Date post: | 19-Jan-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | elisabeth-lawson |
View: | 215 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Graphs & Tables
Writing task 1: Describing facts & figures Test ability to interpret & present inf.Present inf. In your own words Don’t give opinion, make assumptions or draw conclusions
Inf. In task 1 is presented:
1. A line graph
2. A bar or pie chart
3. A table of information
4. A diagram of stages of a process or procedure
5. A sequence of events
6. A picture of an object showing how it works
How to write
1. Think first 1. Ask questions
2. Purposes?
3. Changes have occurred over time?
4. Significant trends?
5. Most interesting feature?
Image Source: Line Graph Sales
2. Then writeHow to write
Image Source: Line Graph Sales
Introduction
Description
Conclusion
Image Source: Line Graph Sales
2. Then write
Introduction
Paraphrase the description in 1 or 2 sent.
Don’t copy it.
How to write
Image Source: Line Graph Sales
2. Then writeDescription
Focus on trends & interesting points
Describe the most significant data first
How to write
Image Source: Line Graph Sales
Description
Give example to support trends
Use statistics accurately
Image Source: Line Graph Sales
Conclusion
Do not have to be a separate paragraph
A single sentence can be round off your report.
Include comment/opinion/interesting observation
Writing the introductory sentence: use your own
words
Type of chart
Appropriate verb
Description
The illustrationgraphpie chartbar charttable
showsillustratespresents reveals describesgives
the number of …. the proportion…information on …data on …the percentage of …the rate of …
HOW TO START
For single bar graph
Given is a figure concerning (what, who, when, where). As is illustrated by the graph… (describe main trends here).
For multiple bar graphs
A glance at the two figures provided reveals (what, who, when, where). As is shown by the graph … (describe main trends here).
To avoid plagiarism, change the words
Example:
The two pie charts show the proportion of males and females in employment in six categories.
The two pie charts give the proportion of men and women employed in six areas.
To avoid plagiarism, change the structure
Example:
The two pie charts show the proportion of males and females in employment in six categories.
The two pie charts give, in six broad areas, the proportion of men and women employed.
Writing the body:start your descriptions
with:
It is clear from the graph/ table that
It can be seen from the graph/ table
As the graph/ table shows,
As can be seen from the graph/ table,
As is shown by the graph/ table,
As is illustrated by the graph/table,
From the graph/ table it is clear …
Warnings: 1. Avoid using the phrase:
According to the graph, ….
2. Expressions do not contain the dummy subject “It”
As can be seen from the graph/ table,
As is shown by the graph/ table,
As is illustrated by the graph/table,
3. The word “present” requires a summarizing noun to follow.
The graph presents an overview of the population growth of Asia in the last 20 years.
1. Describing trends:
Numeric items: population, production volumes, unemployment
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Business Graph
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph
Image Source: qpeak
2. Expressing movement:
Nouns
There was a fall in unemployment levels
Verbs
Unemployment levels fell
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph
2. Expressing movement:
Nouns
A rise
An increase
Growth
An upward trend
A boom (a dramatic rise)
Verbs
Rose (to)
Increased (to)
Went up (to)
Climbed (to)
Boomed
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Business Graph
2. Expressing movement:
Nouns
A development
A double
A gain
A jump
Verbs
Develop
Double
Gain
Jump
Escalate
Accelerate
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Business Graph
2. Expressing movement:
Nouns
A fall
A decline
A decrease
A drop
A slump (a dramatic fall)
A reduction
Verbs
Fell (to)
Declined (to)
Decreased (to)
Dipped (to)
Dropped (to)
Went down (to)
Slumped (to)
Reduced (to)
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph
2. Expressing movement:
NounsVerbs
Lower (to)
Diminish (to)
Shrink (to)
Slow down (to)
Lessen (to)
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph
2. Expressing movement:
Nouns
A leveling out
No change
Verbs
Leveled out (at)
Did not change
Remained stable (at)
Remained steady (at)
Stayed constant (at)
Maintained the same level
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: qpeak
2. Expressing movement:
Nouns
A fluctuation
Reached a peak (of)
Reached at plateau (at)
Verbs
Fluctuated (around)
Varied
Peaked (at)
Plateaued (at)
Stood at (focus on a particular point, before mentioning the movement)
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: up and down linegraph
2. Describing the movement:
Adjectives & Adverbs
There has been a slight increase in the value of the dollar.
