Ways to effectively exploit the core course materials for BE2 Units 3, 4, 5, 6 Unit 1 Describing Trends Trends are changes or movements in facts and figures over a period of time an upward trend (incr.
Unit 1: Describing Trends Trends are changes or movements in facts and figures over a period of time - an upward trend (increase) - a downward trend (decrease) - no movement (remain constant) Visual aids: - line graph - bar chart Unit 1: Describing Trends Language for describing trends: Using Nouns and Verbs for expressing movements: e.g Sales fell by $2m to $7m or we can use a related noun e.g There was a fall in sales Unit 1: Describing Trends Examples taken from students’ assignments: of £3 million in May before sales - There was a sharp rise by went down slightly to £15 million in June Unit 1: Describing Trends Another example taken from students’ assignments: - After a slight fall in 2002, inflation improved during the next year Sales slightly plummeted by $1,234 in May Some language which will be useful to describe movement • There are a number of words which are similar in meaning This means that you will be able to use a variety of vocabulary which gives a good impression to the reader • The words below are particularly useful for line graphs but they can also be used where appropriate to describe the other types of graph Graph descriptions - introduction: The graph covers the period of shows illustrates gives the data on/about presents According to It can be seen from As can be seen from/in As shown in the chart / graph statistics table figures Graph descriptions Prepositions (http://dspace.utlib.ee/dspace/bitstream/handle/10062/18053/prepositions_used_to_describe_graphs _and_charts.html ) Verb + preposition Income tax has gone up from 30% to 40% (the total increase is 10%) Income tax has gone up by 30% to 40% (the total increase is 30%) Inflation has risen to 5% (inflation is now 5%) Inflation has risen by 5% (if it was 10% before, now it is 15%) Inflation has increased to 5% (movement) Inflation now stands at 5% (no movement) Noun + preposition The increase in salaries is around 5% (in + noun) There was an increase of 5% (of + number) The exchange rate reached a peak of at USD 3.76 in April (noun + of + number) Verbs / Nouns fluctuate / a fluctuation (around $30 / between $20 and $40) Decrease Decrease reach / hit / go through a trough (of$2m) trough (at $200) (v) reach a low point(of $2m) to bottom out (v) to reach/ to hit (rock) bottom Decrease - (+by/to) (+by/to) plummet (v) – a plummet decrease (v) -a decrease plunge (v) – a plunge (n) slump (v) – a slump (n) collapse (v) – a collapse (n) decline (v) – a decline Remain constant (+at) stand / stay $2m) (to focus on a particular point) Increase + (+by/to) increase (v) – an increase rise (v) – a rise level off / level out go down(v) flatten out/ go up (v) stop rising/ – an upturn fall (off) (v) stop falling – a fall (to indicate a change climb (v) of direction) drop (off) (v) grow (v) – a drop remain steady/ - growth(n) remain constant / reduce (v)– a remain unchanged / recover (v) -a reduction remain stable/ recovery Stabilize/ dip (v) stay at the same improve(v) – a dip level – an maintain /stay at improvement shrink (v) the same level – shrinkage (n) (We use these phrases to indicate no movement) Increase Increase + + +++ (+by/to) soar (v) peak at $10m jump (v) a jump(n) rocket (v) boom (v) – a boom (n) shoot up (v) to hit / to reach a peak (of $10m) Graph descriptions Generalizing numbers a little more or a little less than the a little more than less than the stated number or the stated number stated number or amount or amount amount about approximately around roughly just under well under (just) less than (slightly) less than almost nearly just over well over (just ) more than (slightly) more than Expressing the Movement of a Line ADJECTIVES ADVERBS Dramatic Sharp Huge Enormous Steep Substantial Considerable Significant Marked Moderate Slight Small dramatically sharply hugely enormously steeply substantially considerably significantly markedly moderately slightly http://www.ieltshelpnow.com/academic_writing_test_1.html Describing the Speed of a Change Adjectives Adverbs Rapid rapidly Quick quickly Swift swiftly Sudden suddenly Steady steadily Gradual gradually Slow slowly http://www.ieltshelpnow.com/academic_writing_test_1.html Graph descriptions Graph descriptions Students can find more vocabulary for describing trends They may need to - consult a good Business English Dictionary such as • Longman Business Dictionary • Cambridge Dictionaries Online (at http://dictionary.cambridge.org ) Practice Practice QUESTIONS What is the line graph about? _ What is the busiest time of day at the store? _ At what time does business start to slow down? _ How many people are in the store when it opens? _ About how many people are in the store at 2:30 pm? _ What was the greatest number of people in the store? What was the least number of people in the store? _ Practice Describe the movement of the line in the graph using the language above _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Practice Practice Describe the movement of the line in the graph using the language above _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Some extracts taken from articles on the websites MUMBAI JaguarLand Rover Thursday said its global sales for November rose 14% from a year earlier to 29,893 vehicles, with demand for its luxury cars rising in most regions (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142412788732398150457817647092704 7756.html ) Apple shares slipped 1.5 percent to $531.17 at 12:24 p.m in New York, while Google rose less than percent to $702.92 (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-13/google-unveils-mappingapplication-for-apple-iphone-ipad-users.html )