / Getty Images

Writing Essays
Writing Research Papers
English Grammar
M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
B.A., History, Armstrong State University

How-to essays , also known as process essays, are much like recipes: They provide instruction for carrying out a procedure or task. You can write a how-to essay about any procedure that you find interesting as long as your topic fits the teacher's assignment.

Start by Brainstorming

The first step in writing your how-to essay is brainstorming. Here are tips to help you:

Draw a line down the middle of a sheet of paper to make two columns. Label one column "materials" and the other column "steps."
Write down every item and every step you can think of that will be needed to carry out your task. Don't worry about trying to keep things in order yet. Just empty your head.
Number your steps on your brainstorming page. Just jot a number beside each item/step. You may need to erase and scribble a few times to get the order right. It's not a neat process.

Create an Outline

First, determine the format required for your essay; ask your teacher if you are unsure. Your essay could contain a numbered list (like the one in the previous section), or it could be written as a standard narrative essay. If you are instructed to write a step-by-step without using numbers, your essay should contain all the elements of any other essay assignment, including an:

Introductory paragraph : the section that identifies the topic , arouses interest, and prepares the audience or readers for the development of the thesis
Body : the part of an essay that develops the main idea
Conclusion : the sentences or paragraphs that bring the essay to a logical end

Regardless of the essay format—whether your teacher allows for numbered paragraphs or sections or simply wants you to craft a narrative report—your outline should center on these three areas.

Creating the Essay

Your introduction will explain why your topic is important or relevant. For example, your paper about "How to Wash a Dog" would explain that dog hygiene is important for your pet's good health.

Your first body paragraph should contain a list of necessary materials. For example: "The equipment you will need depends somewhat on the size of your dog. At the very minimum, you will need dog shampoo, a large towel, and a container large enough to hold your dog. And, of course, you will need a dog."
The next paragraphs should contain instructions for following steps in your process, as enumerated in your outline.
Your summary, or conclusion, explains how your task or process should turn out if it is done correctly. It may also be appropriate to restate the importance of your topic.

Topics to Write About

You may believe that you are not expert enough to write a process essay. This is not so. There are many processes that you go through every day that you can write about, including:

How to make a perfect paper airplane
How to dye your hair
How to wear makeup
How to survive a weekend with your family
How to play basketball
How to play (a popular video game)

The goal in this type of assignment is to show that you can write a well-organized essay and clearly explain to the reader how to do what you are instructing.

50 Great Topics for a Process Analysis Essay
Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs
6 Steps to Writing the Perfect Personal Essay
How to Write and Format an MBA Essay
How To Write an Essay
List of Topics for How-to Essays
How to Write a Response Paper
How to Write a Narrative Essay or Speech
Write an Attention-Grabbing Opening Sentence for an Essay
Strategies for Writing a 20-Page Paper
Tips on How to Write an Argumentative Essay
How to Structure an Essay
What Is Expository Writing?
How to Write a Great Essay for the TOEFL or TOEIC
Writing a Descriptive Essay
How to Write an Instructional Outline

Translators
Graphic Designers

Please enter the email address you used for your account. Your sign in information will be sent to your email address after it has been verified.

How to Write the Perfect Process Analysis Essay (With a Sample Essay)

A process analysis essay is a kind of expository essay that explains the process or actions someone needs to take to complete a task. You can think of it like a recipe, stating all of the necessary ingredients and steps, allowing the reader to follow along in logical order.

A process analysis essay can be written about a wide scope of topics, from highly technical processes to cleaning and organizing your closet. Writing a process analysis essay forces you to slow down and consider every tool and step involved in completing a task, and then explain what's needed in logical order for your reader to do the same.

Writing a process analysis essay forces you to slow down and consider every tool and step involved in completing a task, and then explain what's needed in logical order.

Format of a process analysis essay

For this type of essay assignment, you will not be following the traditional five-paragraph essay outline. There is still an introduction and body to your essay, but your conclusion is more like the "analysis" part and the essay will end when you've completed explaining the steps involved in a process. Below, we'll break down exactly what should be included in each of these parts. Also keep in mind that you can still create an outline before beginning writing your process analysis essay, although it might look more like a list of bullet points rather than a traditional five-paragraph essay outline.

Introduction

The introduction to your process analysis essay will include information about the process you are analyzing and why it is important. This will likely be the shortest part of your essay. If there is a unique history to the process you'll be analyzing, the introduction is where you might mention that. You basically want to use this paragraph as a brief introduction to your reader of 1) what process you'll be analyzing and 2) how or why that process might be useful information to know.

The body of your process analysis essay will mention any prerequisites, materials, or instruments needed to complete the process. It should also mention any risks or warnings involved that are relevant to the process. It's important to include everything that the reader will need to complete the process, and even extra tools that might help the process go smoother but are not necessary. For example, in the sample process analysis essay provided below on how to make apple butter, I included a spoon to stir the butter as part of the list of tools that will be needed. Additionally, I mentioned that a food processor will make the apple butter cook better and have a more butter-like consistency, but it's not necessary to have as a tool to cook apple butter.

Following these sections, you'll write the actual process in sequential order required to complete the task. Make sure you include transitional words within and between paragraphs, as these are required to show the sequence of the process in logical order. Your analysis will likely be across several paragraphs, so make sure each paragraph describes a separate part of the process to avoid confusion for your reader.

Sample process analysis essay

To show you how a process analysis essay might look, we've provided a sample essay that includes the separate sections discussed above. Notice that the introduction paragraph is short, providing basic information about the process that will be discussed, while the remaining paragraphs are longer and more detailed.

Sample essay

Apple butter is similar to apple sauce but is different in that it is highly concentrated and used more often as a butter-like topping on bread or crackers. It's cooked long and slow, allowing the sugar in the apples to caramelize and turn it a deep brown color.

To make apple butter, you will need a slow cooker, food processor, cutting board, peeling knife, large spoon, apples, sugar, and spices for the desired flavoring (usually cinnamon and nutmeg). You might also want to use an apple slicer, which cuts down on the preparation time. Note that when you begin cooking your apple butter, the more minced the peeled apples are, the smoother the final product will be. If you want your apple butter to have a true butter-like consistency, mince the apples well in the food processor before cooking.

Now, let's look at the process of cooking apple butter. To begin, prepare a large, clean space for cutting and processing the apples. Five to six cups of fresh apples will likely only result in a few cups (at most) of apple butter, so depending on how much butter you want to make, you could be peeling and preparing apples for several hours. Each apple will need to be sliced, peeled, and minced in a food processor for maximum butter-like consistency.

Next, add the minced apples to a slow cooker and place the slow cooker on "high". You will notice that the top of the mixture is watery, once the larger pieces settle. Add sugar and spices until you reach the taste you want for the apple butter. Keep in mind that apples vary in sweetness, depending on what type of apple you are using, and sugar can be added slowly throughout the cooking process. Be careful not to add too much sugar at first, as the butter will get sweeter as the apples cook down. In fact, you might even choose to not at sugar at all at this stage of the cooking process, especially if you want a final product that is not too sweet. The spices can also be added as the apple butter cooks or not at all (if that's your preference). Be sure to stir every 10-15 minutes during the first hour as the apple butter is cooking on high and let it cook uncovered.

After one hour of cooking on high, turn the slow cooker to low and cover it. Depending on the type of apple you have used, it should cook for 8-10 hours, until there is no water left at the top and around the sides of the slow cooker. During this slow cooking time, stir occasionally (once per hour should be fine). This is also when the apple butter makes your kitchen smell amazing!

Finally, when the apple butter has reached the consistency and taste you want, remove it from the slow cooker. If you choose to can the apple butter, you can do that immediately or keep the apple butter in the refrigerator until you are able to can it.

Academic Writing Advice
All Blog Posts
Writing Advice
Admissions Writing Advice
Book Writing Advice
Short Story Advice
Employment Writing Advice
Business Writing Advice
Web Content Advice
Article Writing Advice
Magazine Writing Advice
Grammar Advice
Dialect Advice
Editing Advice
Freelance Advice
Legal Writing Advice
Poetry Advice
Graphic Design Advice
Logo Design Advice
Translation Advice
Blog Reviews
Short Story Award Winners
Scholarship Winners

Need an academic editor before submitting your work?

How to Write a Process Essay?

18 June, 2020

14 minutes read

Author: Tomas White

What is a “process essay”? What makes it different from dozens of other papers you create on a daily basis? What are its main components and what the main goal of this type of writing you need to bear in mind? If you're looking for answers to these questions, you're in luck! You can get them all from our academic guide on how to write a process essay.

Composing a process essay can be rather complicated especially if you are not familiar with this type of writing and do not know what pitfalls and specifications to pay attention to.

That is why our custom essay writing service has created this guide to help you tackle this task. We will answer all these questions in our article below and even provide you with great process essay examples and topics you can write on to stand out. So, if that sounds like something you need right now, read on: we are here to help and equip you with knowledge!

But first things first. Since it is impossible to create an excellent process essay without crystal clear understanding of the term, we will start with the definition. So, let’s dive in!

What is a process essay?

A process essay is commonly written either to explain how something works or to guide a reader through the process of completing a particular task, states the process essay definition.

Process essays also go under the “How-to articles” title and aim to teach the target audience how to achieve certain goals or complete specific assignments.

So, look at it like this. In case of “How to quit smoking” process essay, your primary goal is to provide several helpful ways of quitting this habit. These might be evidence-based recommendations if you have experience in this area, or simply common sense ideas you found while conducting your research.

Now that you realize what you will be working with, let’s look into different types of process essays and practical ways to compose them. Our essay writing guide will walk you through the process essay writing step by step.

Types of process essays

There are two main types of such papers: the ones that explain how something works , and those that show you how to complete a particular task .

1. How to do something.

Though it sounds quite self-explanatory, we’d like to emphasize the importance of clear instructions in case you are writing a process essay.

