1.  The process explanation describes the “how’s” and the “why’s” of (1)things that happen and (2) human activities.   

2.  The “things that happen” can be living (e.g., biological or chemical processes) or non-living (e.g., mechanical or electrical processes).      

3.  The goal of the process explanation is to help the reader understand the steps of a process.  The goal of a set of instructions is to help the reader perform the steps of a process.

4.  The process explanation can begin with a brief introduction that states the process and describes an important purpose or feature of it. 

5.  Next should come any background information that the reader needs to understand the process, based on your estimate of the reader’s knowledge.

6.  Then comes the process itself, usually written in chronological order. A complicated process can be divided into general steps (with headings) that are in turn divided into smaller, detailed steps. 

7.  It’s best to write the process explanation in the present tense, as if the process is unfolding right now. 

8.  Use a logical approach in deciding which steps to group together in sentences and in paragraphs.

9.  When explaining a “human activity” process, be sure to choose a good title or label for the person doing the activity, such as the machinist or the operator).   Be gender neutral in choosing pronouns--use “he or she,” for example—or try to avoid using them.

10. Transition words should be used throughout the process explanation—in particular, those words that are (1) chronological, (2) spatial, or (3) cause and effect.

11.  Explanations, definitions, principles, etc., can be worked into the process when needed or in separate but nearby sections.