How to write about a process?

This diagram illustrates the process of paper-making.
(This diagram shows how paper is made.)
这个图说明了造纸的过程。

First / First of all, logs are delivered to a paper mill, where the bark is removed and the wood is cut into small chips.
首先，原木被运送到造纸厂，在那里去掉树皮，然后被切成木片。

Next / Second, the wood chips are pulped, either using chemicals or in a pulping machine.
接下来，用化学品或磨浆机把木片化成浆。

Pulping breaks down the internal structure of the wood and enables / allows the natural oils to be removed.
制浆过程使木材的内部结构分解，从而去除木材里的天然油。

Once the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleached in order to remove impurities.
(After the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleached so that impurities can be removed.)
木材制成浆后，将其漂白以去除杂质。

The next stage is to feed the pulp into the paper machine, where it is mixed with water and then poured onto a wire conveyor belt.
下一步便是将纸浆送入制纸机，与水混合后再倒入金属传送带。

As the pulp travels along the conveyor belt, the water drains away. This causes the solid material to sink to the bottom, forming a layer of paper.
当纸浆沿传送带传送时，水分蒸发，使得固体物质沉到底部，形成一层纸。

At this point the new paper is still wet, so it is passed between large heated rollers, which press out the remaining water and simultaneously dry the paper/…dry the paper at the same time.
这时，新出的纸仍然是湿的，故让其经过几个巨大的热滚筒，挤压脱水并同时烘干。

The final stage is to wind the paper onto large rolls.
(Finally, the paper is wound onto large rolls.)
最后一步是将纸卷在巨大的卷轴上。

Grammar

• Tense: present simple
• Voice: passive voice

主要采用一般现在时和被动语态。有时，也可以用现在完成时来表示一个阶段的完成。如上文中的：

Once the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleached in order to remove impurities.

Words and collocations

Sequencing the process

• First / First of all
• In the initial stages of the process…
• Next / Second
• The next stage/step is to...
• After that
• Next
• Following that
• Subsequently
• Once
• At this point
• Finally
• The final stage/step is to..
• The process ends with + noun

Describing a process

• a complex/simple process
• a lengthy/short process
• a man-made/natural process
• the process consists of (several stages)…
• the process involves…
• the first/next step is to put something into a machine, where it is + (passive voice)

Show the purpose of a process

• in order to do something

  Once the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleached in order to remove impurities.

• so that something can be done

  After the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleached so that impurities can be removed.

• so as to do something

  I drove at a steady 50 mph so as to save fuel.