Prewriting & Planning Worksheet: The Process Analysis Essay Process Analysis Essay. In Week 5, you will prepare for writing that essay here and in a Writing Workshop. The Week 5 Explore section will help you understand the Process Analysis Essay and prepare you for the tasks on this worksheet.

Instructions: Please complete Parts 1-5 below. By completing the steps, you will share your Process Analysis Essay topic, generate your 3 main ideas for that topic, write "topic + 3 main ideas" in a single sentence, begin a small outline for your essay, and brainstorm for details for one of your main ideas. Each Part is simple; you will replace the blue type with your answers. **Remember: Do not set yourself up for main ideas that would require research! Choose 3 main ideas that you can write about in detail from your own mind.

You are provided examples for all steps, but if you have questions, please contact your instructor!

Part 1: Which Topic Did You Choose?

Please write the topic you have chosen (from the Process Analysis Essay Theme and Topics Announcement) below by replacing the blue text with your own:

I have chosen the following topic: Write the full name of the topic here.

Part 2: Choose Your Main Ideas for Your 3 Body Paragraphs (Your "Topic + 3 Points about your Topic")

Now, you will add 3 main ideas to your topic. As explained in Week 5 Explore, the structure for a process analysis essay might be "topic + 3 stages that occur during the process," "topic + 3 actions that need to be taken to complete the process," or "topic + 3 groupings like time periods (before, during after) or even 3 different people who participate."

Example of a topic and 3 main points for a Process Analysis Essay that examines "stages" of process (you are not writing over walking a dog - this is just an example):

Process of enjoying a walk with a dog > Preparation and Supplies, Choosing the Route and Walking It, Best Approaches for After the Walk

Now write essay topic from Part 1 and your 3 main points about the topic (These will, next week, become your 3 body paragraph points.):

Topic > 1^st main idea, 2^nd main idea, 3^rd main idea

Part 3: Thesis Statement

Now, you will write the thesis statement, using your topic and 3 main points.

For the sample "walking a dog" topic above, the thesis would be something like this:

Sample thesis statement: For an enjoyable walk with a dog, each stage of that process is important, including preparing for the walk, choosing the route and walking it, and cooling down from the walk at the end.

Now, write thesis based on the structure you chose for your topic. Remember- look at the sample thesis statement about the process of an enjoyable walk with a dog above for guidance, and then please write yours below. **Remember- No research allowed.

Write thesis statement here (topic + 3 in sentence form): ________________________________________

Part 4: Create a Rough Outline with What You Know So Far

Now, it is time to start setting up your topic and 3 main points in a 5-paragraph essay structure.

Below, you will see a rough outline for a 5-paragraph Process Analysis Essay. You will get started filling out the outline by adding what you have written so far (your essay's topic and your 3 main ideas/points about the topic). The parts we do not know yet are still included below because the whole outline will give you a "picture of your essay" that you will fill in more as you go, later. Please replace only the blue portions, for now, using your thesis statement and your three main ideas. Leave the rest of the outline as it is.

• Introduction
  • Attention-grabber
  • Middle Part
  • Thesis: Write your thesis statement from Part 2 here. Example: For an enjoyable walk with a dog, each stage of
  • that process is important, including preparing for the walk, choosing the route and walking it, and cooling down from the walk at the end.
• Body Paragraph 1
  • Write first main idea from Part 2 here. Example: Preparing for the Walk + very specific, clear actions to be
  • performed and items to be used/what to avoid.
• Body Paragraph 2
  • Write second main idea from Part 2 here. Example: Choosing Route & Walking + very specific, clear actions
  • to be performed and items to be used/what to avoid.
• Body Paragraph 3
  • Write third main idea from Part 2 here. Example: Ending the Walk & Cooling Down + very specific, clear
  • actions to be performed and items to be used/what to avoid.
• Conclusion Paragraph
  • Restate the thesis concept in a different way
  • Leave the reader thinking

Part 5: Brainstorm Details for One Body Paragraph

Are you seeing how your essay's structure is coming together? Exciting, isn't it? Are you ready for the fun part, generating many details through brainstorming?

You will practice brainstorming many ideas for ONE of your body paragraphs now. Once you have the practice, you should be able to do that for yourself with the other two. So: Choose 1 of your body paragraph ideas (1, 2, or 3) from the outline you just worked with and practice brainstorming by listing.

Let's look at an example of what you are to do here.

I chose the body paragraph "Preparing for the Walk." (My choices were "Preparing for the Walk," "Choosing the Route and Walking It," and "Ending the Walk and Cooling Down." I will work on "Choosing & Walking" and "Ending the Walk" later because right now I am focusing on just one main idea, just one body paragraph.)

For my body paragraph about walk preparation, I will start listing every detail (every action and object and what to avoid) that comes to mind, without stopping or censoring myself, not worrying about spelling or anything because I am brainstorming. I am dumping all the contents of my subconscious mind onto the paper. This is how we find our best ideas.

Example of Brainstorming for One Body Paragraph

• Preparing to Walk with a Dog
  • Shoe choice
  • Leash
  • Water me and dog
  • Don't forget container for dog to drink
  • Plenty of water it goes faster than you think
  • Bags for waste- plenty!
  • Whistle
  • Cell phone
  • Easy way to carry stuff
  • stretch

Now, later, when it comes time to write this paragraph in my essay, I will choose the details that I really like and can write about well by writing them in full sentences with transitions between the sentences for flow.

*The results of brainstorming vary. You may end up seeing just three items that you really want to develop into a couple of sentences each, or you might like most of the items on the list and can work all of them in by combining ideas. Don't limit yourself. Use as many specific items and actions as you can.

Your turn!

Choose 1 of your three main body paragraph ideas that you developed above (one of the 3 main points about your topic that you have already written in the steps above). Write that one main point below, and then begin brainstorming by listing as many details and examples as possible about that body paragraph's main idea. Later, you will use some or all of these details to build one of your body paragraphs.

Brainstorm for details about 1 of your body paragraph main ideas below.

Write the main idea of ONE body paragraph from your outline here

Write one detail about your main idea here

Write one detail about your main idea here

Write one detail about your main idea here

Write one detail about your main idea here

Write one detail about your main idea here

Write one detail about your main idea here

Write one detail about your main idea here

Write one detail about your main idea here

Write one detail about your main idea here

Now that you have finished this worksheet, please go to the Writing Workshop discussion area in Week 5 and make your initial post, with this completed document attached. Thoroughly read the workshop instructions and let your professor know if you have questions.

For Next Week (not due now):

• You will, while writing full draft in Week 6, be brainstorming for details and examples for your other 2 body paragraphs.
• In that draft next week, you will write 3 body paragraphs, each with a topic sentence and at least 4 sentences with details about the topic sentence.
• You will also in Week 6 write your Introduction and Conclusion paragraphs.
• Those five paragraphs - introduction, body paragraph, body paragraph, body paragraph, conclusion paragraph - will be your full essay!