Procedural papers or texts are documents that explain how to accomplish or perform a task. A recipe, for example, is a procedural document since it specifies the processes involved in creating the food.
A procedural document’s objective is to give a sequence of instructions or rules so that individuals may do activities in a safe, efficient, and effective manner. Procedures should teach students what they need to know, not simply what they want to know.
They may require knowledge on how to perform the procedure accurately, swiftly, or without wasting time. They may also want to know why they should act in a specific manner, where they can obtain assistance, and what happens if anything goes wrong.
Make sure your processes deal with technical concerns as well as subjective factors as needed. It’s also essential that your processesshould be up to date..
Here are some questions to think about:
- Do users have sufficient knowledge to carry out the action?
- Is there enough information to help users make good professional decisions?
- Does the amount of detail correspond to the topic?
- Is the information level adequate for learners?
- How familiar are students with this subject?
3 Steps to Write a Procedural Text
To write your procedural text appropriately, follow the three-step method.
First and foremost: Obtain Information
Gather extensive information on the process you’re converting to a procedure before you begin writing.
Before establishing a process, consult with subject experts and other essential information sources — long-term workers, stakeholders, technical personnel, and those familiar with the procedures.
Take several notes, then sit down with the specifics and modify them. As a process writer, you want to comprehend the concept very completely, and you may need to work in depth. Final conclusions can be generated and organized as a processable technique.
Step 2: Begin Writing
Don’t worry about the wording or format while drafting the first edition of your process. The main goal is to enter the necessary information. After that, you may focus on the language and the organization.
Here are some ground guidelines to remember:
- Actions should be written in the order that they occur.
- Begin with the first action and work your way to the last.
- Avoid using too many words.
- Simply be detailed enough to communicate effectively.
- Make use of the active voice.
- Make use of bullets and lists.
- Don’t be too short, or you’ll lose clarity.
- Explain your assumptions and ensure that they are correct.
- Use jargon and slang with caution.
- Write at a suitable reading level.
3rd step: Examine the Content
You may notice that one word is insufficient to express the procedure. Other items can sometimes assist your presentation.
Using a flowchart — This depicts the procedure as a drawing. You may describe the process and make it easier to understand by using a series of symbols and arrows to represent flow and performance. Make sure your chart does not have too many strange symbols or too much text.
Play script – When more than one person is participating, scripts may be extremely useful.
Examples of Procedural Texts
With the support of this example, let us learn how to make the Banana Shake. To make a banana shake, we’ll need the following ingredients:
- ½ GLASS OF MILK
- 1 BANANA
- 1 EGG
- 2 SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM
- PITCHER
- BOWL
- GLASS
- FORK
Method:
- Fill the pitcher half with milk.
- Break the egg into the milk with care.
- Peel the banana
- Mash it in the bowl with a fork.
- Mix in the banana with the milk
- Pour in the ice cream.
- Fill the glass halfway with the mixture.
- Enjoy your banana shake.
So we followed all the instructions and prepared a banana shake according to the recipe.