Your readers must be able to follow your guidance and complete each step successfully. So, split the process into small steps, keep it short and to the point at each stage of crafting a process essay.

For instance, in a “How to quit smoking” process essay , you can split the whole process into seven steps:

Choose a date for a quit day;
Imagine life without cigarettes and expect it;
Have one last cigarette as a “Goodbye!”;
Be among people to support you;
Keep your goal in perspective not to give up;
Don’t fall for substitutes;
Be accountable.

2. How something works.

By contrast, this is an informative type of writing that aims to achieve one goal – explain the principle of work behind some process. Unlike the mentioned above type, this process essay type does not encourage a reader to take an action and do something step by step.

However, you must make sure that by the end of your essay, the audience will know for sure how something functions.

As an example of this type of a process essay, let’s see how an earthquake happens .

First, the energy within the earth core builds up due to various moves in the earth crust;
The energy level grows up and causes tension in the tectonic plates;
After some time, the pressure radiates outwards by moving the plates from each other;
The seismic waves shake the earth as they get from the core of the earth to the surface;
That is when the earthquake takes place.

Before we go any further, let’s look at another example. In case of “How to prepare for a vacation” process essay, your task is to compose a few steps that your readers can take when getting ready for their vacation. In other words, you are describing how to do something.

Meanwhile, “What happens to your brain when you sleep” process essay is merely an explanation of the principle. In it, you are not encouraging readers to take any actions whatsoever. So, here is the fundamental difference.

How to write a process essay?

Getting started with process essay writing

When developing a process essay outline, take some time to answer the following questions:

Who is your target audience? How deep is their knowledge of the subject? The complexity of your essay depends on their skills level. Thus, for instance, when explaining to your peers how to stretch a dollar to see the world, you can use basic terminology and examples they can relate to. However, your vocabulary should be way more sophisticated if you are writing a process essay on how to improve the overall quality of higher education in your state to the City Council.
How can you divide the process into small steps? You do not want to bore your audience to death with unnecessary details in a process essay. Yet, you cannot afford to skip valuable steps if they are crucial to the overall understanding of the subject of your process essay. So, try to find the golden cut and figure out the most suitable amount of steps.
What sources will you use for the task? It goes without saying that you can only use reliable sources to support your argument in a process essay. These sources should be all mentioned in the end of your essay. And remember about proper in-text citation styles. Read the materials carefully and take only the information that will add value to your essay and helps make it shine.

How to write a process essay outline

Finally, let’s look into the process essay structure. Needless to say that you must start with something that will grab readers’ attention, or in other words, “a hook.”

It is true for any essay, and process essay writing is not an exception.

The structure of your essay regardless of the process essay topics should consist of:

A powerful introduction.
Main body paragraphs.
An interesting conclusion.

Related Post: Essay outline | Research Paper outline

Sounds simple, yet there are several things you should not forget about process essay writing.

How to write an introduction to a process essay

Once you compose a hook, mention why you believe that readers should use your approach to solve a problem even though there are dozens of other ones. We know two effective ways to achieve this in your process essay:

Show how much time this task will take . People don’t have all the time in the world to tackle just this one task. So, you’ll really help them by stating how much time completing something using your approach will take and underline that with your approach described in a process essay it will take less time than if they opt for a different one. “Writing can be tough, especially if you always felt that it is not exactly your suit. However, Michael D. Pollock, a credible expert in this area, has recently presented 10 effective tips that will help you learn writing fast and make you able to craft a 1000-word article in 30 minutes. So, keep reading to find out how you can write this fast too.”
Introduce your audience to the historical background of the approach (if any) you’re using in a process essay. Let them see the roots of your solution. Here is what a good introduction of a process essay should look like: “Giving a speech with lots of eyes concentrated on you is not an easy task. No wonder so many students dread this task. However, speech can be a powerful tool, and we can teach you how to give them right. Steve Jobs is known as one of the best public speakers of our time. People were sitting on the edge of their seats when he spoke. And we’ll teach you how to grab attention like he did using just five simple tricks he applied.”

At last, compose an engaging thesis of a process essay. Many students consider it a scary part. But it all goes down to this.

Your thesis statement should reason why your way is the best and why readers looking for answers should search no more and give your solution a chance.

It’s easier than you think. Here is a good thesis statement example:

“With more than 580 million tons of household waste produced all over the world, Every tiny effort you make to become eco-friendly counts. And if you don’t want to spend extra money on sustainable products but want to save the environment, use our guide on ten simple eco-friendly steps you can do daily without even noticing it!”

This is what a thesis statement for a process essay on how to be eco-friendly would look like. Yours can be different, but you get the idea!

How to plan main body paragraphs

Dedicate one body paragraph to one point you want to bring to light.
Provide enough details on each step including the ultimate goal of this step and reasons why this method was chosen for its achievement.
Keep it short and to the point.

How to write a conclusion

Now is that time you reminded the readers about the purpose of a process essay, reasons why you chose this particular approach, and briefly mentioned steps needed to accomplish the task.

Besides, you can call your audience to action but only in case you are writing an essay that shows how to do something. Otherwise, it will be inapplicable.

Finally, help them set their expectations right: what results can they count on in the end? How long will it take them to achieve those results after reading your process essay and applying its tips?

How to use transition words in a process essay

Transition words can help you create a seamless reading experience. You can take readers smoothly from one step to another. And what is more you can help them immerse into the process!

Therefore, begin each new paragraph with a transition word, add one in between examples you provide, and summarize your instructions with them, too.

List of transition words for a process essay

Think of transition words as of bridges that connect paragraphs and sentences. They make smooth communication between the two possible. And with them in your process essay, no reader feels irritated or frustrated with your writing style, as they have to stumble upon every other sentence in your piece.

Good process essay topics

It is not enough to just know the theory to create a good process essay. One should also come up with a topic that will be both interesting and useful to his readers. Here’s a list of our suggestions on process essay ideas:

How to choose a perfect future career.
How to survive college and stay sane.
How to eat healthy on campus.
How to balance your social and academic life.
How to pay out a student loan while still at college.
How to improve your public speaking skills.
How to see the world with only $100 in your pocket.
How to learn a foreign language.
How to renovate your apartment and not go bankrupt.
How to start your own business.
How to prepare for your first interview.
How to get volunteers to help you clean the neighborhood.
How to write a life list.
How to set boundaries in the relationship.
How to study overseas for free.

Related Posts: Argumentative essay topics | Compare&Contrast essay topics

Process essay writing tips

Wrapping up, we would like to introduce you to a couple of vital recommendations on process essay writing:

Your process essay subject cannot be too broad or too narrow. Look out for the golden cut!
Introduce your readers to possible complications of the process. After all, forewarned is forearmed.
Create a short vocabulary your audience can use in case they are not familiar with the terminology essential to the general understanding of the process essay in question.
Develop a list of resources your readers will need as they deal with certain tasks. This way you will have them prepared to put your recommendations to action right away.
Always write a process essay using Active Voice!

Need help with your process essay writing? Handmadewriting is here for you to help. Drop us a line to get our professional essay writers to develop an excellent piece for you!

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

Due to human nature, we draw conclusions only when life gives us a lesson since the experience of others is not so effective and powerful. Therefore, when analyzing and sorting out common problems we face, we may trace a parallel with well-known book characters or real historical figures. Moreover, we often compare our situations with […]

Ethical Research Paper Topics

Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]

Art Research Paper Topics

Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]

school Campus Bookshelves
menu_book Bookshelves
perm_media Learning Objects
login Login
how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
hub Instructor Commons

Margin Size

Download Page (PDF)
Download Full Book (PDF)
Periodic Table
Physics Constants
Scientific Calculator
Reference & Cite
Tools expand_more
Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

4.4: Process Essay

Last updated
Save as PDF
Page ID 28075

Lynne Bost, Barbara Hall, Michelle Kassorla, Karen McKinney-Holley, Kirk Swenson, and Rebecca Weaver (Managing Editor)

Lynne Bost, Barbara Hall, Michelle Kassorla, Karen McKinney-Holley, Kirk Swenson, and Rebecca Weaver (Managing Editor)
Georgia State University via Open Textbooks at Affordable Learning Georgia

$ \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } $

$ \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} $

$ \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}$ $ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) $ \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}$

$ \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}$ $ \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}$

$ \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}$ $ \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}$

$ \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}$

$ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$

$ \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}$

$ \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}$

$ \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}$

$ \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}$

$ \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}$

$ \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}$

$ \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}$

$ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$ $ \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}$

$ \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow$

$ \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow$

$ \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } $

$ \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} $

$ \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} $

$ \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} $

$ \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} $

Process Essay

Screen Shot 2019-11-26 at 8.56.13 PM.png

The Purpose of the Process Essay

The purpose of a process essay is to explain how to do something (directional) or how something works (informative). In either case, the formula for a process essay remains the same. The process is articulated into clear, definitive steps.

Almost everything we do involves following a step-by-step process.

From learning to ride a bike as a child to starting a new job as an adult, we initially needed instructions to effectively execute the task. Likewise, we have likely had to instruct others, so we know how important good directions are and how frustrating it is when they are poorly put together.

Exercise: Step by Step Process

Screen Shot 2019-11-26 at 9.00.53 PM.png

On a separate sheet of paper, make a bulleted list of all the steps required to complete one of the following processes:

Tying a shoelace
Parallel parking
Planning a party
Making a sandwich

The Structure of a Process Essay

Screen Shot 2019-11-26 at 9.02.44 PM.png

The process essay opens with a discussion of the process and a thesis statement that states the goal of the process. The organization of a process essay typically follows chronological order.

The steps of the process are conveyed in the order in which they usually occur, and so your body paragraphs will be constructed based on these steps. If a particular step is complicated and needs a lot of explaining, then it will likely take up a paragraph on its own. If a series of simple steps is easy to understand, then the steps can be grouped into a single paragraph.

