Process Analysis Writing: Expressing Your Understanding of a Process
Rooftop Lab Project – Davidson Academy Blue Team

Where you are 

To this point, you have taken painstaking notes while completing the Rooftop Lab in math.  In addition, your math teacher has clearly defined and reviewed with you the exact process you are expected to write about in this assignment.

Where you want to be

Now, you must explain the entire process in writing to a specific audience and for a specific purpose.  This one is a little more complex than just one audience and purpose, but you will see that they both require the same information, so we have combined them.

Audience and Purpose 1: Your teachers can clearly see that you understand the process and could do it on your own at any time.
Audience and Purpose 2: Another person could pick up your paper and recreate the exact steps and get the exact same results.

Write a brief focused summary of the exact process your math teacher has instructed you to write about here:

 

 

  

How to get there 

1. Pre-write: use your observational notes and classroom learning to make sure you know your stuff down to the smallest detail.  If you know how, a flow chart is ideal for this.

2. Organize your ideas using the Rooftop Lab – Dimensional Analysis Paper Graphic Organizer.  You’ll need your observational notes for this!

3. Draft your paper, using your graphic organizer and observational notes. 

4. Get peer readers to critique your paper to see if it does indeed express that you completely understand the process and have explained it clearly and accurately.  Your classmates are the best choices since they have completed the same process!

5. Revise your paper as needed based on the advice of your peer readers.

6. Proofread for Mechanics, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling (MUGS).  If you are weak in these areas, get someone who is good at them to help!

7. Polish the whole thing up in MLA style (DS, etc.) and turn in.

Helpful Hints 

1. Use transitions – don’t number steps and don’t divide each step up by using headings – this is to be a coherent, flowing essay.  You can, however, use headings to label “chunks” of information, such as “Background”, “Measuring”, “Conversions”.

2. Define any terms – remember, your teacher is using this to see if you understand, so make it clear that you do.

3. Give advice or special tips at any point where you had problems or found an effective way to do something.

4. Keep it simple as possible.  Don’t get bogged down in too much detail – but this is a tough, tough call!  Try using some tables, charts, or illustrations show your math.

5. Try to keep it to five paragraphs by keeping logically related steps together in paragraphs.  We do realize, however, that the number of paragraphs can and will vary according to each individual’s writing style and ability.

6. Don’t worry about writing who did what since that doesn’t matter – in fact, try not to.  Try to write in passive voice.  Second person is acceptable though not as highly valued. You can write in active voice, though it also will not be quite as highly valued as passive.  In any case, be consistent!

OTHER NOTES:


Measuring Your Success – Rooftop Lab Process Analysis      Name:____________________________ 

 

 

Score

Proficient

Competent

Needs Improvement

Unit/Dimensional Analysis including vocabulary, measurement, calculations & conversions

 

Of 25

____ true command of the vocabulary 

____ accurate measurements 

____ flawless calculations & conversions

 

____ uses mostly proper vocabulary 

____ largely accurate measurements 

____ largely accurate calculations & conversions

____ lacks proper vocabulary 

____ some inaccurate measurements 

____ some inaccurate calculations and conversions

Use of problem solving processes including forming a hypothesis, testing it, and keeping detailed records of the process.

 

Of 15

Paper reflects strong planning and follow through, including an initial theory and detailed record of the testing of that theory.

Paper reflects some planning and follow through, including an initial theory and adequate record of the testing of that theory.

Paper reflects inadequate planning and follow through: initial theory and/or record of the testing of that theory is/are underdeveloped.

Understanding of the purpose & usefulness of the process in everyday life applications

 

Of 10

Introduction or conclusion reflects sophisticated understanding of applications.

Introduction or conclusion reflects expected understanding of applications.

Introduction or conclusion reflects little or no understanding of applications.

