Link: Materials for Describing a Process

I was doing a Google Image search for materials for describing a process, and found useful diagrams on two websites here and here.

I've put them on a Google slideshow presentations (slides, pub) and on a Google Doc (docs, pub).  I've also included an activity in on the Google document in which the steps are cut up, and then shuffled, and the students have to put them in order.
These diagrams are suitable for Writing IELTS Task 1 -- describe a process, or for practice with the present passive.

PowerPoint Presentation for IELTS Task 1 Describing a Process Writing

(TESOL Worksheets--IELTS Writing Task 1)

Since I posted several sample IELTS essays last December, I've been continuing to get good use out of these in my IELTS classes.
This is a PowerPoint I designed to supplement three of the essays on describing a process.  I used this for a 2 hour lesson in which the first half of the lesson was examining the three sample essays, and the second half of the lesson was working through the textbook: IELTS Express Upper-Intermediate Second Edition (A).

As such, the second half of the PowerPoint presentation makes references to pages from the IELTS Express Upper-Intermediate Second Edition textbook, and can't really stand as an independent activity.  But I've decided to post the whole presentation as is, on the theory that anyone not using the same textbook can easily delete the slides that they don't need.

The Presentation can be found at Google Drive, Slides, Pub.

Anyone not teaching out of IELTS Express Upper-Intermediate Second Edition should delete the title slide (slide 1), and then everything after slide 32.

The three sample essays that are meant to be included with this lesson can be found here, here and here and are also embedded below.

I also designed a worksheet to help guide the students through their writing.  This is of interest only to someone using the IELTS Express Upper-Intermediate Second Edition, but it can be found on Google Drive, Docs, Pub.

One more note: the information on the PowerPoint about the frequency of Describing a Process questions on the IELTS test comes from an informal conversation with a colleague.  (He'd probably be horrified to know I had actually quoted him on it).  And so it should be taken with the appropriate amount of salt.

Describing a Process

 (TESOL Ideas and Worksheets Subdivisions)

LINK: Materials for Describing a Process

* PowerPoint Presentation for IELTS Task 1 Describing a Process Writing

* How a Canal Lock Works

* Write a short description of the carbon cycle using the diagram and notes below.

* The diagrams below show stages in the development of the camera since its invention in 1839.  Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

* The diagram shows how a dredging boat will be used to keep the canals in Venice clear of mud. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
* The flowchart illustrates the production of coloured plastic paper clips in a small factory. Write a report for a university tutor describing the production process.
* The diagram shows how a transaction works at an automated teller machine in five steps, allowing us to withdraw money from any participating bank in the world.
* The diagram below shows how cocoa beans are prepared for export to countries that make chocolate. Summarise the information by selecting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The flowchart illustrates the production of coloured plastic paper clips in a small factory. Write a report for a university tutor describing the production process.

(Sample IELTS Writing)

Google: drive, docs, pub

Talk with a partner: What could you write for a Task 1 essay?

Task 1: Paper Clips

The flowchart illustrates the production of coloured plastic paper clips in a small factory. Write a report for a university tutor describing the production process.

Cut up strips and shuffle and have students re-arrange them in order in groups

The diagram shows how a small factory produces coloured plastic paper clips.

First of all, molten plastic is poured into moulds.

There are three moulds; one for red plastic, one for blue and the third one for yellow.

After sometime, the plastic sets and forms the paper clips.

These are taken out of the moulds and are checked by machine for strength.

Weak paper clips are rejected and the others move on to the next step.

In this stage, the paper clips are sorted by hand into different coloured groups.

There are groups of individual colours and one set of mixed colours.

Workers then check that the colours are in the correct places and they send any mistakes back to be re-sorted.

Finally, the papers clips are packed and sent to shops and markets to be sold.

In conclusion, it is clear that making paper clips is a simple process, involving people and machines.

Task 1: Paper Clips

The flowchart illustrates the production of coloured plastic paper clips in a small factory. Write a report for a university tutor describing the production process.

