Writing a Process Description

This document describes how to write a process description, a variation of the short
report designed to convey to the reader how a change takes place through a series of stages. The process description examines an event over time; by contrast, the mechanism description focuses on an object in space.

Use a process description when your intended reader wants to learn about the action in
question. You might use a process description to examine the photosynthesis of plants, the migration of animals, or the impeachment of presidents. When the reader actually wants to perform an action, write instructions instead (that is, a series of commands: "Insert tab A into slot B.") In general, break the whole process up into smaller stages, and describe each stage in order. If the process is part of a continuing cycle (such as the evaporation and condensation of water), say so.

Warning: If you are writing a process description for a classroom exercise,

avoid writing "helpful hints," by which I mean a collection of many details that do not need to take place in any particular order. If neglected, pets' teeth will succumb to tooth decay. A simple process is available to all pet owners that will help in the fight against tooth decay. The process outlined will be using a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste, mouthwashes, dental treats, and yearly dental appointments. This process involves both owner and veterinarian intervention....
(This author is really describing instructions for the care of a pet's teeth. The writer has almost complete control over where each element of the process goes... for instance, do you have to use the toothpaste first, and then the mouthwash? Or do you have to use the mouthwash first, and then the toothpaste? It really doesn't matter; the end result is that instead of a process, we get a list of "helpful hints", without a strict chronological organization.)

When your pet comes to stay at the Happy Hound Vacation Home, he will get a daily grooming and exercise ritual designed by a local veterinarian to keep him happy and healthy. Each morning, our canine guests are gently woken by your choice of music, radio station, or even a tape of your own voice! After a quick mouthwash and a baconflavored doggie biscuit, your pooch will be taken out in our spacious recreation area for a breath of fresh air and a few minutes of healthy exercise with an imported Italian doggie ball or a favorite toy he has brought with him....

(Despite the informal tone of this process description, the author successfully conveys the various stages in the process. While it's true that there's no logical reason why the Happy Hound workers should give the doggie biscuit before the morning exercise, this document nonetheless reflects an externally-determined order.)

It is possible to write an acceptable process description that is also a set of

instructions (such as a procedure for donning a spacesuit, or how to tie your shoe), but in order to emphasize your ability to write about a sequence of interconnected chronological events, you should pick for your topic events that take place regardless of the reader's actions.

Introduction Your introduction should be a concise paragraph that supplies a good sentence
definition of the process to be analyzed. Like any technical document, it should state the scope and purpose of the paper. Defining the process for "Acid Rain: Where It Comes From, and How It Harms the Environment" One of the greatest environmental threats to our nation's agriculture is the growing acid rain problem.
(This introduction is too general; the paper appears to be about "threats to our nation's agriculture" instead of acid rain.)

Acid rain is one of the greatest environmental threats to our nation's agriculture.
(While this version does properly emphasize "acid rain," it merely makes a claim about the significance of the subject. We still don't know what acid rain is.)

Acid rain is environmentally harmful precipitation that forms after the combustion of fossil fuels releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides into the atmosphere. Stating the purpose and scope of the document This document describes the process in general terms, in order to demonstrate the necessity for increased government regulation in sensitive areas. This paper cites recent studies by Smith and Jones (1997, 1998) to assist EPA officials with their efforts to determine which parts of the country should be designated "at risk" or "potentially at risk" over the next five years.

Brief Description
In another brief paragraph (or possibly the same one as the introduction), answer the question, "How does it happen?" Provide any necessary context (who or what performs

the action, and under what conditions; what is its significance?). Give a concise overview of the process. This brief description should stand alone -- that is, it should not refer to details, facts, or terms that aren't explained within the summary. You will probably have an easier time writing this section if you save it until you have written out the complete description. Conclude this section by breaking the process up into stages: "The principle stages of writing process are planning, drafting, revising, and proofreading." Then, focus on each step in turn.

Step-by-step Description
For each step in your description, write a miniature process description:

define the step state its purpose (or function within the process) providing the necessary context, and include brief mechanism descriptions for any components that may be involved

Divide this stage up into substages, if necessary.

Conclusion
Without being excessively redundant, review the major steps in the process. Walk the reader through one complete cycle, emphasizing how the completion of each stage contributes to the final overall effect.

Sample 1 Cement Manufacturing Process

Mining The cement manufacturing process starts from the mining of limestone, which is the main raw material for making cement. Limestone is excavated from open cast mines after drilling and blasting and loaded on to dumpers which transport the material and unload into hoppers of the limestone crushers. Crushing Stacking & Reclaiming of Limestone The LS Crushers crush the limestone to minus 80 mm size and discharge the material onto a belt conveyor which takes it to the stacker via the Bulk material analyser. The material is stacked in longitudinal stockpiles. Limestone is extracted transversely from the stockpiles by the reclaimers and conveyed to the Raw Mill hoppers for grinding of raw meal. Crushing Stacking & Reclaiming of Coal The process of making cement clinker requires heat. Coal is used as the fuel for

providing heat. Raw Coal received from the collieries is stored in a coal yard. Raw Coal is dropped on a belt conveyor from a hopper and is taken to and crushed in a crusher. Crushed coal discharged from the Coal Crusher is stored in a longitudinal stockpile from where it is reclaimed by a reclaimer and taken to the coal mill hoppers for grinding of fine coal. Raw Meal Drying/Grinding & Homogenisation Reclaimed limestone along with some laterite stored in their respective hoppers is fed to the Raw Mill for fine grinding. The hot gasses coming from the clinkerisation section are used in the raw mill for drying and transport of the ground raw meal to the Electrostatic Precipitator / Bag House, where it is collected and then stored and homogenised in the concrete silo. Raw Meal extracted from the silo (now called Kiln feed) is fed to the top of the Preheater for Pyroprocessing. Clinkerisation Cement Clinker is made by pyroprocessing of Kiln feed in the preheater and the rotary kiln. Fine coal is fired as fuel to provide the necessary heat in the kiln and the Precalciner located at the bottom of the 5/6 stage preheater. Hot clinker discharged from the Kiln drops on the grate cooler and gets cooled. The cooler discharges the clinker onto the pan / bucket conveyor and it is transported to the clinker stockpiles / silos. The clinker is taken from the stockpile / silo to the ball mill hoppers for cement grinding. Cement Grinding & Storage Clinker and Gypsum (for OPC) and also Pozzolana (for PPC) are extracted from their respective hoppers and fed to the Cement Mills. These Ball Mills grind the feed to a fine powder and the Mill discharge is fed to an elevator, which takes the material to a separator, which separates fine product and the coarse. The latter is sent to the mill inlet for regrinding and the fine product is stored in concrete silos. Packing Cement extracted from silos is conveyed to the automatic electronic packers where it is packed in 50 Kgs. Polythene bags and dispatched in trucks.

Reference: http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/technical/process.htm http://www.jilindia.com/manufacturingprocess.htm