Procedure Text

Procedures help us do a task or make something. They can be a set of instructions or directions eg step by step method to germinate seeds.

The text below is an example of a procedure. The labels show the structure and language features of procedure text.

- Procedures begin by outlining an aim or goal.
- Sometimes there is a list of the materials and equipment needed.
- The steps are then listed in order.

Example of a procedure: shows the structure and language features of a procedure text.

Writing procedures
When writing procedures you should:
* use present tense eg spray
* include technical terms when you need to eg friable
* use words that tell the reader how, when and where to perform the task eg fill, firmly.

Use the sample procedure to answer the following questions.
1 List two words from the text that are written in present tense.
2 List as many words as you can that indicate how, when and where the task should be carried out.
Check your answers
Practice writing a procedure by writing instructions for someone else to:
* start a lawnmower
* make a banana smoothie
* use a microscope
* your choice.
Write a draft using the procedure sample as a model.

Procedure
1 Words that are written in the present tense include: follow, fill, incorporate, scatter, cover, spray, place.
2 Words that indicate how, when and where include: incorporate, scatter, cover, place, fill, press, firmly.

Learning English Sepatan, 2008