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DESCRIBING TRENDS OR

MOVEMENTS INGRAPHS/CHARTS

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How to describe graphs and charts:

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TRENDS AND MOVEMENTS

upward trend (e.g. increase)

stability (no change) (e.g. be stable)

change of directions(e.g. recover)

downward trend (e.g. fall)

Language:nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions,time adverbials, sentence structure

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Such language is widely used inbusiness

Britains economy grewATits slowestannual rate for 12 years in the secondquarter.

A recent survey has reported thefastest-ever year-on-year sales decline.

Germanys August sales fellfor the third

month in a row. (for the thirdconsecutive month)

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Such language is widely used inbusiness

A plungeIN sales was recorded in America.

Consumer confidence is decliningsharply.

Wal-Marts sales increasedBY 0.2% TO

$76.8 bn in the second quarter. Tescos sales were up 14% TO18.8bn.

(sales are up sales are down)

rising fuel costs / increasing household debt

(falling...) (decreasing...)

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NOUN VERB

increase

rise

growth

decrease

fall

decline

drop

fluctuation

increase

rise, rose, risen

grow, grew, grown

decrease

fall, fell, fallen

decline

drop, dropped, dropped

fluctuate

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PREPOSITIONS

to rise from $1m to $2m

to increase (by) 100%

an increase of100%

to fall from $2m to $1m

to decrease (by) 50%

a decrease of50%

A rise in sales, a fall in profits, ...

Sales are atlast years level.The price is at2.5per litre.

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Translate (Reader):

poveanje cijeneod 15%

poveati cijenu za15%

povisiti cijenu na23,000

povisiti cijenu za23,000

Cijena je na $2.3.

An increase in theprice of15%(A 15% increase

in the price)

To increase theprice by 15%

To increase theprice to 23,000

To increase theprice by 23,000

The price is at$2.3.

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PODRAVKA MAKES HRK21m PROFIT

Podravka, the Koprivnica-based foodproducer, made a net profit 1........HRK21m last year. The companys totalincome increased 2......... 7.1 per cent

reaching HRK2.4bn in 1997. This year, itsfirst quarter income went up 3.........HRK631m, a rise 4......... 11 per cent. Lastyear, Podravkas sales grew 5......... 7.56per cent 6......... HRK2.3bn. They were

7......... HRK 596.5m in the first quarter ofthis year, an increase 8......... 12 per cent.(HINA, 1998)

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PODRAVKA MAKES HRK21mPROFIT

Podravka, the Koprivnica-based food producer,made a net profit (1)ofHRK21m last year. Thecompanys total income increased (2)by7.1 per

cent reaching HRK2.4bn in 1997. This year, itsfirst quarter income went up (3)to HRK631m, arise (4) of11 per cent. Last year, Podravkassales grew (5) by 7.56 per cent (6) toHRK2.3bn. They were (7) at HRK 596.5m in

the first quarter of this year, an increase 8of12 per cent.

(HINA, 1998)

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Verbs describing trends(Study next slide and fill in the chart)

RISE

FALL NO CHANGE CHANGE OFDIRECTION U

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Verbs to use:

Level off Rise Remain constant Hold steady Drop Reach a high Climb back Plunge Decline Fluctuate

Reach a low Recover Reach a peak/Peak Falter Go up Increase

Slump Boom Flatten out Escalate Stabilize Collapse Slip back Soar Rocket Crash

Grow Fall Bottom out Pick up Go down Decrease

Decline

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Intensity

Adjectives and adverbs (MK p.185/186)

e.g.

to rise suddenly/ a sudden rise in to drop sharply / a sharp drop in

fall slightly / a slight fall in

to decrease moderately/ a moderate decrease

in ...

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Guidelines to describe a chart(Reader):

Describe the general trend

e.g. A downward trend is noticed in the retail sales in 2005.

When did itpeak/reach a low?

Time: In what period...? For how long ....?

e.g. in the period between March and June 2005, in the firstquarter of 2005, in the second half of 2005, for threeconsecutive months...

How intensive/quick was the change?

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Back to describing graphs andcharts:

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Graph description(see next slide for analysis)

In the period between Feb 1999 and Jan2000, an upward trend was recorded in thegrowth rate of retail sales peaking at x% atthe end of the observed period. Having

reached a low towards the end of January1999, retail sales started rising inFebruary, slipped back in March andremained stable at X% throughout April. Asharp increase to X% is visible in early May

followed by an abrupt drop to X% in June.Retail sales climbed back to X% in July.They went up mildly in August andcontinued rising in September.

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1.Italics: intensity/speed (How fast/intensive is the change?)2.Underlined time adverbials (When?)3.Red - trend (up/down?, changed direction?)4.Blue prepositions

In the period between Feb 1999 and Jan 2000, anupward trend was recordedin the growth rate ofretail sales peakingatx% at the end of the observed

period.Having reached a low towards the end of January1999, retail sales started rising in February, slippedback in March and remained stableatX%throughout April. Asharp increasetoX% is visiblein early May followed by an abruptdropto X% inJune. Retail sales climbed backtoX% in July. Theywent upmildlyin August and continued rising inSeptember.