-> the degree of change
Unemployment fell rapidly last year.
-> the speed of change
LANGUAGE USE
2. Describing degree of changeof the movement:
Adjectives
Dramatic
Sharp
Huge
Enormous
Steep
Substantial
Adverbs
Dramatically
Sharply
Enormously
Steeply
Substantially
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph
2. Describing degree of changeof the movement:
Adjectives
Considerable
Significant
Marked
Adverbs
Considerably
Significantly
Markedly
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph
2. Describing degree of changeof the movement:
Adjectives
Moderate
Adverbs
Moderately
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Business Graph
2. Describing degree of changeof the movement:
Adjectives
Slight
Small
Minimal
Adverbs
Slightly
Minimally
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: qpeak
2. Describing the speed of changeof the movement:
Adjectives
Rapid
Quick
Swift
Sudden
Adverbs
Rapidly
Quickly
Swiftly
Suddenly
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph
2. Describing the speed of changeof the movement:
Adjectives
Steady
Gradual
Adverbs
Steadily
Gradually
LANGUAGE USE
Image Source: Business Graph
Other Verbs
experience
make up consist of
constitute comprise amount to
equal account for represent
include record become
stand at
Other Verbs
The number of unemployed was 10% of
the population.
The percentage of women in the workforce was
higher than in the previous year.
Women made up/ constituted a significant
percentage of the workforce.
Food and garden materials comprise nearly
half of all household waste.
Verbs
Paper and cardboard amounted to 2l%
of the total household waste.
The population of Asia stood at 21 million
at the turn of the century.
Fossil fuel emissions account for the
majority of greenhouse gases.
The consumption of fossil fuels reached the
highest levels in recent years.
half n. halve vb. double n. / vb.
triple adj. treble vb. /ˈtrebl/
threefold adj./ adv.
quarter n. / vb multiply vb. divide vb.
average adj. I vb I n.
total adj. / vb. partial adj.
equal adj. / n. fraction n. quadruple v.
Mathematical Expressions
Fill in the phrases
production rose at a rate ………
20% per year / per annum / p.a.
consumption stood ……… the
same level in the following decade
the annual increase was ………. /
………………. the range of 10% and
20%
production increased / decreased
…… 20%
of
at
in
within
by
Fill in the phrases
The increase was very significant, ……….
50%
X was the largest producer, ……………..
45% of the total production
The number remained steady ………………..
300 for the next year
Exports doubled, to ……………… 80% of
imports in 1990
There were three times as …………. users
as in the previous year
The number of users increased …………
fivefold
at
with
at
reach
many
Just underWell underRoughlyApproximatelyAbout
Just overWell overNearlyAround
LANGUAGE USE
3. Expressing approximation:
From Jan. to Feb.,
During (in) the period
from … to/ between…and
In the first/ last three months of the year
Over the period from … to
Over the next years/ decades
LANGUAGE USE
4. Time period
Examples:Time period there+… adj. n. in ”what”
• From Jan. to Feb.,
• During (in) the period
• from … to/ between…and
• In the first/ last three months of the year
• Over the period from … to
• Over the next years/ decades
there is was a has been will be
slightslowgradualdramatic
increaserisegrowth fall drop decline
in the number of cars sold
Examples:
Time period Subject Verb Adv.
• From Jan. to Feb.,
• During (in) the period
• from … to/ between…and
• In the first/ last three months of the year
• Over the period from … to
• Over the next years/ decades
the number of cars sold
increasedrosefelldroppeddeclined
slightlydramaticallymoderately
Little or no change:
Time period Subject Verb
• From Jan. to Feb.,
• During (in) the period
• from … to/ between…and
• In the first/ last three months of the year
• Over the period from … to
• Over the next years/ decades
the number of cars sold
• stayed/ remained the same
• stayed/ remained unchanged/ stable/ constant
• reached the plateau• stood at• leveled off
The highest and the lowest points
Time period Subject Verb
• From Jan. to Feb.,
• During (in) the period
• from … to/ between…and
• In the first/ last three months of the year
• Over the period from … to
• Over the next years/ decades
• the number of cars sold
• the monthly profit
• the figures
• the situation
• reached a peak• hit a peak• hit the highest point• hit a trough• bottomed out• reached the bottom• fell/ reached to the
lowest point