Process

In academic writing, sometimes writers are required to describe a process or a historical event arranged in order of time. Study this paragraph from a student's essay:

Several factors come into play when trying to recover from recession. Firstly, governments must intervene with the intention of manipulating consumers’ aggregate demand in order to see any economic progress. This can be done through altering public spending levels, taxation, or interest rates. Since firms are vulnerable, governments can provide a subsidy which allows firms to produce their output at a cheaper cost of production. This improves a firm’s delicate state and allows them to start employing more labor, which in turn lowers  unemployment rates. Another tactic is lowering interest rates on borrowing; consumers will then begin to spend more on goods and services since they do not have to pay back a large amount to the bank. This then begins to aid in recovery. Resorting to taxation is the third strategy; it results in a similar outcome to the interest rate scenario. Income tax rates begin to decline; this means that taxpayers will have a larger portion of their income to themselves, consequently increasing expenditure on goods and services.

Notice the expectation set up by 'several factors' in the topic sentence. In the paragraph, these are signalled by 'Firstly, ...' 'Another tactic' and 'the third strategy'.

The process of change is indicated by phrases such as 'which in turn', 'This then' and 'consequently'. Verbs indicating the process of change in the paragraph include: improve, begin, start, lower, decline, increase.

Time and sequence are indicated using a variety of features, such as adverbs of sequence, subordinate conjunctions + clauses.

Adverbs of Sequence

  • First, ... Second, ... Third, ...
  • Next, ...
  • Finally, ...
  • At this stage, ...

Subordinate Conjunctions

  • When (+ clause, main clause)
  • Once  (+ clause, main clause)
  • As soon as (+ clause, main clause)
  • As (+ clause, main clause)
  • Before  (+ clause, main clause)
  • After  (+ clause, main clause)
Test Yourself

Put the stages in the process in the correct order.

In order to make beer you only need four ingredients: malted barley, hops, water and yeast.