A process analysis is an explanation of how to do something or how something happens. For instance, a person may choose to give instructions for the best way to buy a used car. That person is telling the reader how to do something, and the reader can then follow those instructions. Sometimes, a writer may explain how something happens so that the reader simply understands the process. For instance, making steel is an amazing process, but you, the reader, aren't going to go out and make steel yourself. However, a clear explanation of how iron ore becomes steel will help you understand it.
Many times in life, we find ourselves having to do brand new things that we feel uncertain about. I was pretty nervous when I had to drain my very leaky hot water heater so that it would stop spewing water all over the basement floor. I had never done it before, so I found a reliable video on the internet and followed the instructions exactly. I didn't flood my house, and I was successful. It's a small thing, but I felt pretty accomplished when I called my husband with the news.
Unfortunately, sometimes we don't have the internet to help us, and we have to do things on the spot. In the days before everybody had a GPS, I was going to Michigan to join friends for a weekend. We did this every year when our kids were small. However, I overshot my exit onto 94, and because I was daydreaming, I didn't realize it until I had gone considerably further and had no idea where I was. I have a horrible sense of direction, and I ended up stopping every few miles to ask someone in a store or gas station what to do next. Some people had heard of where I was going, and others had no idea. It took me twice as long to get to my destination, and what I needed was a good map, good written instructions--and a mind that didn't wander!
You have two jobs for this blog:
1. Think of a time when you had really great instructions for how to do something. You followed the process, and you were successful. What was the process, and why did the instructions work so well?
2. Think of another time when you had to do something, and you really needed a lot more information than you had. However, you had no choice but to do it anyway. What did you need to know that you didn't? Were you able to muddle through or not?
I want eight to ten sentences for each response. Make each one a separate paragraph with a topic sentence.
During many situations we are not able to do things unless we get help from something or someone. I was really confused when my mom told me to make a Mexican dish with meat. The food is called “barbacoa” and it’s usually eaten with tortillas. It was something I had never done before or she never told me how to make it. The day before she left I decided to ask her how it was made and what ingredients I was going to use. I made my own recipe step by step while she was telling me how to make it and I wrote down the details carefully. After she got home and realized I had made the dish without calling her for help, she was really happy.
ReplyDeleteAt times, we decide to do things on our own based on what we know. The very first time I decided to make pancakes of my own and show my little siblings I could, I failed. It all started by the mistake of not reading the box of directions in where the flour was in. I was going based in what I knew was needed. That was exactly why I didn’t do such a good job. I forgot that I needed to spray the pan so that the pancake mix wouldn’t stick. Secondly, my pancakes were not coming out fluffy the way they were supposed to be. It was due to how I was missing baking powder in the mix. Therefore the next time I decided to make pancakes I decided to read through the box for instructions instead of just rushing into it.
Sometimes you wish to create something wonderful you have seen. On a television opening I saw this wonderful mysterious picture. It was a still image but the amazing thing was that only a small part of the picture was moving. So I decided to look on the internet for the name of that process. They called the process cinemagraph. I decided to try to do one for myself. I had never tried to do a cinemagraph before so I looked for a video tutorial and followed the instructions exactly. I did finish it and the results were pretty amazing. For myself it was a big accomplishment, I felted very proud when I showed my cinemagraph to my family.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately sometimes our parents are not there to do things that we can’t do. I was invited to a weeding party and I had bought this new suit. I had all my clothes on except the tie. My dad always makes the tie for me. I never tried to tie a tie. On that day my dad was not on my house. I look up on the internet for instruction on how to tie a tie. I found a web page where they teach you oh how to put it on correctly. I followed the steps but I didn’t work. I was choking myself with the tie. I tried it do it again but it didn’t work. The knot looked horrible.