Unity, Coherence, & Flow, especially effective transitions between and within paragraphs

 

Of 20

____ strong unity overall with effective transitions between paragraphs 

____ strong transitions within paragraphs

____  acceptable unity overall w/ effective transitions between paragraphs

____ acceptable transitions within paragraphs

____  lacks needed overall unity  

____ lacks needed transitions between paragraphs 

____ lacks needed transitions within paragraphs

MUGS &

Passive Voice or

Active Voice

 

Of 15

____ mechanics

____ usage

____ grammar

____ spelling 

____ strong voice

 ____ mechanics

____ usage

____ grammar

____ spelling 

____ good voice

 ____ mechanics

____ usage

____ grammar

____ spelling 

____ inconsistent voice

Use of Writing Process

 

Of 10

Paper reflects exceptional use of writing process.

Notes & drafts are all submitted properly.

Paper reflects competent use of writing process.

Notes & drafts are all submitted properly.

Paper reflects inadequate use of writing process. writing process.

Notes & drafts are not all submitted properly.

MLA format

 

Of 5

Properly formatted

Properly formatted w/ only minor errors

Improperly formatted

 

Overall Score:_________ of 100

 

Peer Reading Guide for Process Analysis Paper – Writing Check

 

Author:__________________________________

 

Peer Reader:_____________________________

 

1. Does the introduction state the problem and the original hypothesis formed at the beginning of the activity?

 

_____ yes         _____ no

 

2. Does the first body paragraph have an introductory transition?  If so, what is it?  If not, suggest one here.

 

 

 

3. Does the first body paragraph(s) clearly and accurately explain how to get the area of the wall?  If yes, just say so.  If no, explain what was done incorrectly.

 

 

 

4. Does the first body paragraph or section flow well or does it seem choppy to you?

 

_____ flows well             _____ seems choppy

 

Explain how to improve it here:

 

 

 

5. Does the second body paragraph have an introductory transition?  If so, what is it?  If not, suggest one here.

 

 

 

6. Does the second body paragraph(s) clearly and accurately explain how subtract the windows and doors?  If yes, just say so.  If no, explain what was done incorrectly. Remember, even if the writer had no windows or doors, he/she must still explain how this would be done.

 

 

 

7. Does the second body paragraph or section flow well or does it seem choppy to you?

 

_____ flows well             _____ seems choppy

 

Explain how to improve it here:

 

  

 

8. Does the third body paragraph have an introductory transition?  If so, what is it?  If not, suggest one here.

 

 

 

9. Does the third body paragraph(s) clearly and accurately explain how to covert the area to number of bricks?  If yes, just say so.  If no, explain what was done incorrectly.

 

 

 

10. Does the third body paragraph or section flow well or does it seem choppy to you?

 

_____ flows well             _____ seems choppy

 

Explain how to improve it here:

  

 

 

11. Does the conclusion comment on the accuracy of the writer’s initial hypothesis?

 

_____ yes         _____ no

 

11. Does the conclusion adequately explain the importance and usefulness of dimensional analysis?

 

_____ yes         _____ no

 

 

12. Now, comment on the paper itself with any suggestions or corrections you see fit.

 

Checking for Accuracy – Mathematical Check

 

Author____________________________   

 

Peer Reader for mathematical check:__________________

 

 

1.   Does the author state which wall he/she is calculating the number of brick: ____________

If not, make a note on rough draft that this must be included.

 

 

 

  1. Do the dimensions of the walls given in the paper seem reasonable?  For example, you know the height of the high walls is well above the height of a basketball rim, so no one should have a height around 10 ft.

 

 

 

 

  1. Does the paper explain, without going into too much detail, how the area of the walls and windows are obtained?  Even if the paper is on the short wall, does the author mention what would need to be done if the short wall had door or windows?  If not, make a note on the rough draft that this must be included.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Check the paper for mathematical accuracy. 

a)      First look at the original Rooftop Notes Paper the author sketched the walls, wrote

                      dimensions, and calculated the number of bricks.

Is there a sketch on the Rooftop Notes Paper?  _____________

 

If yes, does it include legible dimensions? _________________

 

                        Are the calculations included?_________________

  

 

a)       Now look at the author’s paper.  Is the same mathematical information that is on the Rooftop Notes Paper included in paragraph form?  ______________

 

  c)  Are the conversions in the paper correct?

 

 

 

d)       Does the final number of brick seem reasonable?  Even if you had a different wall than the author is the final number of brick “in line” with the amount in your wall?  If not explore why not and help the author with his or her conversions.