Useful language: describing trends Types of diagrams: 1.graph 2.bar chart 3.pie chart 4.table 5.

multiple diagram (two or more diagrams about the dame topic) 6.process or cycle 7.illustration 8.map Strategy 1. t is important to identi!y whether a diagram shows changes o"er time or di!!erences in one !i#ed time$ as they re%uire di!!erent "ocabulary and grammatical structures. 2.&tudy the diagram care!ully to chec' you understand what period o! time the diagram describes and use appropriate tenses. 3.(rite an appropriate introductory sentence that describes what a diagram shows. 4.)on*t !orget to paraphrase the title o! the diagram in the introductory sentence. 5.+he "olume is 1,,-15, words. Plan 1.Paragraph 1. .&ay what the diagram shows in your own words./ollow this with se"eral sentences describing the main !eatures supported by re!erence to the diagram$ include dates and !igures. 2.Paragraph 2. -0i"e !urther detailes- describe other !eatures$signi!icant di!!erences and ma'e comparisons where rele"ant. &upport with !igures !rom the diagram.)on*t attempt to describe e"ery detail. 3.Summarizing sentence -1nd with one or two sentences that gi"e an o"erall summary o! the main !eatures. 2o e#planation$ reasons$ or conclusion should be gi"en.

Meaning 0o down

Verb )ecrease /all )rop )ecline 3lunge ( big change) 3lummet ( big change) ncrease 4ise 0row )ouble +reble 4oc'et ( big change) 6e"el o!! 4emain the same 4emain stable

Noun +he same

----------------------+he same 0rowth )oubling in 5 noun +rebling in 5 noun -----------7 le"elling o!! at --------------------

0o up

2o change -------------------------->

stabili8e 9onstant change /luctuate

---------/luctuation in 5 noun

3osition

:; ;:

4each a high: pea' o! 4each a low o! &tood at Adjecti e! ad erb

7 high o! 7 low o! ---------

&mall change 6arge change

e"amples +here was a substantial increase in students in 2,,6. +he number o! students increased substantially throughout the period !rom 2,,2 to 2,,6. finis#$ +o sum up$ the main trend o! the graph (diagram) is to show =

&teady(ily) &light(ly) 0radual(lly) 9onsiderable(ly) &harp(ly) )ramatic(ally) &igni!icant(ly) &ubstantial(ly) Time p#rases /rom 2,,, to 2,,5 /rom 15, to 2,, units n 2,,6 /or 5 years <etween 2,,, and 2,,5 )uring:throughout the period !rom 2,,, to 2,,5