WRITING

WRITING DESCRIBING TRENDS -

LINE CHARTS
• 1. iPod/ MP3 player
• 2. tablet
• 3. plasma TV
What are these?
• 4. games console
RISE FALL
o Increase o Decrease
o Go up o Go/ Come down
o Climb o Decline
o Jump o Drop
o Soar o Plummet
o Grow o Tumble
o Surge o Slump
o Rocket o Dwindle
o Leap o Reduce
2c 5b 8e
3d 6h 9h
4a 7f 10e
SLOW FAST
Steadily Sharply
Gradually Dramatically
Slightly Suddenly
• Fall
• Rise
• Increase
• Decline
• Drop
• Fluctuation
• Improvement
• Reduction
• Growth
STRUCTURES TO DESCRIBE TRENDS
• S+ verb + adverb
Ex:

• There+ BE+ adjective + noun in …

• Fall
• Rise
• Increase
• Decline
• Drop
• Fluctuation
• Improvement
• Reduction
• Growth
Vocabulary on Trend/ Change
Vocabulary on Trend/ Change
Vocabulary on Trend/ Change
Vocabulary on Trend/ Change
Page 7
a. There were wild fluctuations in spice exports from Africa over the period.
b. There was a gradual fall in the development of new products.
c. Research investment has decreased noticeably.
d. There was a significant drop in the purchases of tickets last month.
e. There was a dramatic rise in the number of sites on the Internet.
f. The sale of mangos decreased suddenly.
g. The number of visitors at the theme park fluctuated very slightly.
h. Sugar imports declined gradually.
i. There has been a slow increase in the quality of food in supermarkets.
j. There was a remarkable fluctuation in the number of air travellers.
a. African spice exports
b. Product development
d. Ticket purchases
e. Internet sites
f. Mango sales
g. Theme park visitors
h. (Supermarket) food quality
i. Air traveller numbers
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

1. INTRODUCTION
shows
indicates
chart
The illustrates ……….
graph
describes
gives information on
presents
Paraphrase in the Introduction
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
2. OVERVIEW (Overall,…)
 Indicating the chart

According to the
As shown in the graph, …..
As can be seen from the chart, …..
It can be seen from the graph that …..
We can see from the chart that …..
It is clear/ apparent from the
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS - DETAILS
 Describing trends
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS- DETAILS
 Describing trends
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS- DETAILS
 Describing trends
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS- DETAILS
 Describing small changes or no changes:
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
 Phrases of time:
• From … to …
• Between … and …
• For + duration of time
• For a period of + duration of time
• Over the next month
• During the next month
$160.000
$85.000 December
$125.000 January
$120.000
$130.000
 `

significantly

a rise

also went up
a steady
steadily
fall

doubled then rocketed

a. As regards
b. By contrast
c. Furthermore
Likewise
Marking criteria for Task 1

1. Task Achievement
2. Coherence and Cohesion
3. Lexical Resource
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Marking criteria for Task 1
Task Achievement
 answer the question properly
• Select the main/key features of the graph, chart, map or
process.
• Write a clear overview that includes the main/key features
(main trends, differences, stages etc.) of the graph, chart, map
or process.
• Support them with accurate details.
• Write at least 150 words.
Marking criteria for Task 1
Coherence and Cohesion
 your ability to connect your main ideas together
• Introduce your essay by paraphrasing the question in the first paragraph.
• Separate your ideas into paragraphs.
• Making it clear which paragraph is your overview.
• Having very clear ideas in your overview.
• Supporting the main points in your overview in separate paragraphs.
• Making it clear what each paragraph is about.
• Use a range of linking words when appropriate.
• Use linking words accurately.
• Do not over-use linking words.
Marking criteria for Task 1
Lexical Resource
your ability to use vocabulary both accurately and
appropriately
• Paraphrase the question correctly.
• Vary your vocabulary using synonyms.
• Avoid vocabulary mistakes.
• Spell words correctly.
• Use appropriate vocabulary to describe trends, comparisons,
stages, changes etc.
Marking criteria for Task 1
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
• Do not make errors.
• Use a range of appropriate tenses.
• Use a range of appropriate structures.
• Use both simple and complex sentences.
• Use correct punctuation.
TASK-1- STRUCTURE
• Paragraph 1: Introduction (paraphrase the question)
• Paragraph 2: Overview (important/ main points)
• Paragraph 3+4: Details
(group data together where there are patterns)
* No conclusion needed
EXAMPLE:
You should spend about 20
minutes on this task.
The line graph below
shows changes in the
amount and type of fast
food consumed by
Australian teenagers from
1975 to 2000.
Summarize the information
by selecting and reporting
the main features and
make comparisons where
relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
INTRODUCTION: one or two sentences  paraphrase the
description about the graph in the question.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The line graph below shows changes in the amount and type of fast food consumed
by Australian teenagers from 1975 to 2000.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
 INTRODUCTION:
The line graph compares the fast food consumption of teenagers in Australia between
1975 and 2000, a period of 25 years.
PARAGRAPH 2: OVERVIEW (can be the last paragraph): describes what is
happening overall/ the main change(s) or trend(s) that took place over the
whole period

 Overall, the
consumption of
fish and chips
declined over the
period, whereas
the amount of
pizza and
hamburgers that
were eaten
increased.
PARAGRAPHS 3 & 4: DETAILS: make reference to
the data
• group data together where there are patterns.
• identify any similarities and differences.
PARAGRAPHS 3 & 4: DETAILS: make reference to
the data
1st detail paragraph:
( about fish and chips)
In 1975, the most popular fast food
with Australian teenagers was fish
and chips, being eaten 100 times a
year. This was far higher than pizza
and hamburgers, which were
consumed approximately 5 times a
year. However, apart from a brief
rise again from 1980 to 1985, the
consumption of fish and chips
gradually declined over the 25 year
timescale to finish at just under 40
times yearly.
PARAGRAPHS 3 & 4: DETAILS: make reference to
the data
2nd detail paragraph:
(focus on pizza and hamburgers which
share the same patterns)
In sharp contrast to this, teenagers ate
the other two fast foods at much higher
levels. Pizza consumption increased
gradually until it overtook the
consumption of fish and chips in 1990. It
then levelled off from 1995 to 2000. The
biggest rise was seen in hamburgers as
the occasions they were eaten increased
sharply throughout the 1970’s and
1980’s, exceeding that of fish and chips
in 1985. It finished at the same level
that fish and chips began, with
consumption at 100 times a year.
 THE WHOLE ANSWER:
The line graph compares the fast food consumption of teenagers in Australia between 1975
and 2000, a period of 25 years.
Overall, the consumption of fish and chips declined over the period, whereas the amount
of pizza and hamburgers that were eaten increased.
In 1975, the most popular fast food with Australian teenagers was fish and chips, being
eaten 100 times a year. This was far higher than Pizza and hamburgers, which were
consumed approximately 5 times a year. However, apart from a brief rise again from 1980
to 1985, the consumption of fish and chips gradually declined over the 25 year timescale to
finish at just under 40.
In sharp contrast to this, teenagers ate the other two fast foods at much higher levels. Pizza
consumption increased gradually until it overtook the consumption of fish and chips in
1990. It then levelled off from 1995 to 2000. The biggest rise was seen in hamburgers as
the occasions they were eaten increased sharply throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s,
exceeding that of fish and chips in 1985. It finished at the same level that fish and chips
began, with consumption at 100 times a year. (194 words)
• TEXTBOOK, PAGE 13