LINE GRAPH

STRUCTURE
1. Write the introduction [paraphrase the topic]
2. Write an overview [the most noticeable trend]
3. Write the first year
4. Write the middle years:1 or 2 special years
5. Write the last year
I. INTRODUCTION: PARAPHRASING THE TOPIC
II. WRITE THE OVERVIEW
What do we need for the overview?
- Most noticeable figures (highest/lowest)
- Similar trends/different trends
Tips: Pay attention to the FIRST YEAR and FINAL YEAR to write the overview (e.g
increase/decrease or stay the same)

WRITING THE OVERVIEW

 It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased in three
countries from 1999 to 2009.
 It is clear that both immigration and emigration rates declined from 1999 to 2008.
 It is clear that the amount of acid rain emissions from four sectors declined considerably
from 1991 to 2007.
 It is clear that from 1971 to 2007 the number of people having cars increased while the
figures for people without a car fell.
GENERAL FORM
1. A (and B) increased (slightly/dramatically) while the figure(s) for C (and D) decreased
(minimally/significantly)
2. Both A and C increased (slightly/dramatically/drastically)
3. Both A and C decreased (slightly/dramatically)
4. Both A (and B) increased (slightly/dramatically) while the figure(s) for C (and D)
remained the same/stable/constant.
NOTE:
-The number of + countable plural noun
-The amount of + uncountable noun
-The percentage/proportion of + both types of nouns
-The figure for + both types of nouns
 The number of tourists on holidays to France increased.
 The amount of money spent on clothing decreased.
 The percentage/proportion of fast food in Australia went up.
 The figure for fast food consumption in Germany declined.
NOW, use the structure S + V + ADV to write the overview.
A. Adding information
 1. Use the “that” clause
It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased in three countries
from 1999 to 2009, and that Canada experienced the fastest growth in Internet usage.
2. Use “with”
It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased in three countries
from 1999 to 2009, with Canada experiencing the fastest growth in Internet usage.
3. Use “see” [a considerable/dramatic decrease/increase was seen in…….]
It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased in three countries
from 1999 to 2009. Overall, the most dramatic/considerable increase was seen in the number
of Canadian Internet users.
4. Use “comparative” structure
It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased in three countries
from 1999 to 2009, and that Canada experienced a faster growth in Internet usage compared
to/in comparison with the other two/three/four countries.
It is clear that both immigration and emigration rates rose from 1999 to 2008, and the figures for
immigration were significantly higher.
WRITING THE FIRST YEAR
Reporting the data in the simplest way
 In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA was about 20%. The
figures for Canada and Mexico were lower, at about 10% and 5% respectively.
 In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA stood at about 20%. The
figures for Canada and Mexico were lower, at about 10% and 5% respectively.
 In 1971, the proportion of British people had no cars was about 50%. The figure for
families having one car was lower, at around 45%. The percentage of people having two
cars and three car or more stood at 9% and 1% respectively.
Making a more complex sentences
Use “while” structure
 In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA was about 20% while the
figures for Canada and Mexico were lower, at about 10% and 5% respectively.
Use “relative pronoun” [which]

 In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA was about 20%, which
was the highest data shown in that year. The figures for Canada and Mexico were lower,
at about 10% and 5% respectively.
Making a comparison right from the start
  In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA was highest, at about
20%, while the lowest figure was seen in Mexico (5%). For Canada, it stood in the
middle, at around 10%.

WRITING THE MIDDLE YEARS

I. TIME EXPRESSION
+From……………to…...............(from 1990 to 2000)
+Over/During the next….................years
+In….........................,
+Over/Throughout a period of...............................years.
II. KEY STRUCTURES
VERB PHRASES
 X (and Z) increased/went up/rose to…………………………….
 Y (and G) decreased/fell/dropped to…………………………….
 C (and H) remained unchanged/stable until……………………...
 D (and K) fluctuated.
E.g: From 1990 to 2000, the number of Internet users in Canada rose to 1 million
E.g: From 1990 to 2000, the number of Internet users in France fell to 2 million.

 From 1990 to 2000, the number of Internet users in Canada rose to 1 million
while/whereas
the number of Internet users in France fell to 2 million.
 From 1990 to 2000, the number of Internet users in Canada rose to 1 million
while/whereas
the figure for France fell to 2 million.
 From 1990 to 2000, the number of Internet users in Canada rose to 1 million
while/whereas
that in France fell to 2 million.

