EN100: Process Analysis Essay
For this assignment, you are to write an informational process-analysis essay describing the step-by-step plan or process that you will follow in order to meet three specific academic goals for this semester. Read the Guidelines and Sample Essay for instructions and a model of this pattern of organization.
Writing out quarterly objectives, proposed strategies for achievement, and later assessing how well you measured up to those goals is a common workplace requirement and often the basis for an annual performance review. As a bonus, research shows that students who write down their goals achieve significantly more of them than those who don’t. It also helps you reinforce your commitment to continuing your education.
The best way to tackle this essay is by spending at least half an hour brainstorming a list of goals for the rest of the semester along with the specific daily, weekly, and monthly tasks you will complete in order to reach those larger goals. Take the tasks required to accomplish each goal and arrange them in an outline format to help you organize them appropriately. Spell out each step in your plan. From there, you will develop a draft of your essay. Limit your essay to the in-depth discussion of exactly what you will do and when in order to achieve three goals for the semester. Expect to complete several stages of revision in order to create a beautiful finished product. The most important ingredients for successful writing are time and effort!
Your essay must meet ALL of the requirements listed below:
Length: 500 words (2 pages), double spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman or Calibri font. DO NOT use the word count function to determine length. Academic word count is figured by estimating ten words a line and twenty-five lines per double-spaced page.
Introductory paragraph must contain a clear thesis statement. See Blackboard notes and pages 70-72 & 88-90 (Can be used for assignments that don’t involve research–like this one. DO NOT research. This is your plan; you shouldn’t have to look it up.) if you need help developing a thesis.
Each body paragraph (should be at least 3 if you followed the instructions above) must begin with a good topic sentence. See Blackboard notes and pages 90-91 if you need help constructing topic sentences.
Use at least 3 transitional expressions: first, second, third, …, after, next, then, finally
Mechanics: more than 2 spelling errors or more than 1 serious sentence structure error will lower your grade. Proofread and edit carefully, line by line, word by word.
Use at least 1 each of the 5 basic sentence structures, and label them in parentheses at the end of the sentence (Structure 1).
Be sure to have a good conclusion that sums up your main points and leaves the reader with something to think about. See Blackboard notes and page 84: Analytical essay.
You must submit prewriting, a rough outline, and draft(s) along with the final copy. These can be submitted into the drop box or via Blackboard’s My Messages.
