AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

Unit 1: LINE GRAPH (FULL REPORT)

I. PRE-WRITING
1. Definition
 Characteristics of a line graph:
Line graphs can be used to show how information or data changes over time. In other
words, they highlight trends. A trend is the movement of data in a general direction over time.
On a line graph, trends are represented by the direction of the lines. Trends can be upward or
downward, or they can remain at the same level. In your report, it is important to describe trends
and compare them.

 Elements of a line graph:

+ The horizontal axis usually involves units of time: days, months, years, and so on. Usually,
the time represented in the task is in the past, but some graphs include projections about the
future.

+ The vertical axis can show almost any kind of data: costs, temperatures, rainfall, amounts of
some commodity, population figures, and so on.

 Basic rules for analyzing a line graph:

Strategy to analyze a line graph

- Write at least 150 words.
- Use an academic style.

Requirements - Do NOT give your opinion about the graphs.

- You do NOT have to write a concluding paragraph or make
any calculations.

- General trends are the main changes that take place over the
whole period
- Compare the starting point of a line and the ending point to
General or overall trend(s)
find the general trend
- Identify the lowest and the highest range of data (e.g., most
popular vs. least popular, highest vs. lowest sales, etc.)

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AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

Focus on:
- Starting point and ending point of the line
Details (separate line): - Periods with similar line trend (e.g., increased significantly,
Main features decreased slightly, remained stable, etc.)
- Changes in the trend of the line
- The lowest and highest point (e.g., peak, etc.)
Focus on:
- Similar and contrasting trends of multiple lines (e.g., both
increased/decreased; A increased, but B decreased, etc.)
Details (multiple lines):
- The lowest and highest range of data (e.g., most popular vs.
Main features
least popular, etc.)
- Intersection points (e.g., A and B both reached 5 hundred
thousand dollars in sales in 2010.)

2. Structure of a line graph

Explain in your own words what the graph(s) is showing
a. Introduction
(Paraphrase the question)
b. Overview Describe general trend(s)

c. Body 1 Describe the first group of information

d. Body 2 Describe the second group of information

*Notes:
- An overview is a short summary of the main features. If you do not give any overview, you will get below
band 5 in the Task Achievement criterion.
- You do not have to report all the information given in the graph. You only need to focus on the key
features, changes, differences, etc.

3. Language for Writing

a. Introduction
Type of
Verb Noun phrase Time
chart
The line illustrate(s)  the number of + countable  in [2010]
graph(s) demonstrate(s) noun  between [2010] and
represent(s) [2020]

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AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

compare(s)  the amount of +  from [2010] to

give(s) information uncountable noun [2020]
about  the percentage of/  over a [10]-year
proportion of + noun period

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

Example: Overall, there is a huge increase in the number of people using smartphones
over the 10-year period.
c. Details
*Common words and phrases to describe trends
Trends Verbs/ Phrases Nouns/ Phrases
to rise a rise from
to increase from an increase
to
to grow a growth
to
to decrease a decrease of
to fall a fall
by in
to drop a drop
to decline a decline

to remain unchanged/
stable/ steady at
to stay the same
to fluctuate between … and …
to fluctuate around a fluctuation
to be inconsistent/ unstable

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AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

to stabilize at a stabilization

to reach a plateau at

to peak at

to bottom out at

Slow Moderate Fast Sudden

gradually steadily quickly suddenly
slowly rapidly unexpectedly
slightly

4. Sentence structures
a. Verbs + Adverbs

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AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

Subject
(- The amount of +
Uncountable Nouns;
- The number of +
Verb Adverbs Time expression
Countable Nouns;
- The percentage of +
Nouns;
- Sales/ Production, etc.)

Sales increased significantly from (April) to (July).

The amount of water dropped gradually between (June) and (August).

 the amount of
+ Uncountable
saw/
Time Expression Nouns Verb Adverb
witnessed
 the number of
+ Countable
Nouns

the number of
international
The year (2000) witnessed rise steadily.
students at the
university

b. Nouns + Adjectives
Subject Verb a/an Adjective Noun Time expression
The number of
international from (2000) to
experienced a significant increase
students at the (2005).
university
in +
There + Be (+ a/an) Adjective Noun Time expression
Subject

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AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

in the from (March) to

number of (June).
There was a substantial rise
(smart
phones)

c. Future trends
It is forecast/
Future Time
predicted/ expected/ that Subject
tenses expression
likely
will
It is likely that the price of oil next year.
increase

will have
It is predicted that the price of oil by (2040).
reached
$500
is forecast/
Subject predicted/ To + Verb Time expression
expected/ likely
The number of people
using the Internet in is expected to increase in (2030).
Asia

*Linking words

Look at the line graph and see how sentences (that describe the graph) are linked using
transitional phrases.

