Concrete Language. A concrete word or phrase is one that names or describes something that can be distinguished by one or more of the five senses. The use of concrete, specific words and phrases helps to clarify individual directions and makes the overall process easier to follow. As you read these directions, look for concrete language that helps you to understand the process clearly.
Chronological Order. Chronological order is the arrangement of details in order of their occurrence. The use of chronological order is common in writing that describes processes, events, and cause-and-effect relationships. Words such as first, second, next, then, and finally help to connect individual steps in a process. As you read, look for words that help order the directions.
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• Onions come in many varieties, shapes, sizes, and tastes. Most bulb onions have yellow, white, or reddish skin. Yellow varieties usually are large and very sweet onions. White onions are typically smaller and have a mild flavor. Red onions can be very large and have a sweet flavor. In addition to bulb onions, cooks use green onions, which are small and have long green shoots, and scallions, which resemble green onions but are larger.
• Science Connection. Biochemists have long researched why onions cause people to cry. Many stand by the theory that once an onion’s skin is pierced, chemicals within the onion are released. One of these chemicals is thiopropanal-s-oxide, a compound that irritates the eyes. To lessen this effect, experts recommend chilling or soaking the onion before chopping it.
• Using the correct knife can help make chopping easier. Serrated knives have scalloped edges along the blade and work well for slicing tomatoes and crusty bread. Chef’s knives have sturdy, flat-edged blades. They work well for chopping almost everything.
After reading the process once, go back and reread it, drawing a picture to illustrate each of the four steps.
Do you like to prepare foods from scratch? Why, or why not?
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