PROCEDURE ESSAYS
(Giving instructions or advice using the active voice/imperatives & modals)
Read the sentences below and number them in order from the first sentence (#1) to the last
sentence. Remember that a negative imperative is “don’t” plus a verb, and is usually at the
beginning of the sentence. After that, write a title for each essay.
1. Title: How to …
However, it is actually quite easy to organize your class notes in a neat portfolio.
The world is not paperless, and it doesn’t have to be.
You may want to put English 124 into a separate category. After that, buy a binder and some
colored dividers.
You will be proud of your neat, well-organised work!
You can also ask a friend and can photocopy his papers.
Write section headings for the dividers and match them with a table of contents page.
Students often feel overwhelmed by the number of papers they receive from their teachers,
and it may seem like throwing all of them in the trunk of the car is the best solution.
You can also put work on a CD and include it in a special section.
First, find all your papers.
Finally, make a label for the side of the binder.
Let me outline the steps.
As we have seen, it is easy to make a portfolio.
Next, put your papers into the different sections.
Look in the trunk of your car, under your bed, and in your briefcase and, if you can’t find all of
them, look in your teacher’s English 124 and 125 folders in the Y-drive.
Include important information such as the class code and your name.
Second, sort your papers into logical divisions such as narrative, process, compare-contrast,
and procedure, among others.
1
Papers, papers, papers.
2. Title: How to …
When the spin cycle finishes, take out your clean clothes and hang them to dry.
Second, put your clothes into the machine.
After that, add some detergent.
Fourth, set the water temperature control.
You will never have to read complicated manuals again!
One example is the washing machine.
However, if you follow these simple steps, you will find it easy to operate.
Don’t wash darks and whites together: you must separate them.
Next, close the lid and turn on the machine.
1
It seems as if machines are becoming more and more complicated these days: all machines
come with detailed and often confusing instructions.
To conclude, it is easy to wash your clothes if you follow these simple steps.
You must be careful to add the right amount because if you add too little, your clothes will not
get clean and if you add too much, they will be soapy.
First, sort your clothes.
3. Title: How to …
One popular food choice for Americans and Canadians, as well as other nationalities, is the
hamburger.
Next, light a match and ignite the coals.
Wet the charcoal thoroughly with lighter fluid.
Turn the hamburgers over after about ten minutes. Last, cook them for another ten minutes.
1 It’s picnic time!
In summary, it is not difficult to cook hamburgers if you follow these basic steps.
After starting the fire, wait about thirty minutes until the coals begin to turn gray.
You will love the taste of your barbecued burgers!
Cooking hamburgers outdoors is not difficult if you follow these directions.
Start by putting charcoal on an outdoor grill, that is barbecue.
Don’t burn yourself!
Since the weather is so nice these days, people really enjoy cooking and eating outdoors.
Then, put the raw hamburger patties on the grill and sprinkle them with salt and pepper to
give them more flavour.
4. Title: How to …
Then, roast and cool them quickly.
You will love the taste and smell of your fresh coffee!
After that, mix the beans with hot water and strain the mixture before freezing it.
In any case, coffee is a popular drink around the entire world; many people could not survive
without it, so it’s good to know how to make it.
Next, grind the frozen mixture and dry it in a vacuum.
First, pick the coffee beans and dry them in the sun.
1
Some people call it Java, others their daily “fix”.
Coffee goes through a number of steps before we savour its delicious taste, but it is still easy
to produce if they are followed carefully.
I am going to describe how to get coffee from the fields to your table.
In the last step, you should pack the coffee into jars to prepare it for selling in shops.
Straining is important to remove any impurities.
5. Title: How to …
Following these simple rules may help you find the perfect apartment.
It’s easy to find the perfect apartment.
If you don’t know anyone in the area, look in the classified advertisements in the newspaper
under “Apartments for Rent”.
To conclude, your home can be sweet if you follow these simple steps.
1
People often say “home, sweet home”, but home is only sweet if you like it.
Next, call real estate offices and ask them whether they have any apartments available.
The first thing you should do is to ask friends in the desired area whether they know of any
empty apartments.
If you have no success with the phone calls, then consult the phone book under “Real
Estate”.
Many people move a lot these days, and often they don’t research their next accommodation,
usually an apartment in the city, carefully before they move.
Finally, make a list of what you want in the apartment, go to see some, and choose the best
one.
