Example line graph
The line graph illustrates the amount of three kinds of spreads (margarine, low
fat and reduced spreads and butter) which were consumed over 26 years from
1981 to 2007. Units are measured in grams.
Overall, the consumption of margarine and butter decreased over the period
given, while for low fat and reduced spreads, it rose. At the start of the period,
butter was the most popular spread, which was replaced by margarine from
1991 to 2001, and following that low fat and reduced spreads became the most
widely used spread in the final years.
With regards to the amount of butter used, it began at around 140 grams and
then peaked at 160 grams in 1986 before falling dramatically to about 50 grams
in the last year. Likewise, approximately 90 grams of margarine was eaten in
the first year after which the figure fluctuated slightly and dropped to a low of
40 grams in 2007.
On the other hand, the consumption of low fats and reduced spreads only started
in 1996 at about 10 grams. This figure, which reached a high of just over 80
grams 5 years later, fell slightly in the final years to approximately 70 grams in
2007.
A. Analyse the example
I. Meaning:
This line graph shows the amount of three kinds of spreads (margarine, low fat
and reduced spreads and butter) which were consumed over 26 years from 1981
to 2007.
Give information related to the chart: the vertical axis, horizontal axis, the note
about the three kinds of bread.
II. Structure
1. Introduction (paragraph 1)
The line graph illustrates the amount of three kinds of spreads (margarine,
low fat and reduced spreads and butter) which were consumed over 26
years from 1981 to 2007. Units are measured in grams.
2. Body
a. Overview (paragraph 2)
Overall, the consumption of margarine and butter decreased over the
period given, while for low fat and reduced spreads, it rose. At the start of
the period, butter was the most popular spread, which was replaced by
margarine from 1991 to 2001, and following that low fat and reduced
spreads became the most widely used spread in the final years.
b. Feauture 1 (paragraph 3)
With regards to the amount of butter used, it began at around 140 grams
and then peaked at 160 grams in 1986 before falling dramatically to about
50 grams in the last year. Likewise, approximately 90 grams of margarine
was eaten in the first year after which the figure fluctuated slightly and
dropped to a low of 40 grams in 2007.
c. Feauture 2 (paragraph 4)
On the other hand, the consumption of low fats and reduced spreads only
started in 1996 at about 10 grams. This figure, which reached a high of
just over 80 grams 5 years later, fell slightly in the final years to
approximately 70 grams in 2007.
III. Key language
1. Rose
Decreased
Dropped
Fell
2. Always write this type in one tense.
B. Theory synthesized about line graphs:
I. Meaning:
- There is change over time.
The information in the line graph is used to tell the change of
things and events over time.
The time here can be day, day, month, year or more specifically the
hour.
-Various tenses are used.
If the time is in the past, use the past simple.
If the time is in the future, use future expressions
If describing a change that extends from the past to the future, use
the present simple or the present perfect
II. Structure: 3 parts
Introduction: paraphrase topic sentence
Overview: find out 2 common features of the graph
- Characteristics of the trend: what is the general trend of the string in a
period of time? Is it increase? reduce? Or is it continuously
oscillating?
- The most prominent string characteristics: for example, the problem is
for a range of 3.4 strings -> find out which string is the highest,
lowest, or biggest change…
Body:
- The body of a line graph will usually describe the data, the trend of the
data.
Note: always compare the information with each other, do not describe
separately
III. Key language
1.Nouns and verbs used to describe trends:
Direction Verb Noun
Go up Go up: followed by prepositions: Go up: followed by
From.....( number/%) to...... prepositions:
(number/%) From....(number/%)
Go......(number/%) to .....(number/%)
By.....(number/%) In+”what”
To rise
To increase A rise
To go up An increase
To grow Show an upward trend
To climb A growth
Show an upturn
Go up a lot :
To surge Go up a lot:
To take off Show a surge
To shoot up Show an upsurge
To soar
To rocket
To jump
To leap A jump
To boom A leap
To bounce A boom
A bounce
No change: followed by “at” No change: followed by
(number/%) “at” (number/%)
To level off A leveling off
To flatten out No change
Remain To stagnate
To stablize Show stability
To stay/ To remain/ To keep
constant/ stable/ steady/
unchanged/ the same level
Go down Go down: followed by Go down: followed by
preposition: prepositions:
From...(number/%) to....(number/ From....(number/%)
%) to....(number/%)
To....(number/%) In+”what”
To decrease A decrease
To fall A fall
To decline A decline
To drop A drop
To reduce A reduction
To go down A downturn
To slip A slip
To dip A dip
A downward trend
Go down a lot: Go down a lot:
To slummet A slummet
To slump A slump
To crash A crash
To sink A sink
To tumble A tumble
To plunge A plunge
Followed by “at”, “of”
To peak at
To reach a peak of
To bottom out at
To hit a low point/ a trough/ the
Change of lowest/ the largest of
direction To flatuate/ vary around
To show some flatuation
( variation)
To stand at ( focus on a particular
point)
To plateau/ to reach a plateau at
2.Adjectives and Adverbs used to describe trends:
Degree Adj Adv
Dramatic Dramatically
Huge
Very extensive change Enormous Enormously
Tremendous Tremendously
Substantial Substaintially
Considerable Considerably
Extensive change Remarkable Remarkably
Significant Significantly
Noticeable Noticeably
Marked Markedly
Average change
Moderate Moderately
Small change Slight Slightly
Small
Minimal Minimally
3.Adjectives and Adverbs used to describe the speed of change:
Adj Adv
Slow Slowly
Gradual Gradually
Steady Steadily
Sudden Suddenly
Quick Quickly
Swift
Rapid Rapidly
4.Sentence structures when writing Line Graph
Note: Simple past tense
A. Data structure
Subject + Verb + Object, (at) [data]
For example: The percentage of sugar consumption reached its peak in 1995, at
45%.
[interval] + witnessed/ saw/ experienced + a
rise/ decrease of [data] + in + [group of
interest]
Example: The period from 1990 to 1995 saw a rise of 5% in the percentage of
sugar consumption.
B. The structure stated largest, smallest
Biggest:
[group wants to talk about] + led the way with
[data]
Example: The percentage of sugar consumption led the way with 45%.
At the top position was [group we want to talk
about], at [data]
Example: At the top position was the percentage of sugar consumption, at 45%.
Smallest:
At the bottom position was [meaning group],
at [data]
Example: At the bottom position was the percentage of salt consumption, at
10%.
C. Equal structure:
[group 1] and [group 2] were (almost) the
same, at (around) [data]
For example: The percentage of sugar consumption and the percentage of salt
consumption were almost the same , at around 4%.
D. How many times is the ratio of group 1 to group 2:
[group 1] doubled/trebled/was 4 times higher
than that of [group 2], at [group 1] and
[group 2] respectively.
For example: The percentage of sugar consumption was two times higher than
that of salt consumption, at 40% and 20% respectively.
E. Some compound sentence structures:
[group 1] + Verb, which was followed by
[group of 2]
For example: The percentage of sugar consumption was the highest, which was
followed by that of salt consumption.
[group wants to talk about] + Verb before
Verb-ing
Example: The percentage of sugar consumption increased rapidly before
staying constant from 1990 to 1995.