Paragraph 1: Rewrite the question Paragraph 2: Step-by-step account Sequence expressions: First of all, After some time, In this stage, then Finally, Paragraph 3: Reword the introduction

The diagram shows how a small factory produces coloured plastic paper clips. First of all, molten plastic is poured into moulds. There are three moulds; one for red plastic, one for blue and the third one for yellow. After sometime, the plastic sets and forms the paper clips. These are taken out of the moulds and are checked by machine for strength. Weak paper clips are rejected and the others move on to the next step. In this stage, the paper clips are sorted by hand into different coloured groups. There are groups of individual colours and one set of mixed colours. Workers then check that the colours are in the correct places and they send any mistakes back to be re-sorted. Finally, the papers clips are packed and sent to shops and markets to be sold. In conclusion, it is clear that making paper clips is a simple process, involving people and machines.

Word Count: 154

Cut up strips and shuffle and have students re-arrange them in order in groups

Scrambled order:

In conclusion, it is clear that making paper clips is a simple process, involving people and machines.

Finally, the papers clips are packed and sent to shops and markets to be sold.

Workers then check that the colours are in the correct places and they send any mistakes back to be resorted.

There are groups of individual colours and one set of mixed colours.

First of all, molten plastic is poured into moulds.

Weak paper clips are rejected and the others move on to the next step.

In this stage, the paper clips are sorted by hand into different coloured groups.

These are taken out of the moulds and (are) checked by machine for strength.

After sometime, the plastic sets and forms the paper clips.

There are three moulds; one for red plastic, one for blue and the third one for yellow.

The diagram shows how a small factory produces coloured plastics paper clips.

The diagram shows how a dredging boat will be used to keep the canals in Venice clear of mud. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

(Sample IELTS Essay)

Google: drive, docs, pub
PowerPoint: drive, slides, pub

Writing task 1: Talk about this diagram with a partner. What could you write in an IELTS essay?

Writing Task 1: Dredging Boat

The diagram shows how a dredging boat will be used to keep the canals in Venice clear of mud. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Cut up strips and post them around the room. Put students in pairs. One pair can go around the room and look at the strips, and then report back to their partner. The partner writes the phrases in the appropriate blanks. The student who looks at the words cannot write them, and the student who does the writing cannot leave their seat to look at the words.

The picture shows

This

Which

There is

First of all

Then

This is then

Finally

In conclusion

Fill in the missing words

(1) __________________ a new dredging boat that will be used to dig up the mud from canals in Venice. (2) __________________ will replace the old system whereby the canals had to be drained of water so that this mud could be removed.

The boat has two hydraulic arms, (3) __________________ are connected to a centrifugal pump and rotor blades. (4) __________________a long tube connecting the pump to a large container called a ‘shuttle boat’.

Operating the dredging boat is a simple procedure.(5) __________________, the hydraulic arms are lowered until the rotating blades reach the mud below. (6) __________________, the blades turn the mud into slurry. (7) __________________sucked up by the pump. It passes through the long tube and into the shuttle boat. (8) __________________, the shuttle boat is towed out of Venice and the mud and slurry are dumped.

(9) __________________, the dredging boat will provide Venice with an effective means of keeping its canals clean, without having to drain them.

Answers:

(1) The picture shows a new dredging boat that will be used to dig up the mud from canals in Venice. (2) This will replace the old system whereby the canals had to be drained of water so that this mud could be removed.

The boat has two hydraulic arms, (3) which are connected to a centrifugal pump and rotor blades. (4) There is a long tube connecting the pump to a large container called a ‘shuttle boat’.

Operating the dredging boat is a simple procedure.(5) First of all, the hydraulic arms are lowered until the rotating blades reach the mud below. (6) Then, the blades turn the mud into slurry. (7)This is then sucked up by the pump. It passes through the long tube and into the shuttle boat. (8) Finally, the shuttle boat is towed out of Venice and the mud and slurry are dumped.

(9) In conclusion, the dredging boat will provide Venice with an effective means of keeping its canals clean, without having to drain them.

Writing Task 1: Dredging Boat

The diagram shows how a dredging boat will be used to keep the canals in Venice clear of mud. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Paragraph 1: What it is What it will do Paragraph 2: Describe the parts Paragraph 3: Describe how it works Use time-order words Active and passive tense Conclusion: Reword the introduction

The picture shows a new dredging boat that will be used to dig up the mud from canals in Venice. This will replace the old system whereby the canals had to be drained of water so that this mud could be removed. The boat has two hydraulic arms, which are connected to a centrifugal pump and rotor blades. There is a long tube connecting the pump to a large container called a ‘shuttle boat’. Operating the dredging boat is a simple procedure. First of all, the hydraulic arms are lowered until the rotating blades reach the mud below. Then, the blades turn the mud into slurry. This is then sucked up by the pump. It passes through the long tube and into the shuttle boat. Finally, the shuttle boat is towed out of Venice and the mud and slurry are dumped. In conclusion, the dredging boat will provide Venice with an effective means of keeping its canals clean, without having to drain them.