Then, make phone calls to owners of the apartments that look good to you.
6. Title: How to …
You can find out information through books, the web, friends, and acquaintances.
Third, don’t be late!
Last, thank the interviewer for his or her time.
You may wish to follow up later with a phone call or card to thank the person again and, too,
to keep your resume on file.
Young and old people alike often feel stressed about this scenario.
However, following these simple steps will ensure that you definitely get hired.
You should probably arrive at least five minutes early.
First, research your target company thoroughly.
Don’t talk for too long, however, in case you bore the boss!
1
“Job interview” may be two of the scariest words in the English language.
Second, make sure you dress formally for the interview, and carefully prepare your resume
and important papers.
To conclude, preparing for a job interview is almost a job in itself!
Fourth, be polite and courteous during the interview itself, and be prepared to give your
interviewer thorough answers.
Nevertheless, it is very easy to make a good impression at an interview if you follow these
basic steps.
PROCEDURE ESSAYS (KEY)
(Giving instructions or advice using the active voice/imperatives & modals)
Read the sentences below and number them in order from the first sentence (#1) to the last
sentence. Remember that a negative imperative is “don’t” plus a verb, and is usually at the
beginning of the sentence. After that, write a title for each essay.
1. Title: How to make a (writing) portfolio.
3
However, it is actually quite easy to organize your class notes in a neat portfolio.
16 The world is not paperless, and it doesn’t have to be.
9
You may want to put English 124 into a separate category. After that, buy a binder and some
colored dividers.
17 You will be proud of your neat, well-organised work!
7
You can also ask a friend and can photocopy his papers.
10 Write section headings for the dividers and match them with a table of contents page.
2
Students often feel overwhelmed by the number of papers they receive from their teachers,
and it may seem like throwing all of them in the trunk of the car is the best solution.
12 You can also put work on a CD and include it in a special section.
5
First, find all your papers.
13 Finally, make a label for the side of the binder.
4
Let me outline the steps.
15 As we have seen, it is easy to make a portfolio.
11 Next, put your papers into the different sections.
6
Look in the trunk of your car, under your bed, and in your briefcase and, if you can’t find all of
them, look in your teacher’s English 124 and 125 folders in the Y-drive.
14 Include important information such as the class code and your name.
8
Second, sort your papers into logical divisions such as narrative, process, compare-contrast,
and procedure, among others.
1
Papers, papers, papers.
2. Title: How to use a washing machine
11 When the spin cycle finishes, take out your clean clothes and hang them to dry.
6
Second, put your clothes into the machine.
7
After that, add some detergent.
9
Fourth, set the water temperature control.
13 You will never have to read complicated manuals again!
2
One example is the washing machine.
3
However, if you follow these simple steps, you will find it easy to operate.
5
Don’t wash darks and whites together: you must separate them.
10 Next, close the lid and turn on the machine.
1
It seems as if machines are becoming more and more complicated these days: all machines
come with detailed and often confusing instructions.
12 To conclude, it is easy to wash your clothes if you follow these simple steps.
8
You must be careful to add the right amount because if you add too little, your clothes will not
get clean and if you add too much, they will be soapy.
4
First, sort your clothes.
3. Title: How to cook hamburgers outdoors (have a bbq)
3 One popular food choice for Americans and Canadians, as well as other nationalities, is the
hamburger.
7
Next, light a match and ignite the coals.
6
Wet the charcoal thoroughly with lighter fluid.
11 Turn the hamburgers over after about ten minutes. Last, cook them for another ten minutes.
1 It’s picnic time!
12 In summary, it is not difficult to cook hamburgers if you follow these basic steps.
9
After starting the fire, wait about thirty minutes until the coals begin to turn gray.
13 You will love the taste of your barbecued burgers!
4
Cooking hamburgers outdoors is not difficult if you follow these directions.
5
Start by putting charcoal on an outdoor grill, that is barbecue.
8
Don’t burn yourself!
2
Since the weather is so nice these days, people really enjoy cooking and eating outdoors.
10 Then, put the raw hamburger patties on the grill and sprinkle them with salt and pepper to give
them more flavour.
4. Title: How to make coffee
5
Then, roast and cool them quickly.
11 You will love the taste and smell of your fresh coffee!
6
After that, mix the beans with hot water and strain the mixture before freezing it.
2
In any case, coffee is a popular drink around the entire world; many people could not survive
without it, so it’s good to know how to make it.