1. Last year, my friend invited me to his wedding and told me to perform in his wedding. It was Indian wedding. I had to do something traditional not western. I had two weeks to practice. I was worried about the performance. After selecting my song I started to make up the steps for it but it was hard for me. Later, I got an idea that I should call my friend who knows the Indian traditional dance very well. Then I thought about internet and I started researching on it. I found a video on YouTube about traditional dance steps. I started practicing those steps. I completed the whole song by learning from those steps. At last, on that day I was so nervous about the dance performance but after performing. I felt so relaxed. And it worked for me. Everybody loved the dance.
ReplyDelete2. I lived with my parents when I was in high school. During my midterms my parents had to leave to my home country for business purposes which was a bad for me but the business was also important. They had to stay there for two weeks. And I was left alone. It was horrible for me. I knew somewhat cooking because I always helped my mom in the kitchen. But without her two weeks was a long time for me. I can’t even imagine living without her at that time. I tried cooking different things but some of them were really bad. I was missing my mom’s instructions that she always gives to me when she cooks. That time I never paid attention to what she was saying. And I was regretting why I didn’t listen to her. She also gave me a cooking book. And I lost that book too. That time all I needed was my mom’s directions and that cooking book which I lost. If I had those two things with me I would have lived better without her.
1. Think of a time when you had really great instructions for how to do something. You followed the process, and you were successful. What was the process, and why did the instructions work so well?
ReplyDeleteA time when I had really great instructions given to me I was in class in the 6th grade. My teacher, I don’t remember her name, was giving out instruction on how to make a root beer float. She said first you had to get a cup, and then you would take to scoops of ice cream, of vanilla ice cream, and put it in the cup. Next she said to pour root beer on top of the ice cream but be careful because if you pour too fast we would be wasting her money. A couple of students didn’t listen, good thing I was one of those students who did. We poured the root bear in the cup over the ice cream, and the soda fuzz bubbles started appearing as if the ice cream were about to explode. It was fun watching. After we had enough soda we had to go back to our seats and enjoy our root beer floats which by the way were very delicious. I think the instructions worked well because how could anything be simpler. Making a root beer float was the easiest thing that I have ever done in my life.
2. Think of another time when you had to do something and you really needed a lot more information than you had. However, you had no choice but to do it anyway. What did you need to know that you didn't? Were you able to muddle through or not?
A time when I needed more information then I already had was when I was doing homework for my math class. It was a regular day in class and the teacher was giving instructions like always. We all had to follow along because after he was done talking we were going to split up in groups and work together with a partner. He gave out a lot of instructions I must say but math is a very hard course for me and the notes, and information that I had wasn’t enough. I asked my partner if she understood what we had to do. Turns out she needed just as much help as I did. We decided to ask our teacher for help, and we were able to learn an easier way of how to work the math problems out. my partner and I were very excited and happy that we were able to finally understand something we both didn’t get. When everyone was done with their problems, we were able to volunteer to put our answers on the overhead. nobody volunteered so my partner and I decided we would could share what we did and how we did it. We both learned that all we had to do was a little more math than expected. I was able to muddle through.
Have you ever made rice meatballs? Neither have I until I followed my mother’s recipe word for word. They were very helpful and I made them perfectly! One night for dinner I decided to make moms rice meatballs for Anthony. Let’s get started. Remember to wash your hands first! Next have half a pound of fresh ground beef, two eggs and half a cup of white rice ready. Next you must get out a frying pan and put sauce of your choice; (mine is seasoned tomato sauce) a big pan to boil water in on medium heat. Start boiling water now and put sauce on a low heat so it can simmer. Now get ready to put meatballs together. In order to mix the ingredients you need a large bowl. You need to add the fresh ground beef and rice into this bowl, and now crack the two eggs into the bowl as well. Using your hands mix the items together in the bowl. It will get messy but in the end you will be happy. Once everything is mixed take the bowl with the ground beef mix by the boiling water. Take out about a golf ball size amount and roll in into a circle so it looks like a golf ball sized meatball and place it into the water. Continue until all meat mix is used and in water. Let the water and meatballs come to a complete boil. Once they have boiled turn off heat and take a cradle spoon to take them out of the water and into the sauce pan. Try to drain water out of spoon before going in sauce; you don’t want to water the sauce down. Once all meatballs are in sauce pan, pour the hot water carefully into the sink. Don’t cover the sauce pan. Let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for about 25 minutes. Make sure to stir sauce as well as you pour some sauce on top of meatballs while they simmer. After the 25 minutes they are ready to eat. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteSometimes directions aren’t always very detailed. I once timed tried to follow directions on how to make a paper airplane. My son wanted to make one and I didn’t remember how from when I was child. So I went online to look it up and found something very vague. It said to get once sheet of loose leaf paper, fold into a half sheet. Then fold down both end sides of the half sheet to make wings. Now throw in air straight forward, and watch it fly. When I did that the paper just dropped straight down and on the floor. My son looked at me and said “Uh mom, what happen?” I laughed and said “I don’t know sweetheart, I’ll try again” Even though I tried it three more times, it still didn’t work. We decided to ask his daddy when he came home from work. Of course, he got it. Next time I’ll follow his directions.
