Your assignment is a process paper in APA 6th ed. format. “A process paper is a kind of how-to or explanation paper that explains a particular process by giving step-by-step directions or by describing certain changes or operations.” Remember that a process paper must be written in chronological order. For a process paper, it’s important to define your audience because they’ll determine what kind of language you’ll use and how much detail you’ll go into. For instance, in a process paper about how to change a tire, you’d write in a less detailed manner for an audience of mechanics than you would for a group of beginning drivers. If you’re writing for a general audience, you need to explain anything that they might find confusing or unfamiliar. Think about how you would explain the process to children. Then reread your material and add a simple explanation of any words or concepts that children wouldn’t be familiar with (without being patronizing!). Be sure to be precise when you give measurements. If you write ‘Use a little compost in the mixture,’ your readers may think that ‘a little’ is a tablespoon, when you actually meant a gallon.
