ACADEMIC ENGLISH 5

LESSON 4
Unit 1
Writing: Line Graphs
(Trends)
WHAT IS A LINE
GRAPH?

VAN LANG WHERE

UNIVERSITY IMPACT MATTERS DATE 2022
VAN LANG UNIVERSITY
WHAT IS A LINE GRAPH?
 Line graphs can be used to title
show how information or
data changes over time. In
other words, they highlight

TRENDS
trends.
 A trend is the movement of
data in a general direction
over time.
 Trends are represented by the
direction of the lines. Trends
can be upward or downward,
or they can remain at the
 VAN LANG UNIVERSITY
WHAT IS A LINE GRAPH?
Elements of a line title
graph:
 The horizontal axis (units of
time): days, months, years, and

Dollar

Vertical
($)
so on.

axis
 The vertical axis (kinds of
data): costs, temperatures, rainfall,
and so on. Horizontal
axis

Year
VAN LANG UNIVERSITY

STRATEGIES TO ANALYZE A LINE GRAPH

 REQUIREMENTS FOR A LINE GRAPH
REPORT

Pair work. Write Yes (Y) or No (N) for these statements. (5

minutes)
1. Write at least 200 words.

2. Use an academic style.

3. Give your opinions about the graphs.

4. Do NOT have to write a concluding paragraph or make

any calculations.
PA G E
 STRATEGIES TO ANALYZE A LINE GRAPH

Before writing your report for a line graph, spend some time
analyzing it by using the following questions.

General Information General trends Details

4. What trends 5. What are the highest
1. What is the line
do you see in the number & the lowest
graph about?
graph? number?
6. What is the most
2. What information do significant change in
the two axes give? the consumption of
each type of spread?
3. What are the time
periods and unit of
measurements?
PA G E
 General Information
1. What is the line graph
about?
 The graph is about the
consumption of three kinds of
spreads.
2. What information do the two
axes give?
 The vertical axis shows the
amount of each spread; the
horizontal axis shows the time
period the data was collected.
3. What are the time periods
and unit of measurements?
 The time period is between
1981 and 2007. The unit of
measurement is grams.
PA G E
 General trends

4. What trends do you see in

the
 graph?
Upward trend, downward
trend, fluctuation.

PA G E
 Details
5. What are the highest
number and the lowest
number?
 The highest number: the
amount of butter people ate in
1986 (160 grams);
The lowest number: the amount
of low fat and reduced spreads
people started to eat in 1996
(10 grams).

PA G E
 Details
6. What is the most significant
change in the consumption of
•each type
Butter: theof spread?
amount of butter peaked
at 160 grams in 1986 before falling
dramatically to about 50 grams in
the last year.
• Margarine: the amount of
margarine fluctuated and dropped to
about 50 grams in 2007.
• Low fat and reduced spreads:
people only started to eat this kind of
spread in 1996. However, after 5
years, the figure peaked at about 80
grams before falling slightly to
approximately 70 grams in 2007.
PA G E
VAN LANG UNIVERSITY

LINE GRAPH STRUCTURE REVISION

 STRUCTURE OF A LINE GRAPH REPORT

INTRODUCTIO Explain in your own words what the

graph(s) is showing (Paraphrase the
N question)

OVERVIEW Describe general trend(s)

BODY 1 Describe the first group of information

Describe the second group of

BODY 2 information
PA G E
VAN LANG UNIVERSITY

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

OF A LINE GRAPH REPORT
 Steps for writing an
introduction for
a line graph report

1. Write the type of chart

2. Choose the verb
3. Paraphrase the question prompt
4. Paraphrase the time

PA G E
 Useful language for writing an
introduction

Type of
Verb Noun phrase Time
chart

The line • illustrate(s) • the number of + • in [2010]

graph(s) • demonstrate(s) countable noun • between [2010]
• represent(s) • the amount of + and [2020]
• compare(s) uncountable noun • from [2010] to
• give(s) information about • the percentage of/ • 2020]
proportion of + • over a [10]-year
noun period

PA G E
 An introduction
sample
Instructional steps
1. Write the type of chart
2. Choose the verb
3. Paraphrase the question
prompt
4. Paraphrase the time

The line graph illustrates

the amount of the average
annual expenditure on cell
phone, national, and
international fixed-line
services between 2001
and 2010.
PA G E
 Pair work. Fill in the blanks to
complete the outline
(5 minutes) Instructional steps
1. Write the type of chart
2. Choose the verb
3. Paraphrase the question
prompt
4. Paraphrase the time

The line graph illustrates

Paragraph
_______________________________
1:
- Time period: 26 years
Introductio
from ______ to ______.
n
- Units of measurement: ______.

PA G E
 Steps for writing an overview

1. Start the overview with the given useful

language.
2. Identify the trends of the lines and classify
them.
3. Write 2-3 sentences about the general trends
of the line graph.
4. Do NOT mention any data.
PA G E
 Useful language for writing an overview

there is an increase/ decrease in

[Noun phrase] (sales, profits,
consumers, etc.).
 Overall,/ there is an upward trend/ downward
trend in + the number of/ the
Generally,
amount of/ the percentage of +
 It is [Noun phrase].
obvious/ more people + [Verb] (watched TV,
apparent ate pizza, etc.) in place [A] than
that they did in place [B].

 As we can
PA G E
 Trends of a line graph

1 downward 1

2 upward
3
2
3 constant
 An Overview
Sample
Individual work. Fill in the blanks
with words
from the table.
highest (7 minutes)
increase lowest downwa
d rd
1.highest decreas
In 2001, the higher
average expenditure upward
on
ed services was the
national fixed-line
___________. Then, it __________ in 2010,
showing an _________ trend.
2. In 2001, the average expenditure on
international fixed-line services was
__________ than that on cell phone services.
Finally, in 2010, it _________ slightly.
3. In 2001, the average expenditure on cell
phone services was the ___________.
However, in 2010, it it showed an
___________ trend and became the __________.
PA G E
 An Overview
Sample
Pair work. Share your answers with a
partner.
(3 minutes)
highes increas lowest downwar
t ed d
1. In 2001,decrea
highes the average expenditure
higher upward on
national
t fixed-line
sed services was the
highest. Then, it decreased in 2010,
showing a downward trend.
2. In 2001, the average expenditure on
international fixed-line services was
higher than that on cell phone services.
Finally, in 2010, it increased slightly.
3. In 2001, the average expenditure on
cell phone services was the lowest.
However, in 2010, it showed an upward
trend and became the highest.
PA G E
 An Overview
Sample

Overall, there are

increases in the amount
of money spent on cell
phone and international
fixed-line services while
there is a downward
trend in that on
national fixed line
services.

PA G E
Individual work. Write an
introduction and an overview for Introduction instructional steps
the line graph below. 1. Write the type of chart
(15 minutes) 2. Choose the verb
3. Paraphrase the question prompt
4. Paraphrase the time

Overview instructional steps

1. Start the overview with the given
useful language.
2. Identify the trends of the lines and
classify them.
3. Write 2-3 sentences about the general
trends of the line graph.
4. Do NOT mention any data.

PA G E
VAN LANG UNIVERSITY

PEER FEEDBACK
 CHECKLIST
Below is a checklist for analyzing trends in a line graph.
Use these questions to check your partner’s writing.
QUESTIONS Yes (Y)/ No Comment
(N)
Does the introduction include the
information of the line graph’s name,
place, time period)
Does the introduction have paraphrase of
the topic’s subject?
Is the introduction written by using useful
language?
Is the overview written by using useful Y
language for trends?
Does the overview include statistic N
information?
PA G E
VAN LANG UNIVERSITY

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