Word count: 163

The diagram shows how a transaction works at an automated teller machine in five steps, allowing us to withdraw money from any participating bank in the world.

(Sample IELTS Writing)

Google: Drive, Docs, Pub

Talk about this diagram with a partner.  What could you write for an IELTS task 1 essay?

Introduction Summarize the main idea of the diagram// restate the question using different words Body Paragraphs Describe the diagram step by step Sequencing     First of all…     As soon as…     then…     Later that day… Conclusion: Summarize the diagram// restate the introduction using different words

The diagram shows how a transaction works at an automated teller machine in five steps, allowing us to withdraw money from any participating bank in the world. First of all, the customer inserts his/her card and PIN into the ATM at a local bank abroad.  An electronic message is sent to the central network which is passed on to the customer’s own bank in his/her home country.  The local bank will not dispense the cash until it knows the funds are available in the customer’s own account. As soon as the home country bank receives the request and checks the balance, the money is debited from the account.  The bank then replies to the message via the network, stating that the local bank can provide the customer with the amount requested.  The customer retrieves the money and card and goes on his/her way.  Later that day a settlement occurs between the two banks facilitated by the central network. This diagram shows the convenience of ATMs for the user and what goes on behind the scenes to ensure banks only provide money via their ATMs if the account holder has sufficient funds. (191 words)

Introduction Summarize the main idea of the diagram// restate the question using different words Body Paragraphs Describe the diagram step by step Sequencing     First of all…     As soon as…     then…     Later that day… Conclusion: Summarize the diagram// restate the introduction using different words

(Your teacher will give you the sentences for this essay in scrambled order.  Re-arrange them into the correct order.)

Cut up and scramble

First of all, the customer inserts his/her card and PIN into the ATM at a local bank abroad.

The diagram shows how a transaction works at an automated teller machine in five steps, allowing us to withdraw money from any participating bank in the world.

The bank then replies to the message via the network, stating that the local bank can provide the customer with the amount requested.

The local bank will not dispense the cash until it knows the funds are available in the customer’s own account.

The customer retrieves the money and card and goes on his/her way.

As soon as the home country bank receives the request and checks the balance, the money is debited from the account.

Later that day a settlement occurs between the two banks facilitated by the central network.

An electronic message is sent to the central network which is passed on to the customer’s own bank in his/her home country.

This diagram shows the convenience of ATMs for the user and what goes on behind the scenes to ensure banks only provide money via their ATMs if the account holder has sufficient funds.

The diagrams below show stages in the development of the camera since its invention in 1839. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

(Sample IELTS Writing)

Google: drive, docs, pub
Slideshow: drive, slides, pub

Discuss these pictures with a partner. What could you say in an IELTS Task 1 essay?

Task 1: Development of the camera

The diagrams below show stages in the development of the camera since its invention in 1839. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Cut up strips and shuffle and have students re-arrange them in order in groups

Four models are shown in the diagrams.

The earliest model, the Daguerrotype, was invented in 1839.

This camera, which was made of wood, was 36 centimetres in length and consisted of three box-shaped sections.

It had a brass lens at the front.

Almost fifty years later, the Kodak No.1 appeared.

This cube-shaped model was less than half the size of the Daguerrotype and was made of metal instead of wood.

In 1925, the Leica 1 came onto the market.

It was much narrower than its predecessor and also had numerous function buttons along the top.

Finally, in 2000, the Digital camera was introduced.

Made of plastic, this camera was only a fraction of the size of the first camera and it also had more features than all of the previous models.

These features included a zoom lens and access to the Internet.

