Page 400 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Plan

Plan a paragraph describing this process. What are the steps
in this process? Do the steps usually occur in a different order,

or is the order the same every time? Which stage of the

process is the couple in?

Draft

Now you are ready to write. Draft the paragraph, listing the

steps in the process in a logical order, giving a one-sentence

explanation of what happens in each step.

Other processes are loose processes. They have no fixed,

predetermined order. Loose processes include such things as

handling money wisely or becoming physically fit. In describing these
processes, it is up to the writer to choose the most logical order.

Imagine that you are writing a paper on handling money wisely. You

decide that the steps involved include paying down debt, developing a

spending plan, and saving for the future. Developing a spending plan
seems logical as a first point, but you can’t decide whether to place

“saving” or “paying down debt” next in the order. You may say, “It’s

impossible to save any meaningful amount until debts are paid.

Therefore, paying off debt before saving is logical.” Or you may

reason like this: “Most people stay in debt for most of their lives. If it’s

not a credit card, it’s a car loan or a mortgage. The important thing is
to pay yourself first, no matter what.” Either order is logical. What is