Lesson 2

Describing a process
 About writing maps
Process
 Structure to describe a process

1/ Introduction + Overview
2/ Body 1
3/ Body 2

1/ The diagram illustrates the various stages in the life of a honey bee.
We can see that the complete life cycle lasts between 34 and 36 days. It is also
noticeable that there are five main stages in the development of the honey bee, from
egg to mature adult insect.
2/ The life cycle of the honey bee begins when the female adult lays an egg; the female
typically lays one or two eggs every 3 days. Between 9 and 10 days later, each egg
hatches and the immature insect, or nymph, appears.
3/ During the third stage of the life cycle, the nymph grows in size and sheds its skin
three times. This moulting first takes place 5 days after the egg hatches, then 7 days
later, and again another 9 days later. After a total of 30 to 31 days from the start of the
cycle, the young adult honey bee emerges from its final moulting stage, and in the
space of only 4 days it reaches full maturity.

Ngo Thuy Hao | Describing a process

 Language for
describing a process
 Let’s compare the following versions

Version 1: simple, accurate but a little ‘mechanical’

The skin is dried. Then it is taken to a factory. In the factory it is washed in water and
lime, then soaked in lime and flattened and submerged in tannin. After that it is
polished and taken to another factory. In the factory it is turned into leather goods.

Version 2: More fluent and natural

In the initial stages of the process, the skin is dried before being taken to a
factory where it undergoes two treatments. Firstly, it is washed with water and
lime, followed by a soak in lime and then flattened, after which it is submerged in
tannin.
The last stage involves polishing the leather with a roller. The pieces
are subsequently transported to a processing factory where they are made into a
number of items in preparation for shipping.

Ngo Thuy Hao | Describing a process

 Grammar for describing a process

1. Passive voice: is/ are + PII

At the beginning of the process, clay is dug from the ground.
2. Relative clauses
-> To the left of the map was a theatre which has been demolished.
-> To the left of the map were 3 houses, two of which have been demolished.
-> Today, I got 10 for my Math exam, which made my mom happy.
-> In the factory, it is washed in water and lime, after which it is polished and taken to another factory.
3. After being PII, S + V
After being washed, the tomatoes are taken to the factory.
4. , V-ing
After that, the ground, frozen liquid is dried in a vacuum so that the water evaporates, leaving the coffee granules
5. Combine sentences
Having mixed the pulp by hand, he uses a rolling pin to flatten the pulp
Having been poured into a shallow tray with some water, the pulp is then mixed by hand.
6. With + N + V-ing
Olives are smashed into olive paste, with olive stones being taken away.
Power begins with the sun heating up the sea water and the process ends with hydroelectric power being
pumped into hospitals and schools and factories for consumption.

Ngo Thuy Hao | Describing a process

Language for describing process
See handout 02

Ngo Thuy Hao | Describing a process

Study an Example
The diagram below shows the life cycle
of a salmon, from egg to adult fish.
Summarise the information by selecting
and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant
Write at least 150 words.
 Sample answer
◦ The diagram illustrates the stages in the life of the salmon, from
birth to maturity.
◦ It is clear that there are six* main stages as the salmon develops
from egg to mature adult. We can also see that salmon spend
time in three distinct locations during the cycle, moving from
river to estuary to ocean and then back upstream.
◦ Salmon begin their lives in rivers where the adult fish lay and
incubate their eggs. After emerging from eggs, the young salmon
spend the next stage of their lives being reared in freshwater
areas. Then, at some point in their development, the fish swim
downstream to river estuaries where rearing continues.
◦ Following the estuary rearing period, the maturing salmon
migrate to the ocean, where they eventually become fully grown
adults. Finally, the adult fish travel back upstream to spawning
areas of rivers; here they reproduce and lay their eggs, and the
life cycle begins anew
Study an Example
The chart below shows the process of
waste paper recycling
Summarise the information by selecting
and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant
Write at least 150 words.
 Sample answer
◦ The flow chart shows how waste paper is recycled.
◦ It is clear that there are six distinct stages in this process,
from the initial collection of waste paper to the eventual
production of usable paper.
◦ At the first stage in the paper recycling process, waste
paper is collected either from paper banks, where members
of the public leave their used paper, or directly from
businesses. This paper is then sorted by hand and separated
according to its grade, with any paper that is not suitable for
recycling being removed. Next, the graded paper is
transported to a paper mill.
◦ Stages four and five of the process both involve cleaning.
The paper is cleaned and pulped, and foreign objects such
as staples are taken out. Following this, all remnants of ink
and glue are removed from the paper at the de-inking
stage. Finally, the pulp can be processed in a paper making
machine, which makes the end product: usable paper.
Study an Example
The diagram below shows how coffee is
produced and prepared for sale in
supermarkets and shops.
Summarise the information by selecting
and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant
Write at least 150 words.
 Sample answer
◦ The picture illustrates the process of coffee manufacture
and preparation for sale on the market.
◦ It is clear that there are 11 stages in the production of
coffee. The process begins with the picking of coffee beans,
and ends at the packing stage.
◦ Looking at the coffee production process in detail, coffee
beans must first be picked in the fields. These beans are
then dried, roasted, and cooled before being put in a
grinding machine, which turns the beans into coffee
granules.
◦ At the sixth stage in the process, the ground coffee is mixed
with hot water, and the resulting mixture is strained. Next,
the mixture is frozen and then passed once again through
the grinder. After that, the ground, frozen liquid is dried in a
vacuum so that the water evaporates, leaving the coffee
granules. Finally, these granules are packed into coffee jars
for delivery to shops.
Homework 1

The process diagram details the steps

by which liquid chocolate is produced
from cocoa beans.

Summarise the information by selecting and

reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant
Write at least 150 words.
Homework 2

The diagram details the steps by which

pineapples are produced for sale .

Summarise the information by selecting and

reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant
Write at least 150 words.
Thank you!
Any questions?