writing process2
Objectives
For this exam, you’ll
Topic
Balancing Penn Foster studies with work, family, and other
activities and responsibilities
Drafting Your Essay
This assignment requires two paragraphs. Each paragraph
employs a pattern of development that was covered in the
reading for this lesson. If you’re not familiar with narration,
description, or process analysis, you should review the
required reading for Lesson 4.
For your first paragraph, use the narrative and description
techniques you learned in this lesson to describe daily activi-
ties. You’ll write about the activities you dedicate your time
to: schoolwork, family responsibilities, and your job. Don’t
forget to include other pursuits such as hobbies, sports, and
volunteer and social activities. Since this is your prewriting,
write as much as you can, up to 500 word
In your second paragraph, focus on how you manage your
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ASSIGNMENT 16: PROCESS
ANALYSIS
Read the assignment in this study guide. Then read Chapter 14,
“Process Analysis.†To gauge your progress, complete the self-
check.
In the world of employment, you’ll find that the techniques of
process analysis
are vital to achievement and success. For
example, if you’re an administrative assistant, a salesperson,
or a carpenter, you’ll receive instructions in some form that
tell you what to do and how to do it, whether in a memo, in
person, or in a blueprint. If you’re an office manager, a sales
manager, or a job foreman, you’ll be giving instructions to
others. To properly explain a job or understand what needs
to be done and in what order, you must understand process
analysis.
There are two basic forms of process analysis.
How-to writing
is intended for people who may need guidelines for doing
something or learning something. Instructions for using an
appliance, step-by-step guidelines for responding to an emer-
gency, or tips for taking stains out of clothing illustrate this
kind of process analysis.
Informative process analyses
explain how things work or how
they’re done for people who might like to know, even if they
don’t need that information in their everyday lives. A process
explanation of a surgical technique or an anthropologist’s
account of how Cheyenne youth prepare for a vision quest
are examples of this kind of process analysis.
READING HIGHLIGHTS
First, read through the “Quick Start†exercise on pages 336–337
and think about how you would complete the exercise.
Pages 338–342.
Read “What Is Process Analysis?†Then,
read the essay “How to Interview†provided by Monster.com.
It’s an example of process analysis of the “how-to†variety.
Under “Characteristics of Process Analysis,†on pages 342–344,
study the guidelines for writing a process analysis. Notice
84
that when a thesis statement is included in a process analy-
sis, it’s typically devoted to explaining how the process is
valuable, whether it’s a weight-loss diet, an exercise regimen,
or an approach to money management. It’s important to
present the steps or stages in chronological order, define
technical terms, provide detail, and warn of possible trouble
spots.
Because your first writing assignment is a process analysis
essay, study each part of this chapter very carefully.
Pages 345–350.
After spending some quality time studying
the characteristics of process analysis essays, read the essay
“Inside the Engine,†by Tom and Ray Magliozzi, formerly of
“Car Talk†radio. You’ll find lots of practical “how-to†tips on
auto maintenance presented in the engaging, often amusing
conversational style for which the “car guys†are famous.
The essay is followed by a graphic organizer (Figure 14.2 on
page 349). Study it. Then study the section on integrating
process analysis into an essay.
Pages 351–358.
Here’s your guided writing assignment for
this chapter. You can choose one of the suggested topics or
pick one of your own. But in either case, you’ll want to make
sure you truly understand what it takes to write a process
analysis essay.
Pages 359–362.
An essay by Eric Michalski is featured in
the “Students Write†section for this chapter. It’s all about
how to make chili for a crowd. As you have before, take
advantage of the essay’s autopsy. Note the chronological
sequence of steps. Admire the author’s figures of speech.
Pages 362–367.
Read about working with text while reading
a process analysis essay. Then read “Dater’s Remorse,†by
Cindy Chupack. Ms. Chupack is a writer who became the
executive producer of “Sex and the City.†That fact may give
you a hint as to the author’s angle on the precarious game of
dating while in search of an ideal relationship. Enjoy the
writer’s engaging and amusing style. Think about your own
relationships as you decide if the author’s points ring true.
Pages 367–371.
To explore how process analysis may be
combined with other patterns of development, read Anne
Lamott’s piece, “Shitty First Drafts.†You may well benefit
from the author’s ideas about how a ragged and wretched
85
first draft may become a springboard to a “not bad†second
draft and even, in the end, an essay that captures and nails
a thesis in all the right ways.
Required Journal Entry 8: Description and Narration
Write:
Using the details you collected in Journal Entry 7, write the story to accompany the
photo. Be sure that your story has a clear beginning, middle, and end, and that you use your dia-
logue and descriptive elements effectively to convey your feelings to your reader. (3 paragraphs,
6 sentences)
Reflect:
Does your photo tell an audience everything they would need to know about this event?
What does your story provide that your picture can’t? Is the saying, “A picture is worth a thou-
sand words†true? (Length open)
Self-Check 16
1. Exercise 14.1, on page 343: Draft a working thesis statement for one of the five topics and a
chronological list of the steps or stages of the process.
2. Exercise 14.2, on page 344: List technical terms and definitions for one the three
process topics.
3. Read or reread the essay “Dater’s Remorse†on pages 364–366. On page 366, under
“Examining the Reading,†respond to all four items.
4. Read or review the essay, “Shitty First Drafts†on pages 367–369. On page 370, under
“Examining the Reading,†respond to all five items.
Check your answers with those in the online Self-Check Answers supplement.
