Sequencing vocabulary

Describing a process vocabulary and grammar

http://www.multitran.ru/c/m.exe?a=1&SHL=2 – on-line dictionary

Verbs to describe processes

http://www.usingenglish.com/files/pdf/ielts-academic-writing-verbs-for-describing-processes.pdf

Describing a process

you can make a comment on, for example, the number of stages in the process and how it begins and ends:

There are eight stages in the process, beginning with the digging up of clay and culminating in delivery.

A process is a series of events, one taking place after the other. Therefore, to connect your stages, you should use ‘time connectors’. Here is the rest of the answer with the time connectors highlighted (notice that you simply go from the beginning to the end of the process):

To begin, the clay used to make the bricks is dug up from the ground by a large digger. This clay is then placed onto a metal grid, which is used to break up the clay into smaller pieces. A roller assists in this process.

Following this, sand and water are added to the clay, and this mixture is turned into bricks by either placing it into a mould or using a wire cutter. Next, these bricks are placed in an oven to dry for 24 – 48 hours.

In the subsequent stage, the bricks go through a heating and cooling process. They are heated in a kiln at a moderate and then a high temperature (ranging from 200c to 1300c), followed by a cooling process in a chamber for 2 – 3 days. Finally, the bricks are packed and delivered to their destinations.

Sequencing vocabulary

1. after (happening at a time subsequent to a reference time)

2. subsequently (happening at a time later than another time)

3. before (at or in the front)

4. prior (earlier in time)

5. firstly (before anything else)

6. secondly (in the second place)

7. finally (as the end result of a succession or process)

8. lastly (the item at the end)

9. afterwards (happening at a time subsequent to a reference time)

10. then (at that time)

11. later (happening at a time subsequent to a reference time)

12. in the end (as the end result of a succession or process)

13. once (as soon as)

14. step (any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal)

15. stage (any distinct time period in a sequence of events)

16. phase (a particular point in the time of a cycle)

17. while (a period of indeterminate length marked by some action)

18. meanwhile (at the same time but in another place)

19. begin (set in motion, cause to start)

20. end (the concluding parts of an event or occurrence)

21. following (immediately after in time or order)

22. subsequent (following in time or order)

23. earlier (more early than; most early)

The Passive

Passive = To be + Past Participle

Examples

• Active: First, put the water in a cup.
• Passive: First, the water is put in a cup.

Example:

Making Paper

First, the tree is cut down. Then, the branches are removed. After that, the trunk is taken to the sawmill. Here, the bark is removed from the trunk and the trunks are sawn into logs. The logs are taken to the paper mill and placed in the shredder. Here they are cut into small strips and mixed with water. After that, they are heated and crushed.

When we describe a process, the focus is on the activities, NOT the person doing them.

When this is the case, we use the passive voice, not the active.

This is a brief explanation of how to use the passive voice, but if you are new or unsure about using it, you should do some further study and practice.

 

Most sentences use this structure:

Subject + Verb + Object

(S) A large digger (V) digs up (O) the clay in the ground.

In the active voice (as above), the digger is doing the verb i.e. the digger is doing the digging.

When we use the passive voice, we make the object (the clay) the subject, and make the subject (the digger) the object. We also add in the verb ‘to be’ and the past participle (or Verb 3).

(S) The clay in the ground (V) is dug up (O) by the digger.

So throughout most of your description for process diagram, you should be using the passive voice.

This is difficult as some verbs cannot take the passive. For example, 'to go' cannot be passive, so it is kept in the active voice:

...the bricks go through a heating and cooling process.

This is why you need to make sure you practice the passive so you know exactly how to use it.

Also, as you will see from the description, it is more usual to comment on who or what is doing the action so the ' by.... " phrase is excluded.

Here is the same example description with uses of the passive highlighted:

To begin, the clay (which is) used to make the bricks is dug up from the ground by a large digger. This clay is then placed onto a metal grid, which is used to break up the clay into smaller pieces. A roller assists in this process.

Following this, sand and water are added to the clay, and this mixture is turned into bricks by either placing it into a mould or using a wire cutter. Next, these bricks are placed in an oven to dry for 24 – 48 hours.

In the subsequent stage, the bricks go through a heating and cooling process. They are heated in a kiln at a moderate and then a high temperature (ranging from 200c to 1300c), followed by a cooling process in a chamber for 2 – 3 days. Finally, the bricks are packed and delivered to their destinations.