Interpreting graphs and

charts
(Para-orthographic text)

    Prepared by
Minarva Shrestha
• Charts, diagrams, tables and
graphs are visual
interpretation of some
statistical data and factual
elemental factors  of any
subject.
• Interpreting them is a task of
describing the given  chart into
paragraphs and such texts are
called para-orthographic
texts. 
 Interpreting a Chart
 A chart can be divided into  6 main types:
1. bar chart
2.  line graph
3. pie chart
4. Table
5. Map
6. diagram
 Interpreting a Chart
 A chart interpretation is evaluated on the following sections:
1. Task achievement: information, overview and accurate data
2. Coherence and cohesion: paragraphing and  linking words
3. Vocabulary: collocation, spelling and accuracy
4. Grammar: sentence structure, tense, punctuation, grammar
range and accuracy
 Interpreting a Chart
 The para-orthographic text can be divided mainly into four
paragraphs.
The introductory paragraph
The overview paragraph
The Body Paragraph A
The Body Paragraph B

Note: it is possible to write 3 or 4 body paragraphs depending on the

number of paragraphs and which depends on the number of
distinctive features.
While interpreting  para-orthographic texts, we should consider the following
factors.
• Our interpretation should give a complete description of the text.
• While analyzing we should compare and contrast the data and facts of each
other category.
• A suitable title is to be given (in most of the cases it is given in the question)
• Use of appropriate connectives ( while, whereas, in comparison to the second
element, in contrast, likewise, thereby, at the end etc.)
• The first paragraph often says what type of a chart it is and what it is about.
• The second paragraph gives an overall view of the chart. 
• The third  and fourth paragraphs generally describe each section of the chart
in an organized way.
 Other essential information:
Use of Tense
On the graph, chart, map, diagram,
tables, we might find dates. These
dates will tell us what tense to use.
Linking Devices
The proper use of linking devices is
necessary to maintain coherence and
cohesion in the report. The most used
linking devices are:

 Dates in the Past: Past tense  While

 Dates in the Future: Future Forms  Whereas
 As opposed to 
 Dates spanning both Past and
 Compared to
Future: Both Past and Future  In comparison with
forms  Furthermore etc.
 No Dates: Present tense
 Parts of Interpreting chart and diagrams
The first paragraph(Introduction)
Describe what type of chart it is such as bar
chart, pie chart, table, diagram etc.
Write what the chart is about, its date and The bar chart illustrates the
amount of money spent on
location (It shows)
five consumer goods (cars,
Do not go into any detail at this stage. computers, books, perfume
Be careful about the tense you choose. and cameras) in France and
the UK in 2010. Units are
If you are writing about a past time period,
measured in pounds sterling.
stick to the past tense throughout the report.
The introduction is usually very quick to
write and quite standard in content.
 Parts of Interpreting chart and diagrams
The  second paragraph (overview)
Overview is the most important paragraph that gives
Overall, the UK spent more
over all view of the chart.
money on consumer goods than
It contains all the key features of a chart or graph or France in the period given. Both
whatever it is given for interpreting. the British and the French spent
All the key points are collected together and put in the most of their money on cars
overview paragraph ( the highest point, the lowest part whereas the least amount of
and all main features). money was spent on perfume in
The overview statement usually goes after the the UK compared to cameras in
introductory paragraph but it is possible to put it at France. Furthermore, the most
the end of the report after body paragraphs. significant difference in
expenditure between the two
Remember overview and conclusion are two different
countries was on cameras.
things and generally, we don't write conclusion for
chart interpretation.
 Parts of Interpreting chart and diagrams
The body paragraphs :
• Body paragraph A and body B include the Body Paragraph A
detailed information
• Write and describe necessary and relevant In terms of cars, people in the UK spent
information from the given chart/graphs about about £450,000 on this as
(dates, number and all the comparisons) opposed to the French at £ 400, 000.
• It is possible to add one more body Similarly, the British expenditure was
paragraphs depending upon the data you higher on books than the French
are given.  (around £400,000 and £300, 000
•  In fact, the number pf paragraphs depends respectively). In the UK, expenditure on
on the number of distinctive features. cameras (just over £350,000) was over
• Select what is important, organize, and double that of France, which was only
compare and contrast. £ 150,000.
 Parts of Interpreting chart and diagrams
The body paragraphs :
• Body paragraph A and body B include the Body Paragraph B
detailed information
• Write and describe necessary and relevant On the other hand, the amount of
information from the given chart/graphs money paid out on the remaining goods
(dates, number and all the comparisons) was higher in France. Above £350,000
• It is possible to add one more body was spent by the French on computers
paragraphs depending upon the data you which was slightly more than the
are given.  British who spent exactly £350,00.
•  In fact, the number pf paragraphs dependsNeither of the countries spent much on
on the number of distinctive features. perfume which accounted for £200,000
• Select what is important, organize, and of expenditure in France but under
compare and contrast. £150,000 in the UK.
Some helpful words and expressions for describing charts
and diagrams.
Introduction
•  This chart shows us...  Shows
 Illustrates
• The pie-chart gives information on...  Points out
• The information given in the chart is about...  Explains
 Presents 
• The percentage of ….. is shown on the chart.
 Describes
• The graph shows how....  Classifies
• Each section on the chart represents....  Is about
 Focuses on
  Informs
 Deals with
 gives
Some helpful words and expressions for describing charts
and diagrams.
Body
• Verbs: go up, increase, rise, grow, drop, fall, decline, decrease etc.
• Nouns: an increase, a rise, a growth, an improvement, a decline, a drop , an
upward trend etc.
• Adjectives: dramatic, considerable, sharp, significant, substantial, moderate, 
etc.
• Adverbs: slightly, dramatically, considerably, sharply, gradually etc.
• Prepositions: a rise from 650 to 1000,  an increase by 10%, from 2005 to 2010,
to fall by 20%
Sample 1: From the text book (page no 186)
The line graph compares the fast food consumption
of teenagers in Australia between 1975 and 2000, a period of 25
years. (Introduction)