1.)I was put in a tough situation when I had an interview for a job and had to wear a dress shirt and tie, but had no idea how to make a tie look presentable. I went down stairs to ask my father but he had already left for work. I was running out of time because my interview was in thirty minutes and I it was 25 minutes away. I thought to myself “what am I going to do.” I remembered that YouTube has videos on everything imaginable so I thought I would give it a try and look up how to tie a tie. I was amazed by how many clips their where on this particular search but didn’t have time to look at them all so I decided to click on the first one. It was a man showing me from start to finish how to tie a tie and how to do it in two minutes. First you make sure the bigger side of your tie is a little bit longer than the skinny side. He then told me to fold the bigger side over the skinny side and then tuck it under it. He then said to tuck the larger side into the little knot and pull down. After this all had to do was pull down and straighten up the top and I was in business. I was called a half Windsor and like he said I was done in two minutes and on my way to the interview. Now I use YouTube clips every time I don’t know how to do something, it’s a lifesaver.
ReplyDelete2.)I once was in a tight situation when I had to referee a soccer game and needed directions but had no GPS to show me how to get there. I was called by my boss to referee a game at the last minute but I needed the money so I accepted. I went to type in the address on my GPS but it wouldn’t turn on. My brother forgot to charge it so it was out of battery and needed to be charged before I could use it. I had no choice but to type in the address on MapQuest and hope that there directions were correct and helpful. I printed out the directions and got in my car and was on my way. The directions lead me to an abandoned field where no soccer players were playing and no one is insight. I was so angry because I followed the directions to the letter and still I got lost. I then called my boss who stayed on the line until I got to the correct location. I was only late twenty minutes and had everybody waiting on me. Since then I have only used my GPS and made sure it was charged. I will never use MapQuest again.
Cooking is not my hobby but I was challenged to cook Spanish typical food called “Tortilla de Patata” or “potato omelet”. It’s my husband’s favorite food and he wanted me to cook it at least once a month. I got the recipe from his mom; she gave it to me when I was in Spain. So, I gathered the ingredients such as: potato, eggs, cooking oil, salt to taste, garlic and onions, and prepared them for cooking. I peeled the potato and cut them in 2 centimeters width. First I put the cooking oil in the pan to heat and when it was ready I put the potatoes and added garlic and onions. After 30 minutes on a medium heat the potatoes were over cooked, but then I continued. I drained them from the oil and set aside for a while. I prepared the eggs, beat them and mixed them with the potatoes. Then I prepared the pan again for making the omelet. In that moment, it was a little bit tricky for me. When the first side was ready, I prepared a round plate to reverse the omelet or tortilla, facing the cooked side up. When I was doing it, I had difficulty of placing the half cook tortilla on the plate. Instead of making it facing up, I made it facing down. And then when I tried to reverse it, I just ruined the tortilla. So, it was separating from each other and in the end it didn’t made a round tortilla but then a scrambled potatoes. What a mess! I tried it for the second time and when placing the half-cooked “tortilla de patata” on the plate, I did it slowly and carefully. This time, I did it perfect and after that I placed it back slowly to the pan to cook the other side. My husband was very happy when I perfectly made his favorite food. In following the instruction, especially in doing it for the first time, I have to do it carefully.
