How to quit smokingThe Process Essay
Grading
This essay is worth 100 points. Your grade will be based upon development, organization, clarity, style, and correctness. In addition, you should check the general standards of grading and formatting outlined in the syllabus. Your essay should be typed and double-spaced. It should be at least two pages long. It should have an interesting title.
What is a process essay?
A process is a series of actions leading to an expected or planned outcome. There are two types of process essays: those that instruct and those that explain or analyze. Directional process essays might explain how to find an apartment. The purpose of this type of essay is to clarify the steps in the procedure so that the reader can re-create the steps and the results. An informational process essay explains or analyzes a process–tells how something works, how something happened, or how something is or was done. For example, you could explain how World War II began or how hurricanes form. The informational process essay has a purpose different from that of a directional process essay. Its main purpose is to inform, explain, or analyze. The reader is gaining an understanding of the process; he or she does not necessarily expect to be able to recreate the process.

For this essay you will be writing a directional process essay, explaining to the reader the steps in a procedure so the reader could re-create the process if desired. Of course, the more humorous or ironic topics do not necessarily come with the expectation that the reader would WANT to re-create the event.

Things to remember:
1. The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate how to do something.
2. The audience–assume they don’t know anything about the process you are describing.
3. Order the stages chronologically, and be sure to thoroughly explain the steps involved in each stage.
4. Explain the purpose of a stage or a step when necessary.
5. Make sure the process is complete.
6. Be sure to define new or unfamiliar terms.
7. Warn your reader of difficulties in the process.
8. Be sure to have a thesis statement that makes a point about the process itself. You should also have an essay map for the groups of steps.
9. Don’t forget that it is best to choose a topic with which you have some interest and experience. For example, you might not want to write about how to collect baseball cards or buy something over the Internet if you have NEVER done one of these things. Research is NOT allowed for this essay. Use your own knowledge!
10. Keep your tone and attitude consistent with the kind of topic you choose. Some essays demand a more serious tone while others should be more relaxed and humorous.
What format does the body of the essay take?
To develop the thesis or unifying idea, each paragraph in the body of the essay covers a major stage of the procedure. Each stage may group several steps, depending on the nature and complexity of the process. These steps are presented in chronological order, and are only interrupted for the writer to give definitions and advice. Every step must be included and must appear in its proper place. Throughout the body of a process essay, transitional words and phrases are necessary so that each step, each stage, and each paragraph lead logically to the next. Transitions like after this, next, then, and when you have finished, establish sequential and chronological relationships that help the reader follow the process. Particular words should not be repeated so often, however, that they become boring.

Here is a sample outline:
I. Introduction (Lead, thesis, essay map)

II. Body
A. Stage I
1. Step 1
2. Step 2
3. Step 3

B. Stage II
1. Step 1
2. Step 2
3. Step 3

C. Stage III
1. Step 1
2. Step 2
3. Step 3

III. Conclusion
Other Guidelines

It is important to keep your reader interested in this essay. Therefore, you want to attempt to make this essay unique and creative. Think about style and personality as you write this paper. You chose your topic for a reason…obviously it is something that is worth communicating!