Overall, the consumption of fish and chips declined over the

period, whereas the amount of pizza and hamburgers
that were eaten increased. (Overview)
 Parts of Interpreting chart and diagrams
    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.
(Body Paragraph A)
   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. (Body Paragraph B)
 Sample 2
• The two pie charts illustrate the proportion
of five types of energy production in France
in 1995 and 2005. (Introduction)
• Overall, in both years, the most significant
sources of energy were gas and coal, which
together accounted for over half the
production of energy while nuclear and
other kinds of energy sources generated the
least amount of energy in France, In all
types of energy production there was only
minimal change over the 10 year period.
(Overview)
• Energy produced by coal comprised of 29.80%
in the first year and this showed only a very
slight increase of about a mere 1% to 30. 9 in
2005. Likewise, in 1995,gas generated 29.63%
which rose marginally to 30.1% 10 years later.
(Body Paragraph A)

• With regards to the remaining methods of

producing energy, there was an approximate 5%
growth in production from both nuclear power
and other sources to 10.10% and 9.10%
respectively. Petrol, on the other hand, was the
only source of energy which decreased in
production from 29.27% in 1995 to around
19.55% in 2005. (Body Paragraph B)
Sample 3

The table below shows information and predictions regarding the change  in percentage of
the population aged 65 and above in three countries.

Country 1988 2000 2030

Canada 16.32 20.67 26.35

Germany 20.45 25.32 30.42

UK 14.23 14.89 20.35

• The table gives information about the proportion of the population who are
65 years old and over in 3 countries (Canada, Germany and the UK) in
1988, 2000 and an estimated percentage in 2030.
 Contd.
The table below shows information and predictions regarding the change  in percentage of
the population aged 65 and above in three countries.

Country 1988 2000 2030

Canada 16.32 20.67 26.35

Germany 20.45 25.32 30.42

UK 14.23 14.89 20.35

• Overall, the population of elderly people is predicated to rise in all three countries
from 1998 to 2030. The highest percentage of older people was in Germany,
which will continue to remain the highest in 2030, while the lowest proportion can
be seen in the UK over the period given
 Contd.
The table below shows information and predictions regarding the change  in percentage of
the population aged 65 and above in three countries.
Country 1988 2000 2030

Canada 16.32 20.67 26.35

Germany 20.45 25.32 30.42

UK 14.23 14.89 20.35

• Between 1988 and 2000, the aging population of Canada and Germany went up by
around 5% to 20.67% and 25.32 % respectively. The UK, on the other hand,
showed relatively little change in the proportion of its population aged 65 plus and
remained at just under 15% in both years.
 Contd.
The table below shows information and predictions regarding the change  in percentage of
the population aged 65 and above in three countries.
Country 1988 2000 2030

Canada 16.32 20.67 26.35

Germany 20.45 25.32 30.42

UK 14.23 14.89 20.35

• By 2030, it is expected that the population of people aged 65 and above will
increase by approximately 5.5% in all three countries. The percentage is forecast
to reach 30.42% in Germany, 26.35% in Canada and 20.35% in the UK.
Page No. 187
THANK YOU
Minarva Shrestha