HOW TO WRITE A GOOD LINE GRAPH

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD LINE GRAPH

Trung Tâm Anh Ngữ EFL KELVIN DANG, M.A Add: 102/1 Phan Văn Hớn, P Tân Thới Nhất, Q.12 Phone: 0901.79.58.39 - 090.432.56.57 LINE GRAPH You should spend about 20 minutes on this task The graph below shows average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal between 1967 to 2001 Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features , and make comparisons where relevant Write at least 150 words Format of Task 1: Report Introduction (paraphrase the topic question) Overview (present a clear overview with main trends (increase/ decrease/ stability/ fluctuation) and general comparisons Body (Feature 1) (give more detailed information with number, data….and make comparisons) Body (Feature 2) (give more detailed information with number, data….and make comparisons) How to write an INTRODUCTION Analyze the question carefully and try to find out What (Topic), Compared Items (What/ How many), When (Duration of Time from Year…to Year) and Measurement Unit [1] What = Topic (paraphrasing) INTRO [2] Compared items (what/ how many) [3] When/ Time period (over a 7- year period from…to / between…and…) [4] Unit of measurement (optional) [units are measured in thousand] [1] Topic: Paraphrase the topic synonyms (1) Paraphrasing rearrange the order of key words by changing forms of the words or using different grammar structures (2) (1) synonyms show = illustrate = compare = describe = indicate = give/ provide information about = compare and contrast data on the changes *(differences) in the amount **(number)) of… * changes (with a time period) ** amount of + Noun (un-count) differences (without no a time period) number of + Noun (plural) proportion = percentage = rate the amount = a quantity = the number = the figure (2) Rearrange the order of key words by changing forms of the words or using different grammar structures + change “parts of speech” : V N Adj Adv + use “passive voice”: be + V3/-ed + use “relative clause”: who/which/ that + V The (line) graph compares and contrasts data on the changes (differences) in the amount (number/ percentage/ rate) of + [topic (paraphrase)] + in [compared items] + over a year period from (between)….to (and)… Examples The diagram below shows information about student attendance in various schools between 2004 and 2006 Answer: The bar chart compares and contrasts data on the changes in the number of students who attended three different schools over a two-year period from 2004 to 2006 (28 words) The table below shows information about the sales of cosmetics and toiletries in Japan in 2014 Answer: The table compares and contrasts data on the differences in sales of twelve types of different cosmetic and toiletry products in Japan, measured in millions of US dollars, in 2004.(30 words) Practice The graph below shows percentage of tourists to Scotland who visited different attractions in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 2010 Your answer: _ Your answer: _ How to write an OVERVIEW (2 main features) “present a clear overview with main trends [1] and make comparisons[2] ” [1] - Identify the main trends + Notice the BEGIN and the END points of each line to see whether each line is increase, decrease, constant, or fluctuation and group lines with same trends into one category (write a complex sentence with “while/ whereas” to show contrast) increase Main trends OVERVIEW decrease use “while, whereas, however,” fluctuation to show contrast between two groups stability Comparison comparative: use -ER/ MORE… than… superlative: use -EST/ MOST/ LEAST… (write a sentence with superlative if possible) A Words for main trends Main trend increase Nouns increase rise growth climb surge boom decrease decline fall drop Verbs increase rise grow climb surge rocket/ soar show/experience an upward trend decrease decline fall drop plummet show/experience an downward trend decrease fluctuate show/ experience fluctuation vary/ show variation fluctuate remain unchanged stabilize show no change remain stay steady/ constant/ unchanged/ stable keep show a stability B Structures for main trends Adj + Noun (There was) There is/was + a/an + Adj + Noun (increase/ decrease…) in + (topic) + (specific compared item(s))… There + be Tính từ mức độ thay đổi Danh từ thay đổi sudden rapid dramatic significant sharp steep steady gradual slow erratic slight increase jump rise growth decrease drop fall decline reduction fluctuation variation There was a (very) in + chủ ngữ Khoảng thời gian between (June) and (September) in the number of cars from (June) to (September) over the period shown Ex: There was a slight increase in the number of students from 2010 to 2015 Verb + Adverb Topic* + V + Adv + in (specific compared item(s))… * Topic (Ex: the number of the students/ the amount of money/ car sales….) Chủ ngữ The number/ amount/ percentage of cars/ petrol Động từ mức độ thay đổi Trạng từ increased jumped rose grew climbed decreased dropped fell fluctuated varied suddenly rapidly dramatically significantly sharply steadily gradually slowly continually erratically Khoảng thời gian between (June) and (September) from (June) to (September) over the period shown Ex: The number of students increased slightly from 10 to 40 in 2009 Time/Year/Topic + V(witness/ see/ experience) a Year + V(witness ) + a/an + Adj + Noun (increase…) in (topic) + (compared item)… Ex: The year 2005 witnessed a slight increase in the number of students b S(compared