The time transition phrases covered in the Narration section are also helpful for organizing process analysis essays (see Table of Transition Words and Phrases for Expressing Time). Words such as first, second, third, next, and finally are cues to orient readers and organize the content of the essay.

Finally, it's a good idea to always have someone else read your process analysis to make sure it makes sense. Once we get too close to a subject, it is difficult to determine how clearly an idea is coming across. Having a peer read over your analysis will serve as a good way to troubleshoot any confusing spots.

Writing a Process Essay

Screen Shot 2019-11-26 at 9.05.52 PM.png

Choose a topic that is interesting, is relatively complex, and can be explained in a series of steps. As with other rhetorical writing modes, it is best to choose a process that you know well so that you can more easily describe the finer details about each step in the process.

Your thesis statement should come at the end of your introduction, and it should state the final outcome of the process you are describing.

Body paragraphs are composed of the steps in the process. Each step should be expressed using strong details and clear examples.

If you are writing a directional essay, you should provide every detail necessary for your reader to complete the process. As you are writing, try to do the thing you are describing in order to identify missing steps.

If you are writing an instructional essay, your body paragraphs should explain the process and how it works, although you should not expect your reader to be actually performing the process.

Use time transition phrases to help organize steps in the process and to orient readers. The conclusion should thoroughly describe the result of the process described in the body paragraphs. See the student paper below, "Keep Them in Stitches," or one of the sample professional essays to read an example of a process analysis essay.

Sample Process Essay

Screen Shot 2019-11-26 at 9.10.10 PM.png

"Keep Them in Stitches," by Jacob Gallman-Dreiling, describes the process of finding the perfect yarn for a knitting project. As you read, pay attention to the words and phrases the author uses to help orient the reader, as well as the strong details that bring the subject to life.

We begin with his outline, so you can see how he developed the essay.

Jacob Gallman-Dreiling English 1101 Honors Dr. X 24 February 2019

Thesis statement: Choosing the perfect yarn for a knitting project relies on the preferences of the person for whom the project is being made, the availability of the yarn, and the type of yarn called for by the pattern.

I. Choosing the perfect yarn for a knitting project relies on the preferences of the person for whom the project is being made.

A. The knitter must determine if the recipient has any allergies or sensitivities.

1. Wool yarn will aggravate allergies to lanolin.

2. Acrylic yearns can be scratchy or leave splinters.

B. The knitter must consider the type of project.

1. Warmer items should be made with animal fibers.

2. Lighter items should be made with cotton.

C. The knitter must consider the care of the finished garment.

1. Wool yarn should be hand washed with cold water.

2. Cotton and acrylic yarns are machine washable.

D. The knitter must determine what color the recipient prefers.

1. Solid colors are great for sweaters and accessories like professional iPad cases.

2. Variegated yarn makes for show-stopping pieces and can help maintain the knitter?s interest through the end of the project.

II. Choosing the perfect yarn for a knitting project relies on the availability of the yarn.

A. Many people prefer to shop for yarn at a local yarn store.

1. An advantage to shopping in person is the ability to touch the yarn.

2. An advantage to shopping at the local yarn store is the knowledgeable staff, many of whom have been knitting for years.

3. An advantage to shopping at the yarn store is that the staff can provide ready assistance and often have first-hand knowledge of the yarn the knitter intends to use.

B. Other people prefer to shop at one of the many online retailers.

1. Online retailers typically have greater stock availability.

2. Online retailers also provide tutorial videos.

III. Choosing the perfect yarn for a knitting project relies on the type of yarn called for by the pattern.

A. The knitter must determine the proper yarn weight for the project.

1. Fingering, sport, and DK weight yarns are good for smaller projects like socks or baby clothes.

2. Worsted, bulky, and super bulky are great for sweaters, scarves, blankets, and washcloths.

B. The knitter must determine the recipient?s preferences.

1. Some people prefer sweaters with a small gauge.

2. Some people prefer socks with a large gauge

Jacob Gallman-Dreiling English 1101 Honors Dr. X 24 February 2014

Keep Them in Stitches

The popularity of knitting is cyclical, rising and falling according to the prevailing opinion of women's places in society. Though internationally a unisex hobby, knitting is pervasively thought of as a woman's hobby in the United States. Knitting is currently enjoying a boost in popularity as traditionally minded women pick up the craft while women who enjoy subverting traditional gender roles have also picked up the needles to reclaim "the lost domestic arts" and give traditionally feminine crafts the proper respect. American men are also picking up the needles in greater numbers, with men's knitting guilds and retreats nationwide. This rise in popularity has made the receiving of hand-knit items special, and many people enjoy receiving these long-lasting, painstakingly crafted items. For any knitters, the perfect gift starts by choosing the perfect yarn. Choosing the perfect yarn for a knitting project relies on the preferences of the person for whom the project is being made, the availability of the yarn, and the type of yarn recommended by the pattern.

In order to select the right yarn for a knitting project, the knitter must take into account the preferences of the recipient of the knitted item. The most basic choice is the composition of the yarn to be used. Natural fibers are luxurious and tend to age better. Nevertheless, the knitter must determine if the recipient has any allergies or sensitivities. Wool yarn, for example, will aggravate allergies in those sensitive to lanolin, but mohair, alpaca, cotton, or angora will not cause discomfort. Acrylic is a synthetic yarn, but it can be scratchy or leave splinters. A second consideration is the type of project the knitter plans to complete: each project requires a specific type of yarn. For warmer items such as sweaters, blankets, or mittens, animal fibers are best. Socks, warmer-weather items, and household accessories are best served using cotton. One must also give thought to the care of the finished project. Items made from wool yarn survive best when hand washed in cold water whereas cotton and acrylic items are machine washable.

Once the type of yarn has been chosen, the knitter should consider what color yarn the recipient prefers. A solid color garment looks more professional and functions as a base piece in a wardrobe or interior design. Sweaters, iPad and tablet cases, as well as belts are well-suited to solid colors. Pieces made with variegated colors, in which the yarn has either multiple colors or shades of the same basic color, make for show pieces and accessories. Socks, gloves, scarves, and cowls are great projects for variegated yarn. Variegated yarn colors tend to keep the knitter's interest, but multicolored yarn can be difficult to use when working on larger projects which require multiple skeins of yarn. Due to the way yarn is dyed, the color at the end of one skein may not match the color at the beginning of the next skein.

The next step in determining the right yarn for a project is availability, particularly where to purchase the yarn. Some people prefer to shop at a local store for yarn because it offers many advantages. Shopping in person allows the knitter to feel the yarn he or she intends to purchase. This can help sway the knitter's opinion in regards to yarn choice. The staff at a local shop is often knowledgeable; many of them have been knitting for years, and they are usually ready to offer assistance with projects or yarn selection. If a knitter does not live near a yarn store, there are many online retailers who can fulfill their orders. Online retailers typically have a larger selection of yarns and patterns available for download. Since they cannot give personal assistance, many compensate for this deficiency by providing free tutorial videos.

Finally, choosing the right yarn for a project relies on the type of yarn called for in the knitting pattern. Patterns are highly adaptable. Most things in a pattern can be substituted: yarn type, yarn weight, color, and number of stitches can all be substituted to fit the knitter's desire, but the pattern will provide a good place to start. The yarn weight, which determines the gauge of the project, is one of the most basic substitutions. Fingering or lace weight, sport, and DK weight are lighter weight yarns typically good for smaller projects like socks or baby clothes. Those types of yarn tend to be knit on smaller needles and produce a smaller stitch. Worsted, bulky, and super-bulky yarns are chunkier, knit on larger needles, and provide beautiful, large stitches. They are well suited for sweaters, scarves, blankets, and washcloths. The preferences of the recipient must also be taken into account. Some people prefer sweaters with a small stitch, while others prefer thick, warm socks to wear around the house.

The right yarn for a knitting project is one that meets the preferences of the recipient of the project, is readily available, and matches the needs of the pattern. After the project is completed and given to the intended recipient, both the knitter and receiver can bask in the adulation the finished garment brings. These hand-knit items can be passed down for several generations, truly becoming a gift that keeps on giving.

Online Process Analysis Essay Examples

* Note: Links to these articles may change or break. However, access to them may be free of charge if accessed through your college/university library database.

Stanley Fish, an American literary theorist, public intellectual, and professor of humanities and law, tells us in an article in the New York Times why "Meanwhile: Getting Coffee Is Hard to Do"

How To Write A Process Essay: Detailed Manual

Writing an essay is a huge part of your college education. Every university makes its students write an essay on different subjects and topics to test their learning, critical thinking abilities and knowledge about the particular topic. Throughout your academic life, you’ll need to write down all sorts of papers such as expository, argumentative, etc. A process essay is one such essay every student has to write during school or college years. Therefore, it is crucial to know different steps to describe the different processes correctly. So, in this article, we provide an exhaustive guide on how to write a good process essay.

What Is A Process Essay?

Before you jump on writing, it is important to know – what is a process analysis essay. A process essay is also known as a HOW-TO essay. As the name suggests, this essay describes a procedure of doing something. It gives step-by-step instructions that show how to perform a task or a project.

This type of essay serves to inform readers on how to do something and teach them the steps to reach a specific goal. A strong essay leads its readers through the task and guarantees their success. It is mostly used to inform new and inexperienced people about a certain task. Some of the examples include – a recipe, user’s guide, security instructions, instruction manual, etc.

Some of the process essay topics are:

How to operate a machine?
How to make pancakes?
How is maple syrup produced?
How to put gas in a car?
How do you make frosting for cookies?

Prepare Process Essay Outline

An outline or a template includes a few short sentences on what you are planning to write in the content. The process analysis essay outline is helpful in any situation associated with writing and also helps to improve the structure of your piece. Every process is different, however, the structure remains the same. Most good essays follow this common outline:

Introduction – tell about what you are going to discuss;
Body – describe the process step-by-step;
Conclusion – sum up and describe the results.

After preparing the outline, go through it again to make sure that you haven’t missed out any point. You can also add more details that you don’t want to leave out.