NOTE: Add adverbs to describe the figures more precisely.

 From 1990 to 2000, the number of Internet users in Canada rose significantly to 1
million while the figure for France fell slightly to 2 million. In addition, Internet usage
in America fluctuated wildly.

Degree of change:
-Small change: steady/ modest/ marginal/ slight/ gradual/ moderate/ minimal
-Big change: dramatic/ considerable/ steep/ sharp/ significant/ substantial /remarkable/ marked
Speed of change: rapid/ quick/ swift /sudden/ steady/ gradual/ slow/wild

A. Language to show comparisons

o Show contrasts: In/by contrast/ however/ conversely/ but
o Show similarities: Likewise/ similarly/ at the same time
o Show comparisons: while/ in comparison with/ compared to/ meanwhile
 o Show linking: In terms of/ as for/ when it comes to/ as regards/ concerning/
NOUN PHRASES
 There was a/an (adj) rise/increase/growth in…………………………….
 There was a/an (adj) drop/fall/decrease in……………………………….
 X (and Y) witnessed/enjoyed/saw a/an (adj) rise/fall in…………………
 X (and G) suffered a/an (adj) rise/ fall in…………………
Sample:
1. From 1990 to 2000, the number of Internet users in Canada rose significantly to 1 million
while there was a slight fall in numbers of French users. Meanwhile, America witnessed
a wild fluctuation in its Internet usage.

PRACTICE: Vary the grammar structures.

Structure 1: S + V + ADV
-The number of tourists to France increased significantly from 3 million in 1990 to 6 million in
2000. (increased by + xxx =số lượng tăng được (B-A=xxx)
S V
Structure 2: There was + a/an + ADJ + N + in……......................................
-There was a significant increase of 3 million in the number of tourists to France from 1990 to
2000.
ADJ N
Structure 3: A/an + ADJ + N + was seen/reported in………………………….
-A significant increase in the number of tourists was seen/reported in France.

Structure 4: S + witnessed/saw/experienced + A/AN + ADJ + NOUN + in................

-France witnessed a significant increase in the number of tourists from 1990 to 2000.

In 1999, sales dropped to 6000 computers. (drop)

In 1999, there was a drop in sales to 6000 computers.
1. In 2001, personal computer sales fluctuated wildly in Japan (wild)
In 2001, there was a wild fluctuation in personal computer sales in Japan.
In 2001, Japan witnessed a wild fluctuation in personal computer.
In 2001, a wild fluctuation in the number of personal computer was seen in Japan.
2. During the three year period, the trend in London was obviously downward
(obvious) During the three year period, there was an obvious downward in the trend in
London.
During the three year period, London experienced an obvious downward trend.
During the three year period, an obvious downward trend was seen in London.
3. Sales went up again, rocketing more than 100% (rocketed)
Sales went up again…………(con khong biet lam)………………… ……………
4. Computer sales improved markedly in 2000 when they surged more than 100%
(improvement)
There was a markable improvement in computer sales in 2000 when they surged more than 100%
A marked improvement in computer sales was seen in 2000 when they surged more than 100%.
5. From 1999 to 2010, the number of computers sold fell by at least 1000 in France (fall)
From 1999 to 2010, there was a fall by at least 1000 in the number of computer sold in France.
From 1999 to 2010, France witnessed a fall by at least 1000 in the number of computers sold
From 1999 to 2010, a fall by at least 1000 in the number of computers sold was seen in France.
6. The decline in PC sales was gradual. (declined)
PC sales experienced a gradual decline.
A gradual decline was seen in PC sales.
7. Purchases soared, then fell back the following month (after)
After soaring, the purchases then fell back the following month. (???)
HOW TO PICK THE MIDDLE YEARS?
 Period when there were significant changes (e.g lines crossed each
other) HOW MANY MIDDLE YEARS TO PICK?
 If there are three lines, pick 1 or 2 years.
 If there are four lines, pick 1 year only.

WRITING THE FINAL YEAR

The final year is usually written in the same way as the middle/first year. You should:
 Report the trend
 Show the biggest and lowest figures.

In 2010, the number of Internet users in Canada rose significantly to 5 million, making it the
highest figure shown on the line graph, while there was a considerable fall in numbers of French
users. Meanwhile, America suffered great fluctuations in its Internet usage.

In 2010, at 5 million, Canada had the highest number of people using the Internet, while France
reached its lowest figure, at 2 million. In contrast, Internet usage in America still remained
unchanged, at around 3 million people.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task