HOW TO WRITE A GOOD LINE GRAPH

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD LINE GRAPH

Trung Tâm Anh Ngữ EFL KELVIN DANG, M.A

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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

1 Introduction (paraphrase the topic question)

2 Overview (present a clear overview with main trends (increase/ decrease/ stability/ fluctuation) and general comparisons

3 Body 1 (Feature 1) (give more detailed information with number, data….and make comparisons)

4 Body 2 (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)

[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

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

Examples

1 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)

2 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)

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)…

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

fluctuation to show contrast between two groups

OVERVIEW stability

superlative: use -EST/ MOST/ LEAST…

(write a sentence with superlative if possible)

A Words for main trends

increase

increaserisegrowthclimbsurgeboom

increaserisegrowclimbsurgerocket/ soarshow/experience an upward trend

decrease

decreasedeclinefalldrop

decreasedeclinefalldropplummetshow/experience an downward trend

fluctuate

fluctuateshow/ experience fluctuation vary/ show variation

remain unchanged

stabilizeshow no changeremain

stay steady/ constant/ unchanged/ stablekeep

show a stability

B Structures for main trends

1 Adj + Noun (There was)

There is/was + a/an + Adj + Noun (increase/ decrease…) in + (topic) + (specific compared item(s))…

increase jump rise growth

decreasedropfalldeclinereduction

fluctuation variation

in the number ofcars

between (June) and (September)

from (June) to (September)

over the period shown

Ex: There was a slight increase in the number of students from 2010 to 2015

2 Verb + Adverb

Topic* + V + Adv + in (specific compared item(s))…

* Topic (Ex: the number of the students/ the amount of money/ car sales….)

decreaseddroppedfell

fluctuated varied

suddenlyrapidlydramaticallysignificantlysharplysteadilygraduallyslowlycontinuallyerratically

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

3 Time/Year/Topic + V(witness/ see/ experience)

3 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)

+ Write 1 sentence to show contrast + 1 sentence with superlative

+ Notice whether there is HIGHEST/ LOWEST line (write a sentence with superlative if possible)

In contrast = In comparison = On the other hand, 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

** 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…)

1 It is + V3/Ved + that + Topic + will drop/ increase…

(It is predicted/ expected/ estimated/ forecast + that + the number of cars + will drop…)

2 Topic + will be + V3/V-ed + to drop/ increase…

(The number of cars will be predicted/ expected/ estimated/ forecast + to drop/increase…)

3 Prediction/ Expectation/ Estimate/ Forecast/ anticipation + show/ reveal/ indicate + that itwill drop/ increase/ fluctuate…

***Words used to begin an Overview

Examples

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…

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.

1 The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in threedifferent countries

Your answer:

2

Your answer:

3 The graph below shows the consumption of three spread from 1981 to 2007

Your answer:

_

4

Your answer:

How to write a BODY (Feature 1 & Feature 2)

select important information Body paragraph include data/ number

make comparisons

There are 2 common ways to group information into body paragraph

1 In terms of LINES

- Group the lines with the same trend into 1 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

2 In 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

+ VƯỢT QUA MẶT, HƠN HẲN: outrace/ surpass/ exceed/ overtake/ outnumber

LOWEST: touch (get) the lowest( bottommost) point

dùng đúng IN/ OF/ BY/ TO (với các động từ/ danh từ diễn tả xu hướng (trend))

+ increase/ rise/ decrease/ drop + IN +… (không có con số cụ thể theo sau)

+ increase/ rise/ decrease/ drop + OF/ BY + có con số theo sau (lấy số lớn trừ số nhỏ = phần chênh lệch) + increase/ rise/ decrease/ drop + TO + có con số theo sau (số cao nhất đạt được)

Examples with detailed explanations

Task 2

Your answer

Task 3

Your answer

Task 5

Your answer