Types Of Process Essay Writing

There are mainly two types of writing for a process essay – how to do something and how something works.

How to do something

The purpose of this type is to inform someone how to do a particular task or a project. The reader should be able to follow the steps clearly and successfully achieve their goals. Examples include:

How to repair your phone
How to cut an onion
How to create a DIY notebook
How to book flight tickets
How to tidy up your room effectively
How Something Works

This type of process writing is designed to inform readers about how a particular thing works. The reader will not necessarily do everything described in the essay but will only read it, and, hopefully, understand the process successfully. Here are some examples of what your potential readers may be interested in:

How a motor generator works
How presidential elections happen
How evaporation occurs
How the car engine works
How a plant grows

How To Start A Process Essay?

Before you put pen to paper, you should know how to structure an essay properly. The process of writing this write-up is quite simple, but only if you follow an effective step-by-step approach that allows for producing an outstanding essay. Below are some guidelines every student must follow while writing an essay:

Introduction

It is the most important part of any essay. A good introduction generates interest in the reader about your process and also sets the tone of the essay. The introductory part serves the purpose to inform the readers what they can expect from the essay and why they need this knowledge. This part is generally shorter than the body paragraph as it includes:

Hook – The first sentence that interests the readers.
Identification – Brief introduction to the process.
Thesis statement – Last line of the introduction that tells the readers how to solve the problem.
Body Paragraphs

It is the part where you’ll explain all the steps of doing a task in greater detail. The number of paragraphs your essay will depend on the stages of the process you are describing. However, make sure that each paragraph is not too lengthy and complex to read. For example, if you’re writing about how to make a pizza, divide the process into different paragraphs such as – how to make the pizza dough, how to make the pizza sauce, etc.

Keep your outline beside you while writing the body, so you don’t skip any important steps and ensure that they are in the correct order.

Moreover, each paragraph should consist of the necessary details for the process to be completed successfully. These include the tools and equipment required to perform the task, as well as the difficulties that the reader may face.

After explaining the whole process, write a confident conclusion. This part should be short and to the point and must give an idea to the reader of what the end result will look like. The conclusion mainly consists of a summary of the main idea of the text and the thesis statement. You can also restate some highlights and the overall purpose of the task. Make sure the readers feel they have learned something by going through your text.

Write A Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the last line of the introduction and also the most important line of the whole essay. It serves to inform the readers about the purpose of your paper, the problem, and the steps to solve it.

Use Transitions Writing A Process Analysis Essay

To create a well-structured essay, introduce each step using transition or signal words such as next, now, so that, then, immediately, later, eventually, etc. For example, tap on the text icon on the right-hand corner of your screen. Then, type your text using different fonts. Using transition words make the steps flow one after the other and motivate your readers to read the whole paper.

Proofread Your Process Analysis Essay

Once you are done writing, the next important step is to proofread your essay carefully. Proofreading means to examine your text to find and fix different grammatical errors, typos, spelling and style mistakes. Proofreading a paper before you submit it can mean the difference between a disastrous essay and a brilliant one. Many students skip this step while writing. Remember, proofreading is as important as writing your essay.

Here are some tips that you can follow while proofreading your essays:

Read your essay very carefully to detect and correct any mistakes.
Use simple language that is easily readable by your audience.
Avoid the use of complex and difficult vocabulary
Eliminate repetitions as it makes the essay boring. You can use a thesaurus to search for synonyms of common words.
Run a spell checker to fix some mistakes.
Make sure the grammar is flawless before submitting your write-up.

Some students find it difficult to complete and proofread these essays on time because they have to make time for other important things as well such as social life, sports, hobbies, family, etc. In such a situation, you can get the help of writing services available online that can not only help you to write different types of essays but also submit these before the deadlines.

Tips For Writing A Process Essay

In addition to the above steps, implement the following tips to write an effective process essay:

Research thoroughly before writing
Determine who your target audience is and what they expect from your paper. Assume that your readers don’t know a single detail about the subject, so you don’t miss out any point.
Clearly mention the purpose of each step of the process.
Write all the steps in chronological order.
Your essay should be precise and to the point.
Provide definitions of all uncommon words.
Create a list of all the tools and equipment used in the process.
List all the dangers and precautions to be taken while doing the process.
Avoid using imperative sentences. Otherwise, it will appear like an instruction manual and not an essay.
Also, provide your readers with a time estimate of the task.

Now you know that writing a process essay is quite simple. Once you prepare an outline of the points you want to include in your content, you can easily write a good, detailed and well-structured paper without missing an important point. Therefore, as long as you follow the above tips, you will be able to craft a perfect essay.

Don't waste time

Get a professional assistance from certified experts right now

Jump to navigation

Inside Writing
Teacher's Guides
Student Models
Writing Topics
Minilessons
Shopping Cart
Inside Grammar
Grammar Adventures
CCSS Correlations
Infographics

Get a free Grammar Adventure! Choose a single Adventure and add coupon code ADVENTURE during checkout. (All-Adventure licenses aren’t included.)

24 Writing Process Essays

Start-Up Activity

Point out that the process essay is a very important form of real-world writing. Then share and discuss different texts that explain processes—chapters in this handbook, recipes, game tutorials, assembly instructions, and so on. Process writing helps us teach others how to do something important or how a key set of events works.

Think About It

“Don’t explain why it works; explain how to use it.”

—Steven Brust

Thinking About a Process

Prepare students for how-to or process writing.

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.5
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.A
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.B
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.5
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.A
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.B
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.D
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.D
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.5
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.7
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.8
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.9
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.5
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.7
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.8
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.9
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.C
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.E
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.C
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.E
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.6
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.6
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.3

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

Lafs.4.ri.1.1, lafs.4.ri.1.2, lafs.4.ri.2.5, lafs.4.w.1.2, lafs.5.ri.1.1, lafs.5.ri.1.2, lafs.5.ri.2.5, lafs.5.w.1.2, lafs.4.w.2.4, lafs.4.w.2.5, lafs.4.w.3.7, lafs.4.w.3.8, lafs.4.w.3.9, lafs.5.w.2.4, lafs.5.w.2.5, lafs.5.w.3.7, lafs.5.w.3.8, lafs.5.w.3.9, lafs.4.w.2.6, lafs.4.l.1.1, lafs.4.l.1.2, lafs.4.l.2.3, lafs.5.w.2.6, lafs.5.l.1.1, lafs.5.l.1.2, lafs.5.l.2.3, teks covered in this chapter, 110.6.b.9.d, 110.6.b.9.d.i, 110.6.b.9.d.iii, 110.6.b.11.b, 110.6.b.12.b, 110.6.b.11.b.i, 110.6.b.11.b.ii, 110.7.b.9.d, 110.7.b.7.d, 110.7.b.9.d.iii, 110.7.b.12.b, 110.7.b.11.a, 110.7.b.11.b.i, 110.7.b.11.b.ii, 110.6.b.11.a, 110.6.b.11.c, 110.6.b.11.d, 110.6.b.13.c, 110.6.b.13.d, 110.6.b.13.e, 110.7.b.11.c, 110.7.b.11.d, 110.7.b.13.b, 110.7.b.13.c, 110.7.b.13.d, 110.6.b.11.e, 110.6.b.1.c, 110.6.b.11.d.ix, 110.6.b.11.d.x, 110.6.b.11.d.xi, 110.7.b.11.e, 110.7.b.1.c, page 174 from writers express, sample process essay.

Have student volunteers read each paragraph of the essay. Then review the essay as a whole, pointing out the information in the side notes. Notice how the focus statement names the process the writer will explain, and each middle paragraph covers a step in the process.

If some of your students might find a full essay to be challenging, you can share this brief model: " How to Make Boiled Eggs ."

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Page 175 from Writers Express

Sample Process Essay (Continued)

Point to some of the specific examples and details in the middle paragraphs of the essay. Also show your students how the ending invites readers to think further about the process.

Page 176 from Writers Express

Writing a process essay.

To help your students find topics for their process essays, have them list things that they know how to do well and that they could explain to someone else. If students struggle to come up with topic ideas, use the "Tip" in the middle of the page. You can also direct students toward other how-to writing topics .

Then help your students decide which of these ideas would work best for their process essays.

Provide time for students to do a little research into the process so that they have plenty of details.

Page 177 from Writers Express

Prewriting: organizing your details.

Teach the two organizing strategies on this page: numbered lists and time lines. Both put events in time order. If students create a time line, to the left of the line, they can write times or possible time-order transitions to help them organize their thinking.

You can extend students' learning with the minilessons.

Sequencing with a Time Line

Use time lines for critical thinking.

Using Time-Order Transitions

Teach about chronological transitions.

illustration of a clock character holding a pencil

Page 178 from Writers Express

Make an Outline

If a numbered list or time line isn't quite rigorous enough for your students, you could have them make an outline. Walk them through the example outline on this page.

Page 179 from Writers Express

Developing the first draft.

Use this page to show your students what each part of their essays should do: beginning, middle, and ending. Also, equip them with the time-order transitions in the green box to help them connect their paragraphs and their sentences.

Page 180 from Writers Express

Revising and editing.

Use this page to inspire your students to elaborate their ideas. Present the material at the top of the page and challenge students to find additional details of different kinds. Have your students add some details that improve the ideas in their writing.

To help your students improve their work, download and distribute the process essay revising and editing checklist.