ReplyDeleteOne of my hobbies is to wonder and do sightseeing in beautiful places. When I was working in China, my boss sends me to a public school to teach part time there, it was an hour away from our training school. She handed me the address written on a paper and gave me some instruction what bus I am going to take and how many stop I have to get off. I was very excited knowing that I am going to see new places closer to the city where I was. I got up very early and took the bus going to the place. While the bus keeps moving, I was fascinated with the beautiful mountains, building, and landscape in every places we passed by. I was so charmed that I forgot how many stop the bus made already. My boss told me that I have to get off on the 6ths stop when it gets to the city first city. I tried to speak to the driver but then he couldn’t understand me, until the bus arrived to its final stop in the next town. I get off and showed the address to the people, the good thing was my boss wrote the address not just in Pinyin but also in Chinese character, so local people could read it. They said that it’s very far from where we are. I got very nervous and worried how to get to the school because I have to teach at 9 A.M in that school. They told me to take the bus going back and inform the driver to drop me to the said address. So I did, this time I was very attentive of how many stop we made, and in every stopped, I looked at the driver to get a sign if it’s my turn to get off. Finally, I arrived to my destination around 10 A.M, and fortunately the teachers there were very kind and they understand that I got lost. So, I learned my lesson, to pay attention when traveling and just be fascinated and do amusement thing when the work is done.
Think of another time when you had to do something, and you really needed a lot more information than you had. However, you had no choice but to do it anyway. What did you need to know that you didn't? Were you able to muddle through or not?
ReplyDeleteI want eight to ten sentences for each response. Make each one a separate paragraph with a topic sentence.
In my Senior year in high school , I had to do a research paper for my English class and I hadn’t done a research paper in my whole high school career because of my lack of motivation for my academic work. This research paper was very important because it was the last project that would be on the grade book. On the day the teacher assigned us this research paper she told the class about the deadlines and she gave us only a few examples of how to actually do a research paper. Also, she made the whole class read stories out of the English book, and then prepare to take tests and quizzes, while we were doing the research paper project. Then I realized that had to put extra effort on my part to pass this English class, so I started doing the research paper ahead of time so I could have time left over to study the stories inside the English book. I did not know how to do the research paper, but I just did the work how I thought she wanted me to do it. When I was doing the rough draft, I would show my English teacher the work that I had finished and sometimes she agreed that my work was correct. I still needed help along the way, so I would ask her questions whenever I needed help. When the deadline for the research paper had finally come up, I was happy because I earned an A on something that I didn’t know how to do, but I was very shocked when almost half of the class was still working on this research paper for the coming weeks!
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ReplyDeleteI was once giving instructions on how to get from 1351 joslyn drive Elgin ill. To 5564 Allemong drive in matteson Ill
ReplyDeleteLeaving my house the very first street you will come to is Joslyn drive, I want you to head east (right) on Joslyn dr.
Then you will come to a street call Waverly drive I want you to north (left) on Waverly dr.
You will then come to interstate 59 go north (left) on route 59
About a half of a mile I want you to enter interstate 90(right) heading east
Then after about 15 miles on route 90 you will enter interstate 294 south
You will be on interstate 294 for about thirty minutes.
Next you will enter into interstate80 heading east(right) and there will be a toll plaza on route 80
After about fifteen minutes you will approach interstate 57 you will then head south(left) on route 57
After about ten min. on rt. 57 I want you to exit south(right) on vollemer rd. About a half of mile down vollemer road you will turn left on central ave. and then three block up the road I want you to turn left on allemong drive and your destination is on the left.
