UNIT 2: LINE GRAPH
I. Line Graph Introduction (2’)
Line graphs describe changes in data over a specific period. There are often 3-4 lines in the
chart.
Tasks: Describe, compare the lines.
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
(TOPIC:) The graph below gives information about fast food consumption in England
from 1970 to 1990.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
NOTE: Focus on the TOPIC of the chart (using paraphrasing technique)
Focus on 3 years: The first year, a special year (middle), and the last year (BODY)
II. Line Graph Report Structure (3’)
Introduction: 1 sentence (paraphrase the TOPIC)
Overview: 1-2 sentences (Describe the most significant features of the line graph)
Detail 1: Describe data in the first year
Detail 2: Describe trends of lines and other special features
III. Words To Describe Line Graph (15’)
1. Comparison
Comparative and superlative forms of Adjectives and Adverbs
Translate these sentences into English
a. Dell là thương hiệu máy tính phổ biến nhất năm 2010
b. Số tiền chi tiêu cho giải trí nhiều hơn số tiền chi tiêu cho giáo dục
c. Việt Nam là điểm đến du lịch hấp dẫn thứ nhì ở Đông Nam Á.
d. Dân số Việt Nam nhiều hơn dân số Thái Lan 20 triệu người
KEY:
a. Dell is the most popular computer brand in 2010
b. The amount of money spent on entertainment is much more than that of education
c. Vietnam is the second most attractive tourist destination in Southeast Asia.
d. The population of Vietnam is 20 million bigger than that of Thailand.
2. Trends
Trends Verb Noun
Rise, increase, go up A rise, an increase,
Fall, decrease, decline, drop A fall, a decrease, a decline, a
drop
remain constant /the Stability
same/stable
Fluctuate Fluctuation
Level of change adjective Adverb
Rapid dramatic / rapid / sharp / dramatically / rapidly /
quick sharply / quickly
Moderate moderate / steady moderately / steadily
Slight slight / slow/ gradual slightly / slowly/ gradually
IV. Sentence Structure (20’)
1. Describe numbers
There + be + number + Noun + V_ing/V3
There were about 1,000 tourists coming to Australia in 2010.
The number of/ amount of/ percentage of/ proportion of/ figure for + Noun + Ving /
V3/ed + to be + number
The number of students attending course A was about 100,000.
The amount of money spent on entertainment activities was approximately 5,000 dollars.
NOTE: Using reduction of relative clause
Number + Noun + Verb
About 2,000 students attended Course A in 2010.
(Teachers ask students to translate some sentences)
- Có 300,000 người sử dụng interner ở Úc vào năm 2014
There were 300,000 people using the Interner in Australia in 2014
- Số lượng người đến vườn bách thú ở Brazil chiếm 20%
The percentage of people visiting the zoo in Brazil was 20%
- 30% người Mỹ thường sử dụng tiền cho mục đích vui chơi giải trí.
30% of American people using/spending money on entertainment.
- Khoảng 3,000 loài động vật đang được bảo vệ.
About 3,000 animal species are being protected
- Số lượng chất thải từ nhà máy chiếm 80%.
The proportion of emissions from factories was 80%
2. Describe trends
S + V + ADV
There + be + (a/an) + ADJ + NOUN of … + in …
Subject + see/witness/experience + (a/an) + ADJ + NOUN + in …
The number of tourists coming to the UK increased sharply in 2010, rising/going up
from … to … / by … ,
There was a sharp increase the number of tourists coming to the UK in 2010.
The UK saw a sharp increase in the number of tourists in 2010.
(Teachers ask students to translate or make some sentences)
- Vào năm 1995, số phần trăm người sử dụng internet để shopping tăng mạnh
In 1995, the percentage of people using Internet for shopping increased
dramatically.
- Trong suốt những năm 1980, phần trăm dân số ở Úc tăng mạnh do sự di dân từ các
nước khác.
During the 1980s, the number of Australia population went up/rose sharply due
the increase of immigration from foreign countries.
- Kể từ năm 2000, số lượng thú ở công viên Kenya đã giảm nhanh chóng vị việc săn
bắn trái phép.
Since 2000, the number of animals in Kenya Park have decreased rapidly due to
the illegal poaching.
3. Prepositions used with numbers to describe graphs.
1) We use the preposition ‘at’ for numbers when no change is being
described.
- Sales were at 90,000 in 1995.
- Sales remained stable at 90,000 from 1995 to 2000.
2) We use the preposition ‘from’ to describe the number at the
beginning of a change. We use ‘to’ to describe the number at the end
of the change.
- Sales fell from 110,000 in 2005 to 80,000 in 2010.
- Sales had increased to 100,000 by 1990.
3) We use the preposition ‘by’ after verbs to describe the difference
between two points in time.
- Sales increased by 70,000 between 1980 and 1990.
- There was an increase in sales of 70,000 between 1980 and 1990.
- Compare this sentence with the following sentence: ‘Sales increased
from 30,000 in 1980 to 100,000 in 1990.’
4) We use the preposition ‘of’ when describing the amount of a
change following a noun.
- There was an increase in sales of 70,000 between 1980 and 1990.
- Notice that the preposition ‘in’ comes before the thing that changes i.e.
‘sales’.
V. PRACTICE
Teacher instructs the students:
- Write the introduction (paraphrasing techniques)
- Look for the overview (from left to right => trend; from top to bottom => the
highest/most popular)
- BODY: Analyze the data (first year, middle year and the last year), ask them to use
comparison and words to describe trends)
BODY 1: BOX 1 (describe numbers at a specific point)
BODY 2: BOX 2 (describe trends and make comparison)
The graph below gives information about fast food consumption in England from 1970 to
1990.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Write at least 150 words.
The line graph compares the weekly consumption of three different types of fast food
in the UK between 1970 and 1990.
It is clear from the graph that the amount of Fish & Chips consumed per week
experienced the most dramatic change during the research period. Additionally, while
the quantities of Hamburger and Fish & Chips eaten both rose significantly, there was
a slight decrease in the figure for pizza.
In 1970, the amount of Pizza consumed was highest, at more than 300 grams, while
the figure for Hamburger was significantly lower, at only around 30 grams.
Meanwhile, approximately 80 grams of Fish & Chips were eaten by UK people. In
1985, Pizza consumption slightly fell and reached the lowest point of 200 grams,
whereas the other two figures gradually went up.
In 1990, Fish & Chips weekly consumption increased dramatically to 500 grams and
became the highest figure in the line graph, while Hamburger’s figure experienced a
slight rise to about 300 grams. At the same time, the amount of Pizza eaten remained
stable at roughly 200 grams.
(179 words, band 8.0+)
The chart shows the percentage of Internet Users in USA, Canada and Mexico from
1999 to 2009
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Write at least 150 words.
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