01 A Basic Writing Guide
02 Understanding the Writing Process
03 One Writer's Process
04 Qualities of Writing
05 Selecting and Collecting
06 Focusing and Organizing
07 Writing and Revising
09 Publishing
10 Writing Basic Sentences
11 Combining Sentences
12 Writing Paragraphs
13 Understanding Writing Terms and Techniques
14 Understanding Text Structures
15 Writing in Journals
16 Using Learning Logs
17 Writing Emails and Blogs
18 Writing Personal Narratives
19 Writing Fantasies
20 Writing Realistic Stories
21 Writing Stories from History
22 Responding to Narrative Prompts
23 Writing Explanatory Essays
25 Writing Comparison-Contrast Essays
26 Responding to Explanatory Prompts
27 Writing Persuasive Essays
28 Writing Persuasive Letters
29 Writing Problem-Solution Essays
30 Responding to Persuasive Prompts
31 Writing Book Reviews
32 Writing About Literature
33 Responding to Literature Prompts
34 Writing Reports
35 Writing Research Reports
36 Writing Summaries
37 Writing Plays
38 Writing Poems
39 Communicating Online
40 Researching Online
41 Staying Safe Online
42 Reading Strategies for Fiction
43 Reading Strategies for Nonfiction
44 Reading Graphics
45 Building Vocabulary Skills
46 Becoming a Better Speller
47 Giving Speeches
48 Improving Viewing Skills
49 Improving Listening Skills
50 Using Graphic Organizers
51 Thinking and Writing
52 Thinking Clearly
53 Thinking Creatively
54 Completing Assignments
55 Working in Groups
56 Taking Tests
57 Taking Good Notes
58 Marking Punctuation
59 Editing for Mechanics
60 Check Your Spelling
61 Using the Right Word
62 Understanding Sentences
63 Understanding Our Language

EssayBasics.com
Pay For Essay
Write My Essay
Homework Writing Help
Essay Editing Service
Thesis Writing Help
Write My College Essay
Do My Essay
Term Paper Writing Service
Coursework Writing Service
Write My Research Paper
Assignment Writing Help
Essay Writing Help
Call Now! (USA) Login Order now
EssayBasics.com Call Now! (USA) Order now
Writing Guides

How To Bake A Cake (Process Essay) 2023

Table of Contents

How To Bake A Cake

How Can I Get Essay For Free and Is it realistic to expect a low-cost, High-Quality Essay from a Cheap Paper Writing Service ?

Introduction

Do you know how to bake a cake? Preparing a delicious dessert is a key skill for those dinner parties and special occasions. Unlike most food-making processes, baking requires precision, and it takes time and practice to master.

Chocolate cake is a deceptively simple variety, but it’s a lot more intricate than it seems. This process essay details a process description of a recipe for making this type of cake flavor.

Inspired to write your own essay on the steps to bake a cake? If you have your unique take on this, check out our Essay Writing Services on our website.

Related: All About Essay Formats

How to Bake a Cake Essay

A cake is often associated with celebrations. While birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and graduation celebrations, among other similar events, are marked with a variety of food and drinks, cakes remain a key component in such events.

There is nothing more meaningful than making your own cake, for your own friends, for your own special occasion. Allow me to share with you my tried-and-tested recipe for chocolate cake. If it’s your first time, feel free to follow it to the letter, then improvise once you are more comfortable.

To bake this sweet cake, you need the following ingredients:

a cup of sugar
one-half buttermilk
half teaspoon baking powder
about a cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
an equal amount of room-temperature unsalted butter
a quarter teaspoon salt, and a three-quarter cup of flour

For chocolate ice:

200 g of plain chocolate
200 ml of double cream

The Baking Process

To set the scene in the kitchen, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a standard pan with cooking spray, to avoid anything sticking to the pan unnecessarily.

Kick off your baking journey by mixing together your wet ingredients in a bowl: buttermilk, sugar, eggs, butter, and a bit of vanilla extract. Once you have placed all the ingredients together, blend them well with a hand mixer.

Then comes the dry ingredients. Place in another bowl your cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and flour, then stir the mixture slowly but continuously until the ingredients are fully mixed. It is at this point that the dry mixture should be added to the wet mixture. Use a low level to beat the combined mixture until the batter smoothens. The way to check this is to check if the flour is completely dissolved.

Pour proportionately equal amounts of batter into the pans, which should have been greased and floured. Make the most out of the batter and by transferring even the parts that stick to the side of the bowl.

Now it’s time to let the oven do the rest. Put the pan in the oven and let it stay there between 30 and 35 minutes. After checking on your cake every 5 minutes over that duration of time, bring it out and test if it is ready using a toothpick. You know your cake is ready to cool if your toothpick comes out with no remnants of batter.

If more time is needed, you may extend baking time for 2 more minutes, after which the cake should be removed and cooled in pans over the next 5 minutes. It is recommended that they be placed on a wire rack to allow the hot air to escape completely.

One of the last steps involves decoration using frosting or icing. For frosting, ensure that the cake has completely cooled down before applying to avoid the frost melting over the cake.

Alternatively, it can also be iced. Make the icing by placing in the bowl the measured cream and chocolate, then melt them in low heat over a pan filled with hot water. Let the mixture smoothen and thicken by whisking. Afterward, leave it for an hour or two to keep cooling and thickening.

Now, get those blocks nice and loose by passing a round-blade knife through the inside of the tins. Then remove the pieces carefully, spreading a bit of chocolate icing over each cake layer and putting them on top of the other.

Once done, move the finished work to a serving plate completely ice the collective exterior with chocolate icing.

Related: Essay Writing Simplified: Basics of writing an Essay for Kids

Hopefully, with several rounds of practice, you will master this recipe and even find a way to tweak it to your liking. Once you have perfected your version of the chocolate cake, move on to other flavors to expand your repertoire. The possibilities are endless, yet the process is almost similar. I wish you and your friends the best of luck on your baking journey! May you make many-a-sweet-tooth happy, content, and satisfied with your creations. Have fun!

Short Essay On How To Bake A Cake (Short Essay Sample)

The process of baking cake is a tiring yet fulfilling one. If you have no baking experience, the best way to do this is with friends so that you can learn together. Instead of using cake mix, it is good to make your own cake batter so that you can find a specific recipe that works for you.

What is the best way to go about baking cake? Baking requires you to be precise with your measurements and the order of ingredients. Having said that, it is best to be fully prepared. You can’t “wing” baking; you need to decide first what kind of cake you will be making. Afterward, you should head to your local grocery store for any missing ingredients. Do make sure that you have all the kitchen tools you need, too.

When you are ready, make sure you follow the recipe instructions carefully. Read the directions on how to mix ingredients and what mixing speed to use. Make sure to taste the batter before you pop it into the oven. Of course, the final step is to take out the cake and enjoy eating it!

Related: The Basics of Writing an Academic Essay

How To Write An Expository Essay On How To Bake A Cake

When describing a process, it is vital to be as detailed as possible. Imagine that you are taking somebody through a sequence. It is important that you set the direction for the process, go through the process itself and inform the reader what to expect, and give room for the reader to evaluate the outcome. With baking cake or any other food-related sequence, always start by setting the expectation. What does the reader need to prepare? You need to be specific with measurements and varieties here. Does anything need to be preheated or ready-made? Then imagine how you would go through the process yourself and put the experience in words.

How To Write A Process Essay On A Recipe

A process implies order, and this is what your essay will need if you teach readers how to follow a recipe. Keep your language simple and straightforward, and explain any food-making-related terms. You want to assume that the person following your recipe is doing it for the very first time. In explaining certain parts of the recipe, it would also be good to specify the time expectation, meaning the amount of time they should be spending on it. Leave no room for guessing as you want your reader to end up with a delicious and enjoyable dish. You may also infuse fun tips for decorating, styling and plating. Wish them well at the end of their cooking journey.

How To Make A Pizza Process Essay

This sample essay on How To Make A Pizza Process Essay offers an extensive list of facts and arguments related to it. The essay’s introduction, body paragraphs, and the conclusion are provided below.

How to Make a Pizza Generally if you ask someone what their favorite food is you’ll probably hear the word pizza. Pizza is one of everyone’s favorite foods. There is so many different toppings, cheeses, sauces, and crust styles. But not everyone knows how to make a pizza, so this essay will break the recipe down step by step to tell someone how to prepare and create a pizza.

First, to start out you must start by prepping all of the necessary items for the pizza. Generally you will start by making the dough.

The dough consist of two and a half cups of flour, one and a half teaspoon of yeast, half a teaspoon of salt, a small pinch of sugar, and a cup of warm water.

In order to make the dough you mix yeast, warm water, and sugar into a mixer. Then you will turn the mixer on to low and let mix for about ten minutes. Then after ten minutes of mixing you will add the flour, sugar, and salt and let mix for about twenty more minutes. Finally after the dough is finished, you will pull the dough out of the bowl and place it on a table in order to rise and later be cut, weighed, and rolled into a proportional size, round dough ball.

Proficient in: Cooking

“ Have been using her for a while and please believe when I tell you, she never fail. Thanks Writer Lyla you are indeed awesome ”

Essay About Pizza

The second step to making a pizza is preparing the pizza sauce. The pizza sauce consists of 6 oz. of tomato paste, one and a half cups of water, one-third cup of olive oil, two cloves of minced garlic, a half teaspoon of oregano, half teaspoon of basil, and half teaspoon of rosemary. To start the sauce you will need to mix the tomato paste and water into a large pot. Then you will mix in your minced garlic. To mince the garlic just chop it a little bit finer than dicing it. After the garlic you will put in your dried spices.

After all of your ingredients are in give the sauce a good stirring in order to mix all of the ingredients really well. Then turn the stove on to low and let simmer for about a half hour. Later when the sauce has simmered you can add salt and pepper for taste and even sugar to sweeten the sauce a little bit. The third step to making a pizza is choosing your types of cheeses and toppings. Most pizzas use mozzarella, parmesan, and romano cheese. However you can use substitutes like provolone, fontina, feta, monterey jack, or blue cheese that give your pizza a different flavor.

Most stores have pre shredded cheese but if not use a cheese grader to shred your desired cheese. After choosing your cheese you will then pick the toppings on you pizza which could be either meat like ham, sausage, pepperoni, ground beef, italian sausage, chicken, or any other kind of meat you like. For your vegetables you can use onions, green peppers, tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, chilies, and also any other vegetable that you like. To prepare your toppings for the pizza you will need a knife and a cutting board to cut your meat and vegetables into smaller bite size pieces.

