Process Diagrams and Maps: Passive Voice Structures and Spatial Prepositions

Process diagrams and map transformations require a completely different grammatical and lexical approach compared to standard data-driven graphs. While numerical charts rely heavily on statistical trends and comparative data, processes and maps evaluate your mastery of the passive voice, sequential cohesive connectors, and spatial prepositions.

Passive Voice Dominance in Process Descriptions

When describing a step-by-step industrial, biological, or mechanical process, the focus must remain squarely on the action being performed rather than on who is performing it. Active voice phrasing sounds informal and non-academic in Task 1 reports.

Active Voice (Informal / Non-Academic): Workers transport the harvested sugarcane to the factory, and then machines crush it.

Passive Voice Transformation (Academic Standard): Once harvested, the raw sugarcane is transported to a processing facility, where it is crushed to extract its liquid content.

Combine passive structures with sophisticated sequence markers: Initially, Subsequently, Following this stage, Prior to entering the final phase, and Concurrently.

Spatial Prepositions and Transformation Verbs for Maps

When tasked with comparing past versus present town maps, or current plans versus proposed future developments, use precise spatial directional language rather than informal orientation terms:

Spatial Positioning: Situated in the north-western quadrant of, positioned adjacent to, located parallel to, occupying a central position.

Transformation Verbs: Demolished, cleared to make way for, converted into, repurposed, modernized, expanded, constructed, erected, relocated.

Contextual Example: The industrial sector previously situated in the north-east was completely demolished and repurposed into a public recreational park.