“Almost every species in the Universe has an irrational fear of the dark. But they're wrong. Because its’ not irrational.” - Steven Moffat
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a young human boy of 7 years old, my mother, and brother and I were home on a Wednesday night, nothing out of the normal. My dad worked night shifts as a foreman at a paper company and wasn’t home until about 3 in the morning. So we were on our own every night. And it was on that Wednesday night that a fuse was blown and we had no light at all through the whole house. First off I was extremely scared cause as a kid; the only dark you’re actually afraid of is the dark in your room. It’s a controlled enemy. You hold the frontlines with your bedroom door and your covers. But when the whole house went black it was as if the shadows had burst through the barriers and taken over.
My mom called my dad asking how we can turn the fuses back on. My dad had always fixed it whenever they had blown before, but this was different entirely. My mother and I were both on the phone talking with him now, and he began to tell us the instructions.
“Alright, so first thing you need to do is go down to the basement, and into the backroom.” He said reassuringly.
Our basement was an unfinished basement. The walls were basically the foundation and the pipes and on the ceiling were covered with spider-webs and rust. It reminded me of a cave. I slowly went down the steps. My mom still held onto the phone, and I held the flashlight, as my only defense. My dad began to talk to us again. He told us that when we got into the room we had to open the fuse box, and flip switches and wait a few seconds for the power to kick in again. I remember standing there holding the light on the fuse box so my mom could fix it. I remember how impossibly fast my heart was beating. When the lights had returned on I leapt with joy! I felt so proud that I was able to help, to accomplish something dad and mom needed. Granted, looking back I only held a flashlight, a task so easy a desk lamp could mimic it perfectly. But it was under the circumstances that made what I did special.
Long ago, in the make-believe land of “Elgin”, there lived two young brothers.
ReplyDeleteTheir father said to them “I need you boys to help me rake the backyard!” Their only incentive was the joy of not getting spanked if they were to disobey. So, gleefully the boys began to work. The backyard could be divided into two halves, but only because there was a cement path leading down the middle. The younger brother picked up a rake and began to rake the fallen leaves into a pile on one side of the yard. The older brother thought it was a good idea to put one rake up his coat sleeve, and to do the same with the other sleeve. The older brother thought he had just had the greatest idea since the concept of cognitive reasoning, so he began raking and raking and raking.
He was getting so much done; how excellent it was to be productive! No one had ever TOLD him not to put two rakes in his sleeves like they were his oversized and horrifically disfigured arms. How was HE supposed to be aware of the consequences? The older brother was so proud of himself; he wanted to go share this news with his brother, so he too could be productive. He began to walk forward, but, his arms kept getting in the way. So he had the idea that maybe they were like crutches, how you put your weight on the shoulders rather than the legs. How could that possibly go wrong? He put one arm out to balance himself, and the other mirroring the first arm. He pushed himself forward on the crutches, only perhaps two feet away from the cement path. He called out him brothers name, to inform him how to be more productive. He was perfectly balance for only a moment, until he realizes he couldn’t pull him arm out to catch himself mid-motion. He saw the cement in front of him and knew exactly what was going to happen. He wasn’t afraid; he had gotten concussions before and he knew how what pain felt like. He wasn’t upset that no one had warned him not to do what he had done either. The only emotion that he felt was a wave of apathy over his body. He closed his eyes, and then… Everything went black.
. Think of a time when you had really great instructions for how to do something. You followed the process, and you were successful. What was the process, and why did the instructions work so well?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 9, I didn’t know how to use a mop or a broom. I always asked my mom if she could help, but she would respond saying no because nobody had teached her when she was little, and that she had learned just by watching her Aunt how to clean. So when it came to doing chores I would only help her with cleaning the tables and keeping my room neat. Then one day my brother offered to show me how to clean. First he showed me how he cleaned. He grabbed the broom with his hand in a comfortable position for him. Then he showed me the moving technique that he used. Finally it was my turn to show my knowledge, and he told me that I had done a great job after I finished. I think I learned very well his instructions because he was patient and he was listening to my questions. It only took me a couple of minutes to learn, and now my mom sees that she did a mistake back then.