Most meats will come packaged in smaller sizes or already ground up but if not just simply cut the pieces into smaller portions. For the vegetables the easiest way to cut them is by dicing them. When dicing a vegetable cut vertical slits all the way down the vegetable and then turn the vegetable on its side and cut where the slit is the deepest. This will make little small cubes of the vegetable which is very delicious on pizza. Now that all of the essential ingredients are prepared for a great pizza you can get on your way to making a pizza.

After gathering all of your prepared ingredients, you will start with the dough again by rolling out the dough, weigh the dough to determine the size and thickness of your crust and then roll it into an even round ball. After that is done compress the dough in a bin of flour to prevent breaks and sticking of the dough. Afterwards roll the dough out until it is at your desired level of thickness and size. Then stretch the dough onto one of your baking sheets. If you want a thicker crust for your pizza uses a pan with a sidewall. It is the same process except after you roll the dough out take your sidewall pan and press the dough into the pan.

It is okay if the dough isn’t completely even in the pan because it will rise evenly when it is baked. After your dough is on or in your pan, the next process is to apply your pizza sauce. Do not apply the sauce right after it has been simmering give it time to cool so it does not melt your cheese. The easiest tool to use for this is a ladle. Use the ladle to apply as much sauce as you desire. After this is done use the bottom of the ladle to spread out the pizza sauce. It is easier to start in the center and create spiraling circles around the dough leaving enough room for crust to form.

After the pizza sauce is spread nice and even, the next step is to apply your cheese and toppings. A lot of pizza makers like to put the parmesan and romano cheese on first and then thicker mozzarella cheese. After the cheese is on there the next step is to apply your toppings. Before you apply your toppings all over the pizza remember when the cheese melts the toppings will slide with the cheese, so be sure to evenly spread your toppings out. After the toppings are spread out on the pizza the next step is to bake it in the oven. First the oven must be preheated to 425 degrees.

Other temperatures may have to be used due to the differences in ovens. After the oven is preheated place your pizza in the oven and let it bake for 15-20 minutes. When the pizza is done it will have a light golden crust. After the pizza is done take it out of the oven. Be sure to use a pair of hot mats or mittens to grab the pizza. Let the pizza cool for about five minutes. After the pizza is done cooling use a pizza cutter or knife to cut the pizza in to slices. After the pizza is cut into slices, serve the pizza on a pan and enjoy.

Cite this page

How To Make A Pizza Process Essay. (2019, Dec 06). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-process-make-pizza/

"How To Make A Pizza Process Essay." PaperAp.com , 6 Dec 2019, https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-process-make-pizza/

PaperAp.com. (2019). How To Make A Pizza Process Essay . [Online]. Available at: https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-process-make-pizza/ [Accessed: 18 Jun. 2024]

"How To Make A Pizza Process Essay." PaperAp.com, Dec 06, 2019. Accessed June 18, 2024. https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-process-make-pizza/

"How To Make A Pizza Process Essay," PaperAp.com , 06-Dec-2019. [Online]. Available: https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-process-make-pizza/. [Accessed: 18-Jun-2024]

PaperAp.com. (2019). How To Make A Pizza Process Essay . [Online]. Available at: https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-process-make-pizza/ [Accessed: 18-Jun-2024]

Value Chain in Domino's Pizza Pages: 18 (5381 words)
Pizza Colosseum Pages: 4 (1073 words)
Domino's Pizza Strategy Case Study Pages: 5 (1312 words)
Analysis of Dominos Pizza Environment Pages: 4 (1098 words)
Research Paper On Domino's Pizza Pages: 3 (669 words)
Domino’s Pizza Founder Tom Monaghan Pages: 4 (1078 words)
Pizza Hut Bangladesh Opens First International Chain Restaurant Pages: 12 (3321 words)
How Can Knowing Oneself Make Someone A Better Person Essay Pages: 5 (1217 words)
Essay Examples on Due Process Pages: 3 (706 words)
Does Technology Make Us More Alone Pages: 2 (362 words)

Essay Guides
Main Academic Essays

How to Write a Process Essay: Useful Tips and Examples

Speech Topics
Basics of Essay Writing
Essay Topics
Other Essays
Research Paper Topics
Basics of Research Paper Writing
Miscellaneous
Chicago/ Turabian
Data & Statistics
Methodology
Admission Writing Tips
Admission Advice
Other Guides
Student Life
Studying Tips
Understanding Plagiarism
Academic Writing Tips
Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing

Research Paper Guides
Formatting Guides
Basics of Research Process
Admission Guides
Dissertation & Thesis Guides

Table of contents

Use our free Readability checker

A process essay is a type of expository writing that explains a series of steps or procedures to achieve a particular outcome or complete a task. It provides detailed, step-by-step guidelines for the reader to follow.

If you want to understand how to write a “how to” essay, the best solution is to turn for help to the professional academic essay writers with a rich writing experience. Review this article, which contains everything a student should know before writing your process essay.

What Is a Process Essay: Definition

Before learning how to write a process paper of A level, it is critical to define the term. A process essay refers to the type of academic writing which contains a detailed description of the particular process in the shape of the step-by-step guide. This form of essay is popular in business & technical writing. Some of the best examples of process essays include:

Instruction/owner’s manual;
User’s guide;
“How to…” articles;
Security instructions;
Recommendations.

Students should test the process themselves before writing an instruction or manual. It would be the best answer to the question “ what is a process essay ?”

Process Essay Outline: Structuring Your Paper

There is not much to say about the process essay outline because structure repeats steps required to complete a certain procedure. Having an outline is helpful in any situation associated with academic writing. Put down every stage in chronological order. Once the student has an outline, they may later add some details depending on the process development to come up with the whole body. Maybe you will ask " How to structure an essay of this type?" The structure of a process outline is common:

Introduction paragraph (mention the process to discuss).
Body paragraphs (list the stage and provide details).
Conclusion (specify what the expected outcome should be + share some success indicators).

The length of a “how to” essay depends on whether the chosen procedure is time-consuming or not. Do not pick something extra fast not to have a few-sentence essay in the end.

Process Essay Introduction

Let’s talk a little about the process essay introduction. It does not matter whether an essay is describing the way to get chocolate out of milk and coconuts, explaining some procedure of vaccination, or interpreting steps required to write a book. It is important to identify the target audience from the start! If it is an average user, avoid difficult terms. In case you write to satisfy the curiosity of advanced users, do not mind including various professional terms to prove your competence in the chosen field. Do not worry about structure. The best thing about this type of academic assignment is that step-by-step process itself provides a student with correct structure. Still, experts recommend having an outline. Would you like to know good ways to start an essay of this type? Start an opening paragraph by determining an analyzed procedure and share personal ideas on why this specific process is interesting & important to observe. Formulate a process essay thesis. It is not necessary to cover history or background of some discussed procedure.

Process Essay Body Paragraph

Do not include any details that do not relate to the process itself. If some required tools & equipment are rare, tell readers some ways to get these resources. Write down warnings about possible safety hazards to prevent readers from falling into trap/injuring. Describing steps alone might be dull. To enrich your writing, add some common mistakes to avoid. And provide helpful tips to make this process simpler & quicker. Main body of a process essay is usually written in chronological order. Add every step in chronological order with the help of clear words. If there are similar steps or those that can be performed at different stages, mention it to acknowledge the reader. To prevent confusing situations/failures, experts recommend subdividing the steps of especially long processes (example: Step 1A, 1B, etc.) Professional hint from essay order experts!

“A good process essay always uses the second person – “you.” It sounds more personal, and readers trust its writer. Be ready to apply a plenty of transitional words & phrases! They make this procedure description logical and clear to every reader. Try to insert different transitions to prevent text from being repetitive. During the process of writing an instruction or manual, do steps described in text to check whether everything works the way it should before offering the same actions to your target audience.” Professor Pryce, academic counselor and online writing tutors at StudyCrumb

Writing Process Essay Conclusion

Let’s see how to end writing a how-to essay. By the end of an instruction, reader/user must be able to repeat provided actions to activate the process or solve some problem alone. If readers cannot do that, it means that writer failed giving clear, correct instructions. How to start a conclusion in an essay ? Do it with some short review of an entire process from A to Z. It will help readers recall what they were doing, how long, and what expected results should be. While body paragraphs provide detailed interpretation of each stage, a conclusion must contain a single short sentence summarizing every step of a process. It should look like an opening sentence of this article.

How to Write a Process Essay: 10 Simple Steps

Process essay writing is not a difficult task. Even though a process essay is easy to write, it is crucial to know the essential steps of writing. Knowing all nuts and bolts will help you write an article quickly and correctly. Below you will find 10 basic steps you should know to write an outstanding process essay. Step 1: Think of some topic you want to write about. What interests you most? What will be useful for your readers? Consider all these questions and create the best topic. Browse our process essay topics we prepared for our users. Step 2: Start your research. Look for some sources that have relevant information. Collect all important data. Step 3: Read sources you collected carefully and analyze information. Make notes when reading and have quick access to needed information. Step 4: Create an outline for your paper. Plan your future paragraphs beforehand. Step 5: Collect all parts of your guide together and think what you may add to the main body. Write body paragraphs. Step 6: It is not a good idea to compose your introduction at the beginning. Start writing your introduction paragraph only after you have main part. Step 7: Don’t forget about a strong hook for your paper. It should be concise, informative, and grab attention of your reader. Step 8: Finally, summarize all points you mentioned in your text and create your conclusion. Highlight the result again. Show readers what they will get after they follow all steps mentioned in your essay. Step 9: After all these steps are done, create a catchy and informative title. It should not only display what your essay is about but also grab your reader's attention and make them want to read your guide. Step 10: Proofread your process essay and edit mistakes. Read your text again, check for typos and grammar mistakes. Make sure it is readable and understandable. Following these steps will help you create a truly brilliant process essay that you will get an A+ for. Buy essays papers to enjoy even higher odds to succeed with your submission.