item) + V(witness ) + a/an + upward/ downward trend + in [what (topic)]+ time Ex: Sweden experienced a downward trend in the number of divorce rates throughout the period C How increase/ decrease (Adjectives and Adverbs) y-axis sharp, rapid, dramatic significant, considerable moderate slight, gradual, slow x-axis [2] - Make comparisons + Write sentence to show contrast + sentence with superlative + Notice whether there is HIGHEST/ LOWEST line (write a sentence with superlative if possible) D Making comparisons + Differences: while = whereas = whilst although In contrast = In comparison = On the other hand, However = but compared to = as opposed to + Similarities: A is similar to B = A and B are alike in that… = A is the same as B Likewise = Similarly =In similarity, follow the similar/ same pattern + Structures for comparisons - Comparative: Adj+ER MORE + adj/ Adv - Superlative: Adj +EST MOST + Adj (times)/ much + Adj+ER MORE + adj/ Adv by far/ second…+ Adj +EST MOST + Adj ** the most/ least + Noun Ex: The number of car sales this year is three times more than that figure last year Ex: Tax from companies made by far the most contribution to the country’s total income ** Future Trends (predict/ expect/ estimate/ forecast/ anticipate…) It is + V3/Ved + that + Topic + will drop/ increase… (It is predicted/ expected/ estimated/ forecast + that + the number of cars + will drop…) Topic + will be + V3/V-ed + to drop/ increase… (The number of cars will be predicted/ expected/ estimated/ forecast + to drop/increase…) Prediction/ Expectation/ Estimate/ Forecast/ anticipation + show/ reveal/ indicate + that it will drop/ increase/ fluctuate… ***Words used to begin an Overview It is evident/ obvious/ clear that… What stands out from the graph is that… As can be seen from the graph, … A quick glance at the graph reveals that… Examples Answer: The recycling rates of the UK and Germany showed a steady but significant rise over the period while the percentage of recycled waste in France experienced a downward trend The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries Your answer: Your answer: The graph below shows the consumption of three spread from 1981 to 2007 Your answer: _ Your answer: _ _ How to write a BODY (Feature & Feature 2) select important information Body paragraph include data/ number make comparisons There are common ways to group information into body paragraph In terms of LINES - Group the lines with the same trend into group (Body 1), and the rest is for the other group (Body 2) highest/ lowest point - Identify the SPECIAL point a point at which one line exceeds other lines a point at which shows contrast trends (e.g the segment of the lines contradicts each other; this line segment increases while its counterpart decreases) - Divide them into segments and begin with the BEGIN point, then SPECIAL point(s)…, and finally the END point increase - BEGIN point increase SPECIAL point … decrease Each point In END point decrease topic how increase/decrease? how many? (data) which year? compare? terms of TIMES (commonly used when ALL the lines have the same trend OR duration of different time period (past and future)) - Divide the timescale into two main parts and each part is for each body paragraph - Use correct TENSES Ex: In 1980 the number of international students increased considerably up to 50 and was twice the last decade DON’T: - Include all numbers of all lines (but each line must be mentioned at least once) - Write a descriptive report by simply listing and naming data or numbers, but select the key features and make comparisons Useful Language VERBS: + CHIẾM BAO NHIÊU: be/make up/ account for /constitute/ occupy/contribute… + DAO ĐỘNG TỪ….đến range/ vary A to B + CHỨNG KIẾN, TRẢI QUA: see/ experience/ witness + VƯỢT QUA MẶT, HƠN HẲN: outrace/ surpass/ exceed/ overtake/ outnumber HIGHEST: peak/ climax (n) touch the highest point LOWEST: touch (get) the lowest( bottommost) point FLUCTUATION: fluctuate erratically/ irregularly reach/ hit the peak reach the vertex/ apex change sporadically respectively: theo thứ tự đề cặp (Ex: The bus and train were used by about million and million people respectively) APPROXIMATIONS about/ almost/ nearly/ roughly/ approximately/ around/ just about just above/ just over/ just beyond/ just below/ just beneath/ just under PREPOSITIONS: dùng IN/ OF/ BY/ TO (với động từ/ danh từ diễn tả xu hướng (trend)) + increase/ rise/ decrease/ drop + IN +… (khơng có số cụ thể theo sau) + increase/ rise/ decrease/ drop + OF/ BY + có số theo sau (lấy số lớn trừ số nhỏ = phần chênh lệch) + increase/ rise/ decrease/ drop + TO + có số theo sau (số cao đạt được) Examples with detailed explanations Task The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries Your answer Task Your answer Task Your answer Task The graph below gives information about car ownership in Britain from 1971 to 2007 Your answer Task Your answer ... important information Body paragraph include data/ number make comparisons There are common ways to group information into body paragraph In terms of LINES - Group the lines with the same trend into... show/experience an downward trend decrease fluctuate show/ experience fluctuation vary/ show variation fluctuate remain unchanged stabilize show no change remain stay steady/ constant/ unchanged/ stable... increase/ decrease (Adjectives and Adverbs) y-axis sharp, rapid, dramatic significant, considerable moderate slight, gradual, slow x-axis [2] - Make comparisons + Write sentence to show contrast + sentence