Task 1: Development of the camera

The diagrams below show stages in the development of the camera since its invention in 1839. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Paragraph 1: Reword the question Paragraph 2: 4 models Describe each model in order. Key Vocabulary: The earliest model… Almost fifty years later, Finally, was invented appeared came onto the market was introduced Overview: Smaller & more complex

The pictures illustrate how the camera developed since it was invented in 1839 until the year 2000. Four models are shown in the diagrams. The earliest model, the Daguerrotype, was invented in 1839. This camera, which was made of wood, was 36 centimetres in length and consisted of three box-shaped sections. It had a brass lens at the front. Almost fifty years later, the Kodak No.1 appeared. This cube-shaped model was less than half the size of the Daguerrotype and was made of metal instead of wood. In 1925, the Leica 1 came onto the market. It was much narrower than its predecessor and also had numerous function buttons along the top. Finally, in 2000, the Digital camera was introduced. Made of plastic, this camera was only a fraction of the size of the first camera and it also had more features than all of the previous models. These features included a zoom lens and access to the Internet. Overall, the camera became smaller and more complex during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Word count: 173

Scrambled Order

This camera, which was made of wood, was 36 centimetres in length and consisted of three box-shaped sections.

In 1925, the Leica 1 came onto the market.

This cube-shaped model was less than half the size of the Daguerrotype and was made of metal instead of wood.

It had a brass lens at the front.

Almost fifty years later, the Kodak No.1 appeared.

Made of plastic, this camera was only a fraction of the size of the first camera and it also had more features than all of the previous models.

Four models are shown in the diagrams.

Finally, in 2000, the Digital camera was introduced.

It was much narrower than its predecessor and also had numerous function buttons along the top.

These features included a zoom lens and access to the Internet.

The earliest model, the Daguerrotype, was invented in 1839.

Write a short description of the carbon cycle using the diagram and notes below

(Sample IELTS Essay)

Google: drive, docs, pub
PowerPoint: drive, slides, pub

Task 1: The Carbon Cycle

Write a short description of the carbon cycle using the diagram and notes below.

Cut up strips and shuffle and have students re-arrange them in order in groups

The diagram shows how both human activity and nature are parts of the carbon cycle.

Mining companies dig up fossil fuels.

After processing, these energy sources are ready for use in factories, cars and houses.

Factories need a large quantity of electricity to power their machines.

They burn fossil fuels in order to generate this power.

During this process, the factories release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

This gas is also emitted when people drive their cars or use electrical appliances such as refrigerators and air-conditioners at home.

Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air through their leaves.

Animals then feed on plants and absorb carbon dioxide, which they subsequently exhale.

When plants and animals die, their remains go into the ground and decay.

Over millions of years, these remains turn into fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, which are then used to create energy.

In conclusion, the carbon cycle is a long process involving humankind and nature.

Task 1: The Carbon Cycle

Paragraph 1: human activity // nature Paragraph 2: human activity Paragraph 3: nature Conclusion human activity // nature

Your teacher will give you the sentences to re-arrange into an essay. Try to follow the 4 paragraph structure listed on the left.

Answers:

Task 1: The Carbon Cycle

Paragraph 1: human activity // nature Paragraph 2: human activity Paragraph 3: nature Conclusion human activity // nature

The diagram shows how both human activity and nature are parts of the carbon cycle. Mining companies dig up fossil fuels. After processing, these energy sources are ready for use in factories, cars and houses. Factories need a large quantity of electricity to power their machines. They burn fossil fuels in order to generate this power. During this process, the factories release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This gas is also emitted when people drive their cars or use electrical appliances such as refrigerators and air-conditioners at home. Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air through their leaves. Animals then feed on plants and absorb carbon dioxide, which they subsequently exhale. When plants and animals die, their remains go into the ground and decay. Over millions of years, these remains turn into fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, which are then used to create energy. In conclusion, the carbon cycle is a long process involving humankind and nature.

Word Count: 162

Scrambled order

They burn fossil fuels in order to generate this power.

Mining companies dig up fossil fuels.

Factories need a large quantity of electricity to power their machines.

Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air through their leaves.

During this process, the factories release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

This gas is also emitted when people drive their cars or use electrical appliances such as refrigerators and air-conditioners at home.

When plants and animals die, their remains go into the ground and decay.

Animals then feed on plants and absorb carbon dioxide, which they subsequently exhale.

After processing, these energy sources are ready for use in factories, cars and houses.

Over millions of years, these remains turn into fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, which are then used to create energy.

The diagram shows how both human activity and nature are parts of the carbon cycle.

In conclusion, the carbon cycle is a long process involving humankind and nature.