Helpful Tips on How to Write a Process Paper

While writing this type of academic essay, recall these professional tips & tricks and earn A+!

Say what you are doing to describe an action. It would be paper’s topic, precise, clear, and educating. Narrow down your topic if it sounds broad. Example: Instead of calling some instruction “How to Install Windows” make it “How to Install Windows 10 on the most recent Asus models (name them).”
Get ready with outline of an essay , which is structure of your essay.
Name requirements like resources, equipment, instruments, stuff, skills, and knowledge person will need to complete their process. If more than one person is required, mention it.
Identify technical & professional terms in text. In case manual explains a procedure based on special, technical knowledge/skills, such as carpentry, it is better to include some definitions of some specific terms readers might not know. If your teacher allows, enrich your essay with images, signs, graphs, and tables to explain some word.
Each good instruction should contain warnings/cautions. List all possible threats & security hazards. Along with some obstacles readers may face in the process. Use an active voice in this part.
Finish manual/instruction with an explanation of what person should be ready to obtain once the procedure is over (stress the importance of experiment). It is important to list success factors. Example: “Cooked dumplings should not look tenderized/taste raw.”
Add images & more techniques so readers follow instructions simpler. For instance, “peach color” may be perceived as various textures by various individuals.”

Interesting Process Essay Examples

Of course, we won’t leave you without a real example of a process essay. Only reading this article may not be enough. Before you start your writing, it is better to look at how other students organized similar works. Here is one of professional how-to essay examples shared by college students.

If you want a similar essay customized to your needs, just say " write my essays " and StudyCrumb will provide tailored assistance. Our writers prepare such orders daily and know how to make your process essay beautiful.

How to Write a Perfect Process Essay: Final Thoughts

As you see, writing a professional essay is not as difficult as you might think. This type of essay does not require some special writing skills or use of high academic language . So following our simple tips we provided in our article will help you create an excellent essay that will guide readers through some steps easily.

Get in touch with our essay writing service and have your assignment done with great quality in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions about Process Essay

1. what are good transition words for process essay.

The most appropriate process essay transition words are ones that help readers distinguish different stages of a guide described in your essay. To define stages of your paper try using following transition words:

After that,
Eventually,
Afterwards,

2. How to write a thesis of a process essay?

Thesis statement for process essay should be clear, concise, and informative. In your thesis you should briefly inform a reader of result they will get after reading your guide and following all steps. Mention benefits readers will gain.

3. What is a process essay outline example?

Process essay outline example may look as follows:

Prepare list of ingredients
Prepare an oven
Prepare chocolate chips or dried fruit
Mix ingredients together
Bake muffins
Cool muffins
Serve muffins.

4. What are final steps after finishing writing process essay?

After you finished writing your process essay, you still should edit and proofread your text:

Read your text and correct mistakes and typos.
Delete unnecessary words and sentences.
Check your instructions again and make sure it is easy to read and understand.
Give your paper to your friend and ask them to read it. After that ask if they fully understood all instructions. If not, make corrections.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

Essay on My Favorite Recipe

By: Author Valerie Gray, From Val's Kitchen

Categories Mixing It Up

We'd love it if you shared it!

If life could only be as simple as following a recipe, we’d all be much happier. However, unlike food based recipes, life doesn’t provide you with standardized ingredients as each lives their unique life.

It means we must ‘cook’ with what we have and see what we can come up with it. Depending on our knowledge of our ingredients and the objective we wish to will establish how difficult it would be to ‘cook up’ our desired results.

However, just like cooking…life has a lot of similarities. For instance, while some people like to follow the recipe to the core, others like to experiment with the ingredients creating their unique take on something that might have been passed down from generation to generation. We can see this as the traditionalist versus the progressive. One likes to keep the way things are while the other doesn’t fear to embark in new terrains.

Neither of these two options is necessarily wrong, especially if the final result remains a tasty dish that will remember.

Now, speaking about my favorite recipe, I think it’s difficult to pinpoint. Similar to life, I like variety however if I were forced to think of my absolute favorite recipe it would have to be my stew.

You see, a stew is just like life, a mix of different elements that come together to make something truly delicious. Additionally, making stew isn’t difficult. It’s almost like making soup except instead of leaving it watery we thicken it up with milk and flour.

Stew – The Dish of Life

I usually make my stew with a wide variety of vegetables, spices and tie it together with a thick sauce. So what you’ll need to make your very own stew will be the following:

Two chopped Potatoes or 7 small full potatoes
Corn on the cob
Green pepper
Knorr Beef Broth
A half a kilo of beef (chopped in blocks)
Assorted Herbs and Spices

The process is quite simple.

First, you fill up a big cauldron with water. Don’t fill it up too much because the vegetables will be taking up space.

Then, you’ll begin to through in all the plants based on how long they cook. I usually dump in the onions, zucchini, potatoes, carrots, corn on the cob and a block of beef broth at first. Then, I wait for about 30 minutes before I dump in the mushrooms, green peppers, garlic, and tomatoes in it.

At this stage, I take out a frying pan and start to brown the meat cubes. It’s recommended to spice the beef cubes before throwing it into the water. Some people like to skip this bit. However, I find that pre-spicing the meat makes it a lot tastier.

Once you have finished browning the meat, you throw it in with the rest of the mixture. Add some salt and pepper at this stage as well.

After about an hour or so, it’s time to thicken the entire dish. The way to do this is to take a bit of flour, like 1/8th of a cup and 3/4th of milk and mix it well. Be sure to get rid of all the clumps of flour in the mixture.

Once mixed, add it to the stew, and you’ll instantly see the color change to a light brownish color. If you want it thicker, just repeat the milk/flour mixture step and add it to the mix. Don’t overdo it either; it needs to be thick, but not so thick it’s solid.

And in about 20 more minutes you should be ready to eat your very own stew.

The Stew of Life

Why do I think stew is most representative of life? Because just like stew, life comes with different elements (people, places, opportunities) and they are all mixed. Some take longer to mature than others, meaning that you need to understand the purpose of each ingredient before cooking.

We learn that certain things synergize. We hear it takes patience to get the right things in life, just like a stew.

Each and every single ingredient is important to achieve the final result. A life fully lived is like a stew that has brewed to perfection, it’s a divine gift we should all enjoy.

I hope that throughout this essay, recipes help us achieve our goals, and while life doesn’t come with a recipe book, we do have teachers, masters, and parents that provide us with some insight. Sometimes we should follow their advice, and at other times we should simply do our own thing. If in the end, your stew tastes as magnificent as your life… you’ve done a spectacular job!

This recipe is provided by an anonymous writer who works at https://www.domyessay.net , an essay writing company.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

Privacy Overview

Order now: The Plant-Powered Plan to Beat Diabetes

The Best Recipe Writing Strategies

Sharon Palmer

Published on March 14, 2023

You can bring your recipes to life with good recipe writing. Learn the rules for writing a good recipe, including recipe writing tips, writing strategies, styling tips, photography ideas, and food photography backdrops.

Today, many people are interested in adding a number of skills to their resumes, and good recipe writing may be a valuable one. Whether you’re a blogger, book author, newsletter editor, chef, dietitian, social media influencer, or home cook, there are many reasons why becoming a great recipe writer can further your success. “Writing recipes that are clear, easy to follow, tailored to a specific audience, and well tested and work as promised really matters. Bringing them to life visually is the icing on the cake,” says Liz Weiss , MS, RD, book author, blogger, and recipe developer.

Writing your own recipes can be a tool for providing your own unique perspective on cooking, meal planning, and healthy eating. However, recipe writing is an art, though one that you can easily learn with a bit of education. You can learn how to create and write recipes with a few important writing strategies.

Recipes: Essentials in Writing

The rules for recipe writing are pretty intuitive and straightforward. Yet, if you don’t practice them, you can leave a cook confused, hopeless, and with a batch of inedible food. Likely, you’ve tried to follow a poorly written recipe, and you know just how frustrating it can be. Try my writing tips for recipes worthy of a best-selling cookbook author.

1. Know Your Audience.

Is the recipe for a children’s cooking class, or for a group of chefs? Is it a 5-minute recipe or a culinary masterpiece? Understand your audience before you sit down to write the recipe.

2. Use Descriptive Recipe Titles.

Just the title of a recipe can invite you in…or out. What would you rather make: Mushroom Bomb Lentil Pasta or Pasta with Mushrooms? Use descriptive words, without creating an excessively long title—it’s not necessary to list every ingredient in the title.

3. Add a Recipe Description.

Just one or two sentences with your personal take on the recipe can go a long way to encouraging someone to try it. Descriptions can include background or personal history of the recipe (was it your grandmother’s recipe?), the flavor and aroma qualities (does it have spice, zest, or umami, for example?), suggestions for serving (does it pair well with a crisp coleslaw or hearty soup?), and cooking tips (can you substitute one ingredient for another?).

4. List the Preparation and Cooking Time.

The addition of preparation times can be invaluable to cooks who are rushing to get dinner on the table. Total preparation time refers to how much time it takes to do everything from start to finish, including cooking time. Active cooking time refers to how much time is actively needed to prepare the recipe, not including waiting around time when a recipe is baking or chilling. If you plan on including preparation times in a recipe time yourself while testing it.

5. Provide the Number of Servings and Serving Size.

In order to determine serving size and number of servings, measure your recipe when it is finished—using tablespoons, cups, ounces, or grams—and determine your desired serving size and total number of servings per recipe. For example, if a soup recipe makes 1 quart of finished product, you may decide that the recipe makes 4 (1-cup) servings.

6. List Ingredients in Chronological Order.

The ingredients list is one of the most important parts of a recipe, and it should be listed in the order that it will appear in the directions list. That way the reader can follow along with the ingredients and instructions in an organized fashion.

