The following text shows how verbs tenses are used in scientific writing.

Read the passage and answer the following questions.

What is the text about?

Underline the main verbs used in the text. The first one has been done for
you.

Identify the sentence structures/ types of sentences used in the text.

Identify and Name sentences according to the active and passive voice.

Water, water, everywhere,

Nor any drop to drink.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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The preceding quote from Coleridges The Rime of the Ancient Mariner about a
sailor stranded at sea also aptly describes the Earths abundance of water and lack
of drinkable access to most of it. In fact, 93% of the worlds water is locked in
oceans, and is toxic to humans and many plants and animals.
The remaining unlocked water circulates through the Earths ecosystem through a
process called the hydrologic cycle. This process is quickly defined as the
movement of water through the hydrosphere, the region of Earths atmosphere and
surface containing all water. The peculiar properties of water enable this process to
happen. In molecular form, water is two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen,
hence H2O. Depending on the temperature, water exists in three primary forms:
solid, liquid, and gas.
When liquid water heats up, the hydrogen bonds holding the water molecules
together break and send the molecules into the atmosphere, creating gas. When
liquid water cools, the hydrogen bonds lose energy and become more rigid
creating ice. It is thanks to this malleable nature that the hydrologic cycle, the
process by which drinkable water circulates the Earth, is able to exist. This cycle is
broken up into five parts: Condensation, Precipitation, Infiltration, Runoff, and
Evaporation.
-

Adapted from quagroup.com

The simple present tense (in active and passive voice) is used to describe various
kinds of scientific writing. It is used in static descriptions (describing objects),

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explaining scientific theories, general truths and processes. This lesson will look at
how to write a process.
What is a process?
A process can be defined as a set of sequences/steps which explain how something
happens/works. E.g. Making of cement. There are 2 main types of processes
explained in engineering/scientific work: Natural and Artificial/Chemical
Processes. Since the description of the process consists of a set of steps or
sequences, it is important to use sequence markers to signal the correct order of the
steps in the process. Make a list of all the sequence markers which can be used in
the description of processes.
The writing of the process should consist of a title, an introduction, description of
the steps and a concluding sentence.

Natural Processes
Natural processes are processes which take place in nature without human
interferences. The actions are spontaneous and take place continuously in a cycle.
Hence, the steps taking place in the cycle are mainly written in simple present
active voice.
List the natural processes you know.
Draw the structure of a cycle.

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The following diagram shows the steps of the hydrological cycle. Study this
diagram and write a paragraph describing the process.

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The following diagram shows another natural process. Study this diagram and
write a paragraph describing the Nitrogen Cycle.

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Chemical/ Artificial Processes

Artificial/ chemical processes take place in controlled environments such as in an
industrial plant or a laboratory. These processes take place as a result of human
intervention and are described mainly using present simple passive voice.
List 5 artificial processes.
Draw the structure of an artificial process.

Here are the instructions of making an easy chocolate cake. Using the steps,
describe the process of making it.

How to Make an Easy Chocolate Cake

Step 1 Prepare the oven and pans .Heat the oven to 350 degrees
Fahrenheit. Grease the two baking pans with butter, and lightly dust the
pans with flour. Set aside.
Step 2 Prepare the chocolate mixture In the mixing bowl, stir together the
sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt with the wooden
spoon until theyre well combined.

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Step 3 Make the chocolate batter Crack the eggs into the mixture and
add the milk and oil. Beat on medium speed for one to two minutes until
smooth.
Step4 Mix in vanilla and water or coffee Add the vanilla to the chocolate
batter and beat on slow speed for one minute. Pour the hot water into the
mixture and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.
Step 5 Bake the cake layers Pour the batter evenly into the prepared
pans for 30 to 35 minutes until the center is slightly firm.
Step 6 Toothpick test Because baking times vary slightly depending on
ovens and elevations, do the toothpick test: Insert a toothpick into the
center of the cake; when it comes up clean, without any batter or crumbs
sticking to it, the cake is done.
Quick Tip:
If you dont have a toothpick, use a fork or knife instead.
Step 7 Cool the cake Place the cake pans on a cooling rack and let them
cool for 15 to 20 minutes. Invert the pans onto the rack and let the cake
cool completely, about two hours. Put the layers on a cake stand or plate
before frosting or serving. Enjoy!
Did You Know:
The first chocolate cake was baked in 1674 and is thought to be the reason
people began eating more chocolate.
-adapted from howcast.com

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The following diagram shows the various products resulting from a coconut milk
processing plant. Study the diagram and write a description of the process.

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