86
NOTES
Objectives
For this exam, you’ll
formal, college-level essays
purpose and audience
detail, supporting evidence, and transitions
English to produce correct, well-written essays
Topic
Balancing Penn Foster studies with work, family, and other
activities and responsibilities
Drafting Your Essay
This assignment requires two paragraphs. Each paragraph
employs a pattern of development that was covered in the
reading for this lesson. If you’re not familiar with narration,
description, or process analysis, you should review the
required reading for Lesson 4.
For your first paragraph, use the narrative and description
techniques you learned in this lesson to describe daily activi-
ties. You’ll write about the activities you dedicate your time
to: schoolwork, family responsibilities, and your job. Don’t
forget to include other pursuits such as hobbies, sports, and
volunteer and social activities. Since this is your prewriting,
write as much as you can, up to 500 words.
Examination
Examination
Lesson 4
Prewriting—Process Analysis
EXAMINATION NUMBER
25048500
time to accomplish everything you need and want to. For this
paragraph, use process analysis to explain how you manage
your time. Consider the tools you employ such as a planner or
calendar, whether paper or electronic, or even a chart or list.
Again, write as much as you want, up to 500 words, to clearly
illustrate your process for managing your busy schedule.
This is an example of what the
description
portion might
look like:
My name is Jean. I am in my mid-forties, and I would
never have expected that I would one day have so many
different hats to wear. My husband thought it was a great
idea; he knew that I always wanted to be a real nurse and
that if we hadn’t gotten married so young and I hadn’t put
him through school that I would have been one. He was
so encouraging about it in the beginning. The boys
thought it was cool too; they both said it was going to be
fun to have to nag me to do my homework for a change.
So finally, with my family’s blessing, I decided to go back
to school to get a degree in nursing. When I made the
decision, everyone in my family agreed to do their part to
make sure I would have time to study and get through the
exams successfully. But now, a few months into school,
when I come home from my full-time job as a nurse’s aide
and take off that hat, it seems as though my day has
barely started. With two teenage children living at home, I
must put on my mother’s hat and enforce household
rules, dispense of advice, help with homework, and occa-
sionally provide a shoulder to cry on. Before my husband
comes home from his job, I have to pop on my chef’s hat
and get dinner started; the maid’s hat will come out later
when I do the family’s laundry and clean the bathrooms.
As if all this weren’t enough, the responsibility has also
fallen to me for looking after my aging mother, thanks to
my sister who can’t even look after herself. Two or three
evenings a week I slip on my daughter’s hat and make the
trip across town to my mother’s house, where I spend an
hour or so paying bills, restocking the cupboards, and
helping with other household chores. At least all I have to
do is light dusting, sitting at the table, and listening to
her talk about her television programs. In between all of
Examination, Lesson 4
88
89
these other pressures on my time, I need to study and
take a test because I got an email and need to attend
another webinar! Sometimes I really don’t know where I
am going to find the time, energy, or money to do all of
this, and I wonder once again if this is really worth it.
When I finally get some time around 11:30 at night, I dis-
cover that the dog has chewed through my study guide.
Okay, I take a breath because I think I can remember
most of the material, and I log onto the website to take
the test. However, when I do I discover that my son has
gotten onto my account and taken the exam. Of course he
failed! The next day when I call the school, no one there
believes me at first, and then I get advice not to leave my
passwords out and that I can retake the exam in 48
hours. My frustration level has hit a new high! Once again
I am wondering why I am putting myself through all this.
Here’s an example of what the process portion might look like:
After the first time that rotten dog chewed one of my
study guides and my 13-year-old son took one of my
exams because he wished to be helpful, I realized I needed
a better strategy to accomplish this whole school thing. I
mean, I am organized at work. After all, I need to be
because I am a nurse’s aide and I can’t mess up people’s
charts or else I would get fired. I must be organized in
paying my mother’s bills and taking care of my home
finances, or else the bill collectors will come after me. I
make decent meals and make thought-out grocery lists for
both houses because I only want to go to the store once a
week and don’t want to track back and forth through the
aisles and buy impulse items like I know they want me to.
However, I need to get a plan in place to make this work
because this is important to me. First, I call a family
meeting and remind them about the conversation we had
and all the promises they made before I started school.
Next, I decide to change my password and not leave it
lying around so that my son won’t get at it when he
thinks he is trying to help. Then, I get all my books and
put them in one place on a shelf next to the dining room
table. I cannot have my own room because we can’t afford
another computer, but now everyone knows this is my
stuff and no one is supposed to touch it. I made that fac
clear after I yelled at them during my tirade over the
destroyed book and exam my son took. Next, I ask my
husband if he could help with the cooking or would mind
pizza one night a week so I would have more time to
study. Then, I teach my oldest son how to run the washer
and dryer; after all he is almost 16, and if he thinks I am
going to follow him to college and do his laundry he has
another thought coming! I cannot do anything about the
time I devote to my mom, and I will not begrudge her that.
However, my sister can help a bit more and has agreed to
at least do the shopping and spend one night a week with
her; I’ll still pay the bills because my sister can’t manage
her own finances. Honestly, now that I have a plan and
everyone has agreed to help out more, I don’t feel so
stressed and have a bit more time to study, so I feel better
and think I can accomplish this.
SUBMITTING THE ASSIGNMENT
To submit the assignment, follow these steps:
1. Type the essay.
2. Save the document.
3. Go to your Student Portal.
4. Go to
My Courses.
5. Find the section for this project, and click on the
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