8
Next, grind the frozen mixture and dry it in a vacuum.
4
First, pick the coffee beans and dry them in the sun.
1
Some people call it Java, others their daily “fix”.
10 Coffee goes through a number of steps before we savour its delicious taste, but it is still easy
to produce if they are followed carefully.
3
I am going to describe how to get coffee from the fields to your table.
9
In the last step, you should pack the coffee into jars to prepare it for selling in shops.
7
Straining is important to remove any impurities.
5. Title: How to find a new apartment
3
Following these simple rules may help you find the perfect apartment.
11 It’s easy to find the perfect apartment.
5
If you don’t know anyone in the area, look in the classified advertisements in the newspaper
under “Apartments for Rent”.
10 To conclude, your home can be sweet if you follow these simple steps.
1
People often say “home, sweet home”, but home is only sweet if you like it.
8
Next, call real estate offices and ask them whether they have any apartments available.
4
The first thing you should do is to ask friends in the desired area whether they know of any
empty apartments.
7
If you have no success with the phone calls, then consult the phone book under “Real Estate”.
2
Many people move a lot these days, and often they don’t research their next accommodation,
usually an apartment in the city, carefully before they move.
9
Finally, make a list of what you want in the apartment, go to see some, and choose the best
one.
6
Then, make phone calls to owners of the apartments that look good to you.
6. Title: How to have a good job interview
5
You can find out information through books, the web, friends, and acquaintances.
7
Third, don’t be late!
11 Last, thank the interviewer for his or her time.
12 You may wish to follow up later with a phone call or card to thank the person again and, too,
to keep your resume on file.
2
Young and old people alike often feel stressed about this scenario.
14 However, following these simple steps will ensure that you definitely get hired.
8
You should probably arrive at least five minutes early.
4
First, research your target company thoroughly.
10 Don’t talk for too long, however, in case you bore the boss!
1
“Job interview” may be two of the scariest words in the English language.
6
Second, make sure you dress formally for the interview, and carefully prepare your resume
and important papers.
13 To conclude, preparing for a job interview is almost a job in itself!
9
Fourth, be polite and courteous during the interview itself, and be prepared to give your
interviewer thorough answers.
3
Nevertheless, it is very easy to make a good impression at an interview if you follow these
basic steps.
PROCEDURE ESSAYS (key)
1. How to make a (writing) portfolio
(1) Papers, papers, papers. (2) Students often feel overwhelmed by the number of papers they
receive from their teachers, and it may seem like throwing all of them in the trunk of the car is the best
solution. (3) However, it is actually quite easy to organize your class notes in a neat portfolio. (4) Let me
outline the steps.
(5) First, find all your papers. (6) Look in the trunk of your car, under your bed, and in your
briefcase and, if you can’t find all of them, look in your teacher’s English 124 and 125 folders in the Y-drive.
(7) You can also ask a friend and can photocopy his papers. (8) Second, sort your papers into logical
divisions narrative, process, compare-contrast, and procedure, among others. (9) You may want to put
English 124 into a separate category. After that, buy a binder and some colored dividers. (10) Write section
headings for the dividers and match them with a table of contents page. (11) Next, put your papers into the
different sections. (12) You can also put work on a CD and include it in a special section. (13) Finally, make
a label for the side of the binder. (14) Include important information such as the class code and your name.
(15) As we have seen, it is easy to make a portfolio. (16) The world is not paperless, and it doesn’t
have to be. (17) You will be proud of your neat, well-organised work!
Word count: 232
2. How to use a washing machine
(1) It seems as if machines are becoming more and more complicated these days: all machines
come with detailed and often confusing instructions. (2) One example is the washing machine. (3) However,
if you follow these simple steps, you will find it easy to operate.
(4) First, sort your clothes. (5) Don’t wash darks and whites together: you must separate them. (6)
Second, put your clothes into the machine. (7) After that, add some detergent. (8) You must be careful to
add the right amount because if you add too little, your clothes will not get clean and if you add too much,
they will be soapy. (9) Fourth, set the water temperature control. (10) Next, close the lid and turn on the
machine. (11) When the spin cycle finishes, take out your clean clothes and hang them to dry.
(12) To conclude, it is easy to wash your clothes if you follow these simple steps. (13) You will never
have to read complicated manuals again!
