Process Diagrams: Body Paragraphs (British Council Academic IELTS: Writing): Study Material

Process diagrams: body paragraphs

Selecting information

• Look at the diagram and ask yourself these useful questions:

  • How many stages are there?

  • How are the stages connected?

  • What methods and tools are used?

  • If natural, what influences the process (animals, plants, the heat from the sun etc.)

• You do not need to make comparisons, describe trends or analyse numbers in this type of task but you do need to explain every single stage 

• Do not add reasons or explanations that are not in the visual

• Remember, all the information you need is shown in the diagram

Ordering the information

• Decide your start point and describe the process step-by-step from there

• Keep the same order as in the diagram

• Include the subject, object, action, purpose and result where applicable for each stage

Writing the body paragraph(s)

For a single continuous process, you could write a single paragraph instead of two

• Try to make each sentence cover one main point

• Check that every sentence adds useful information

• Make sure that what you described in the overview is in line with what you include in the body paragraphs

• Use sequencing language to give your paragraphs flow

• Do not write “in conclusion”

• Use the passive voice to focus on the process