What is a procedural discourse?

Definition
	A procedural discourse is a discourse that
	is used to tell the addressee how to do something presents a series of steps leading to a goal, and centers on events that are contingent one on another, rather than focusing on the performer of the events.

Features
	Here are some features of procedural text:
	The steps of the procedure are often organized chronologically. First or second person pronoun forms are usually used. Text is not oriented around a specific agent.

Examples
	Directions on how to get somewhere Instructions on how to make something Recipes

Parts
	Problem or need Preparatory procedures Main or efficient procedures Concluding, often utilization procedures

Generic
	A procedural discourse is a kind of
	What is a discourse?

Sources
	Longacre 1990 2
	Peck 1981 286
	Larson 1984 366, 369
	Longacre 1983 3, 5, 9, 38

Context for this page:

Concept module: procedural discourse
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): P
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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