7. Be Specific.

Make sure to be specific and list exact amounts needed. Include the state of ingredients (i.e., frozen, fresh, thawed, canned), size of cans or packages, and complete name of the ingredient. For example, “1 package of tofu” isn’t specific; a better listing might be “1 (14-ounce) package firm tofu.”

8. Spell Out Measurements and Amounts.

While some recipe formats allow for uniform abbreviations for units of measurement, you are better off spelling them out. This applies to teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, quarts, gallons, ounces, pounds, grams, and liters. And if the ingredient is used more than once be sure to indicate “divided” on the ingredients list, so that the cook knows that it will be used at least twice. Try to avoid unnecessary ingredients and keep them simple and accessible.

9. Separate Ingredients for Major Steps in a Recipe.

If the recipe is a salad with a dressing, for example, it will be easier to follow if you indicate a subhead for “salad” and “salad dressing” with the respective ingredients grouped in the categories. This should follow through to the instructions list, too.

10. List the Utensils Needed, If Unique.

Consider including a list of utensils needed, especially if they are unique, such as cheesecloth, an immersion blender, or food processor.

11. List Steps In Order, Keeping Instructions Short and To The Point.

The instructions should match the same order as the ingredients list. And they should be as short and simple as possible. Try to describe the easiest way possible to accomplish the steps in the recipe.

12. Indicate Size of Bowls and Cookware.

Don’t assume the cook will know what size a “baking dish” or “casserole dish” is. List common sizes, such as 9 x 13-inch, or 9 x 9-inch.

13. Give Specifics About Doneness.

Avoid using terms like “cook until done”; how does one know when it is done? Provide a cooking length and indicator for doneness, such as “tender when pierced with a fork”.

14. Test Your Recipe.

A recipe must be thoroughly tested (some suggest two to four times) before it is written.

15. Include Storage Suggestions.

Include directions on how to store leftovers, such as temperature and containers.

16. Offer Extras.

For extra credit, offer additional information, such as gluten-free and vegetarian methods or substitution ideas for ingredients.

17. Include Nutritional Information.

It’s always a good idea to include nutritional analysis using the USDA database based on the serving size of your recipe. Many nutrition software programs can perform this function.

18. Add Quality Food Photography.

In the social media era, people really do eat with their eyes. It’s essential to provide good quality food photography of your recipe, including recipe preparation shots and styled finished recipe shots, which can be accomplished with even a smart phone. Try food photography backgrounds to help make your recipes look even more polished.

More Recipe Writing Tips from Dietitians

There is much more to writing a good recipe beyond the basic rules. I asked several recipe writers to weigh in on their best advice.

Keep a journal. Abbey Sharp, RD, blogger at Abbey’s Kitchen , suggests keeping a journal in the kitchen to keep track of “accidental creations”. “Sometimes a recipe I whip up without any intention of it going on the blog becomes a huge hit, and if I haven’t tracked the exact ingredients I then have to start from scratch. After that initial idea of a recipe works out, I take my notes, think about what may work better and then re-write and test it,” says Sharp.
Test, test, test. Elizabeth Shaw, RD, blogger at Shaw’s Simple Swaps , suggests, “I recommend testing a recipe at least twice before publishing it, and re-reading your recipe instructions. I’ve definitely messed up on this and then am notified by a reader, which is totally embarrassing.”
Be prepared when testing. Amy Gorin , RD, writer and blogger, says, “I typically buy double or triple ingredients for a recipe so that I have everything on hand to re-test a few times. The other thing I’ve learned is to have a good camera on hand in the kitchen, and extra lighting if you need it. I can’t tell you how many recipes I’ve created that I haven’t posted because the pictures aren’t good enough.”
Enlist taste testers. Kim Melton , RDN, nutrition consultant, says, “I always ask several people to taste a recipe after I make it. There are some things I love the taste of but someone else might not like it. I love really spicy, hot food and most others wouldn’t like how hot I make something. Also, I have found other people can sometimes detect subtle flavors that I may not.”
Keep it simple. “Don’t assume that people have the same cooking skills that you, someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, has. Try to explain what to do in the directions as explicitly as possible and write like you’re talking to a friend. Beginner cooks want, and need clarity, so don’t be vague,” says Elizabeth Ward , MS, RD, nutrition consultant.

Best Recipe Writing and Food Photography Tools

Here are some of my favorite recipe writing and food photography tools and gadgets:

Measuring cups and spoons to ensure your recipe is accurate
Baking dishes in a variety of sizes to be specific in recipe writing
Kitchen scale to provide accurate measurements
Recipe journals can help you detail your recipe development process
Food Photography Backgrounds
Food Tweezers
Pasta Bowls make good containers for food photography
Linen napkins in various colors add texture to food shots
Ring lights can add easy light sources to food photography sets

Check out some of my most popular recipes of all time:

Mofongo with Caribbean Vegetable Stew Noodle Bowl with Thai Tofu and Vegetables Thai Tempeh Noodle Skillet Vegan Bolognese with Lentils and Walnuts Corn and Potato Boil Chipotle Black Bean Quinoa Veggie Burgers Chia Seed Pudding with Berries

Image: Pistachio Turmeric Rice Power Bowl , Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN

Check out one of my favorite online purveyors of healthful, plant-based, sustainable organic foods and products, Thrive Market. Get 25% off today by grabbing this discount code today! Note: This is an affiliate program I’m partnering with.

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information click here .

More Tools for Eating and Living the Goodness

Nutrition, Health, Wellness

17 thoughts on “ The Best Recipe Writing Strategies ”

A couple of comments… First, I think grams / metric system measurements are way better than spoons and cups.

Second, an annoying way I’ve had people describe recipes is something along the lines of: “1 can of this brand of whatever. It HAS to be THAT brand.” It’s impossible to follow recipes when you would rather cook from scratch and the recipe writer insists on processed food in a can or a bag or whatever.

Thank you Sharon for these beautiful tips on writing a recipe. I will use them on my recipes.

This was amazing! My family loved it.

These are great tips, will definitely implement on my recipe writing

If you are writing a recipe from scratch and you know the ingredients you want to use, how do you know the quantities? this is what I am struggling with. For example, I want to create a beef pie. I want to use 500 g of meat, how would I know the quantities of the herbs and spices to add to this.

This is a good question. A lot of times I get ideas for quantities from standard basic recipes. For example, if you are making mashed potatoes, looking up the ratio of potatoes to liquid can be helpful. But then the other thing you can do is taste and experiment and add more if needed. That’s easy with plant-based cooking, because you can generally taste a lot of things raw, except grains and beans. A lot of times when I’m working with spices and herbs, I add those at the end so I can experiment and start with a smaller amount, then build up, tracking how much I add to get desired result. I keep a journal of what I’m doing to the recipe. Sometimes it takes a few times to get it right.

I found it helpful when you said that recipes must contain descriptive words. As you said, the title of the recipe can either invite you in or out. This is something that I would give my agreement to since I am planning to look for recipes cooking blogs. I am getting married in December, and I want to be a good and caring wife. It will surely make sense for me to find cooking blogs that can interest me.

Shammy! Get off the computer, you’ve got recipes to make!

this post is really very useful, I will try it, thank you very much, success always

Learning a lot through your blog is really great. It gave me the confidence to write so accurately. Thank you very much

I learned a lot from it

Thank you Sharon, this really helped in

I always like having other people taste my dishes before I try it myself. It gives me ideas on what to improve for the next time.

testing recipes multiple times before getting it right.thanks for this article

It’s really great to learn many things through your blog. It gave me confidence to write so precisely. Thank you so much.

You are right about testing recipes multiple times before getting it right. My sister is planning to give Russian cuisine a try. I will give her the confidence to continue cooking and to not give up when she gives it a try.

It’s great to learn that you should list ingredients in chronological order when making a recipe book. My wife is wanting to help our future children and she was wondering how she should make an effective recipe book for them. I’ll be sure to tell her to list the ingredients in chronological order when making the recipe book.

a process description of a recipe essay

IMAGES

VIDEO

COMMENTS

How to Write a Process Essay on Food

How to Write a Process Essay About Cupcakes

Writing About How Food is Made

Writing Recipes

Related Articles

How to Donate Plasma for Money in North Carolina

How to Donate Your Body to Science for Money

How to Stay on Topic When Writing an Essay

How to Create an Animal School Project

How to Make Food Pyramids for a School Project

How to Write an Essay on Transportation Problems

Informative Writing Techniques

How to Write High School Research Papers

5 Process Essay Examples

Process Essay Examples

#2 How to Write a Resume

#3 How to Train for a Marathon

#4 How to Prepare for a Job Interview

#5 How to Write an Essay

How to Write a Process Essay

How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Process

Suggested Process Essay Topics

Ready to Write your Essay?

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

How to Write a Process Essay

Getting Ready to Write

Crafting an Introduction

Writing Your Body Paragraphs

Wrapping It Up

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

How to write a process essay

Choose a topic

Create a process essay outline

Process essay outline example

Write an introduction

Process essay introduction example

Write the materials needed for the process

Example material list for process essay

Start writing the process

Body paragraphs - Process writing example

Give tips and supporting details

Body paragraphs - Supporting details

Write a conclusion

Process essay conclusion example

Recently on Tamara Blog

How to Write a Process Essay

What Is a Process Paper?

Feeling Overwhelmed Writing a Process Essay on Your Own?

Prepare The Small Stuff

Process Essay Topics

Process Essay Outline

Introduction

Feeling Overloaded and Stressed?

Body Paragraphs

Post-Writing Tips

Process Essay Examples

Still Need Help?

4. Process Writing

How to Write a Great Process Essay

Start by Brainstorming

Create an Outline

Creating the Essay

Topics to Write About

How to Write the Perfect Process Analysis Essay (With a Sample Essay)

Format of a process analysis essay

Introduction

Sample process analysis essay

Sample essay

Need an academic editor before submitting your work?

How to Write a Process Essay?

What is a process essay?

Types of process essays

1. How to do something.