Word count: 153
3. How to cook hamburgers outdoors
(1) It’s picnic time! (2) Since the weather is so nice these days, people really enjoy cooking and
eating outdoors. (3) One popular food choice for Americans and Canadians, as well as other nationalities, is
the hamburger. (4) Cooking hamburgers outdoors is not difficult if you follow these directions.
(5) Start by putting charcoal on an outdoor grill, that is barbecue. (6) Wet the charcoal thoroughly
with lighter fluid. (7) Next, light a match and ignite the coals. (8) Don’t burn yourself! (9) After starting the
fire, wait about thirty minutes until the coals begin to turn gray. (10) Then, put the raw hamburger patties on
the grill and sprinkle them with salt and pepper to give them more flavour. (11) Turn the hamburgers over
after about ten minutes. Last, cook them for another ten minutes.
(12) In summary, it is not difficult to cook hamburgers if you follow these basic steps. (13) You will
love the taste of your barbecued burgers!
Word count: 149
4. How to make coffee
(1) Some people call it Java, others their daily “fix”. (2) In any case, coffee is a popular drink around
the entire world; many people could not survive without it, so it’s good to know how to make it. (3) I am
going to describe how to get coffee from the fields to your table.
(4) First, pick the coffee beans and dry them in the sun. (5) Then, roast and cool them quickly. (6)
After that, mix the beans with hot water and strain the mixture before freezing it. (7) Straining is important
to remove any impurities. (8) Next, grind the frozen mixture and dry it in a vacuum. (9) In the last step, you
should pack the coffee into jars to prepare it for selling in shops.
(10) Coffee goes through a number of steps before we savour its delicious taste, but it is still easy to
produce if they are followed carefully. (11) You will love the taste and smell of your fresh coffee!
Word count: 156
5. How to find a new apartment
(1) People often say “home, sweet home”, but home is only sweet if you like it. (2) Many people
move a lot these days, and often they don’t research their next accommodation, usually an apartment in the
city, carefully before they move. (3) Following these simple rules may help you find the perfect apartment.
(4) The first thing you should do is to ask friends in the desired area whether they know of any
empty apartments. (5) If you don’t know anyone in the area, look in the classified advertisements in the
newspaper under “Apartments for Rent”. (6) Then, make phone calls to owners of the apartments that look
good to you. (7) If you have no success with the phone calls, then consult the phone book under “Real
Estate”. (8) Next, call real estate offices and ask them whether they have any apartments available. (9)
Finally, make a list of what you want in the apartment, go to see some, and choose the best one.
(10) To conclude, your home can be sweet if you follow these simple steps. (11) It’s easy to find the
perfect apartment.
Word count: 177
6. How to make a good impression at a job interview
(1) “Job interview” may be two of the scariest words in the English language. (2) Young and old
people alike often feel stressed about this scenario. (3) Nevertheless, it is very easy to make a good
impression at an interview if you follow these basic steps.
(4) First, research your target company thoroughly. (5) You can find out information through books,
the web, friends, and acquaintances. (6) Second, dress formally for the interview, and carefully prepare
your resume and important papers. (7) Third, don’t be late! (8) You should probably arrive at least five
minutes early. (9) Fourth, be polite and courteous during the interview itself, and be prepared to give your
interviewer thorough answers. (10) Don’t talk for too long, however, in case you bore the boss! (11) Last,
thank the interviewer for his or her time. (12) You may wish to follow up later with a phone call or card to
thank the person again and, too, to keep your resume on file.
(13) To conclude, preparing for a job interview is almost a job in itself! (14) However, following
these simple steps will ensure that you definitely get hired.
Word count: 181
“STRIP ESSAYS” (photocopy each on a different colour of paper and distribute to groups of Ss. Use
different colours so that it’s easy for them/you to see which essay they have already ordered when they ask
for another. Note: this takes the ordering process one step further in that Ss can also organize the essay
into three paragraphs.
1. Title: How to …
However, it is actually quite easy to organize your class notes in a neat portfolio.
The world is not paperless, and it doesn’t have to be.
You may want to put English 124 into a separate category. After that, buy a binder and
some colored dividers.
You will be proud of your neat, well-organised work!
You can also ask a friend and can photocopy his papers.
Write section headings for the dividers and match them with a table of contents page.
Students often feel overwhelmed by the number of papers they receive from their
teachers, and it may seem like throwing all of them in the trunk of the car is the best
solution.
You can also put work on a CD and include it in a special section.
First, find all your papers.
Finally, make a label for the side of the binder.
Let me outline the steps.
As we have seen, it is easy to make a portfolio.
Next, put your papers into the different sections.
Look in the trunk of your car, under your bed, and in your briefcase and, if you can’t
find all of them, look in your teacher’s English 124 and 125 folders in the Y-drive.
Include important information such as the class code and your name.
Second, sort your papers into logical divisions such as narrative, process, comparecontrast, and procedure, among others.
Papers, papers, papers.
2. Title: How to …
When the spin cycle finishes, take out your clean clothes and hang them to dry.
Second, put your clothes into the machine.
After that, add some detergent.
Fourth, set the water temperature control.
You will never have to read complicated manuals again!
One example is the washing machine.
However, if you follow these simple steps, you will find it easy to operate.
Don’t wash darks and whites together: you must separate them.
Next, close the lid and turn on the machine.
It seems as if machines are becoming more and more complicated these days: all
machines come with detailed and often confusing instructions.
To conclude, it is easy to wash your clothes if you follow these simple steps.
You must be careful to add the right amount because if you add too little, your clothes
will not get clean and if you add too much, they will be soapy.
First, sort your clothes.
3. Title: How to …
One popular food choice for Americans and Canadians, as well as other nationalities,
is the hamburger.
Next, light a match and ignite the coals.
Wet the charcoal thoroughly with lighter fluid.
Turn the hamburgers over after about ten minutes. Last, cook them for another ten
minutes.
It’s picnic time!
In summary, it is not difficult to cook hamburgers if you follow these basic steps.
After starting the fire, wait about thirty minutes until the coals begin to turn gray.
You will love the taste of your barbecued burgers!
Cooking hamburgers outdoors is not difficult if you follow these directions.
Start by putting charcoal on an outdoor grill, that is barbecue.
Don’t burn yourself!
Since the weather is so nice these days, people really enjoy cooking and eating
outdoors.
Then, put the raw hamburger patties on the grill and sprinkle them with salt and pepper
to give them more flavour.
4. Title: How to …
Then, roast and cool them quickly.
You will love the taste and smell of your fresh coffee!
After that, mix the beans with hot water and strain the mixture before freezing it.
In any case, coffee is a popular drink around the entire world; many people could not
survive without it, so it’s good to know how to make it.
Next, grind the frozen mixture and dry it in a vacuum.
First, pick the coffee beans and dry them in the sun.
Some people call it Java, others their daily “fix”.
Coffee goes through a number of steps before we savour its delicious taste, but it is
still easy to produce if they are followed carefully.
I am going to describe how to get coffee from the fields to your table.
In the last step, you should pack the coffee into jars to prepare it for selling in shops.
Straining is important to remove any impurities.
5. Title: How to …
Following these simple rules may help you find the perfect apartment.
It’s easy to find the perfect apartment.
If you don’t know anyone in the area, look in the classified advertisements in the
newspaper under “Apartments for Rent”.
To conclude, your home can be sweet if you follow these simple steps.
People often say “home, sweet home”, but home is only sweet if you like it.
Next, call real estate offices and ask them whether they have any apartments available.
The first thing you should do is to ask friends in the desired area whether they know of
any empty apartments.
If you have no success with the phone calls, then consult the phone book under “Real
Estate”.
Many people move a lot these days, and often they don’t research their next
accommodation, usually an apartment in the city, carefully before they move.
Finally, make a list of what you want in the apartment, go to see some, and choose the
best one.
Then, make phone calls to owners of the apartments that look good to you.
6. Title: How to …
You can find out information through books, the web, friends, and acquaintances.
Third, don’t be late!
Last, thank the interviewer for his or her time.
You may wish to follow up later with a phone call or card to thank the person again
and, too, to keep your resume on file.
Young and old people alike often feel stressed about this scenario.
However, following these simple steps will ensure that you definitely get hired.
You should probably arrive at least five minutes early.
First, research your target company thoroughly.
Don’t talk for too long, however, in case you bore the boss!
“Job interview” may be two of the scariest words in the English language.
Second, make sure you dress formally for the interview, and carefully prepare your
resume and important papers.
To conclude, preparing for a job interview is almost a job in itself!
Fourth, be polite and courteous during the interview itself, and be prepared to give
your interviewer thorough answers.
Nevertheless, it is very easy to make a good impression at an interview if you follow
these basic steps.