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AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

(Source: https://www.english-exam.org/)

 Comparison (Similarities)

Similarly,
S + V + O.
Likewise,
Example: Team sports experienced an increase in the amount of participation by
numbers from 1995 to 2010. Similarly, the number of gym goers also rose significantly
over the 15-year period.
 Contrast (Differences)
However,
On the other hand,
S + V + O.
By/ In contrast,
But
Example: In 1995, around 50% of club members participated in swimming, so this was
clearly the most popular activity. However, this figure decreased steadily to 15% in 2010
and remained steady at this rate until 2015.
Although
While S1 + V1 + O1, S2 + V2 + O2.
Whereas
Example: Although swimming began as the most popular activity, with 50% of the
participants, the rate declined rapidly and stabilized at 15% in 2010.

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AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

5. Sample line graph

The graph below shows the average annual expenditure on cell phone, national and
international fixed-line services from 2001 to 2010.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons
where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

(Source:https://zim.vn/)

Task 1. Look at the line graph above and answer the questions.
1. What is the line graph about?
2. What are the trends of the lines?
3. What is measured on the vertical axis?
4. What is measured on the horizontal axis?
5. What is the time period described in the graph?
6. What major trends do you see in the graph?
7. What are some of the most important features of this graph?

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AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

Task 2. Work in pairs. Fill in the blanks to complete the outlines for the line graph.
How many ways can you organize the main details for the body paragraphs?

- It’s a line graph about _________________________

Paragraph 1 ____________________________________________
- Time: between 2001 and 2010.

- Yearly spending on mobile phones: ________________;

- Yearly spending on national fixed line: ______________;
Paragraph 2 - Yearly spending on international fixed line:
______________.
- The lowest figure during the whole period:____________

Paragraph 3 Describe the trend from 2001 to 2006.

Paragraph 4 Describe the trend from 2006 to 2010.

Task 3. Now, read the sample report and check your answer.

The line graph illustrates the average amount of money spent annually on mobile phone
services, national and international landline services in the US over a period of 9 years.

It is clear that the yearly spending on mobile phones was the only figure that increased
significantly. In addition, the figure for international fixed-line services was the lowest during the
period.

In 2001, nearly $700 was spent on national landline phone services by US residents compared
with only around $200 each on mobile phone and international landline services. Over the next
five years, the average amount spent on national fixed-line phone services fell by approximately
$200. By contrast, yearly spending on cell phone services experienced a significant increase of
about $300. At the same time, the figure for overseas landline services fluctuated slightly below
$300.

In 2006, US consumers spent the same amount of money on mobile and national fixed-line
services, with just over $500 on each. From 2006, the average yearly expenditure on mobile
phone services was much higher than that of national fixed-line phone services and became the
most common means of telecommunication. To be more specific, yearly spending on mobile

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AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

phone services increased to nearly $750 in the final year, while the figure for national landline
phone services decreased to about $400 at the end of the period. During the same period, the
figure for overseas phone services remained stable.

(232 words)

(Source: zim.vn)

6. Brainstorm ideas
Task 4. Read the Writing Task 1 below and answer the questions.
The graph below shows the consumption of 3 spreads from 1981 to 2007.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

(Source: https://ieltsliz.com/)

1. What is the graph about?

2. What information do the 2 axes give?
3. What are the time periods and unit of measurements?
4. What trends do you see in the graph?
5. What are the highest number and the lowest number?
6. What is the most significant change in the consumption of each type of spread?

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AVTC5_Unit 1_Line graphs

Task 5. Complete the following outline for the graph in Task 4.

The line graph illustrates
Paragraph 1:
_________________________________________________________
Introduction
- Time period: 26 years from ______ to ______.
- Units of measurement: ______.
- The consumption of margarine and butter: ______.
Paragraph 2:
- The consumption of low fat and reduced spreads: ______.
Overview
- ______ was the most popular spread at the beginning of the period;
but _______________ became the most widely used spread in the final
years.
- The amount of butter used began at around ______ grams. Then, it
Paragraph 3:
______ at 160 grams in 1986 before ______ ______ to about 50 grams
Body 1
in the last year.
- Approximately ______ grams of margarine was eaten in the first year.
After that, this figure ______ slightly and dropped to about 50 grams in
2007.
- The consumption of low fat and reduced spreads started in ______ at
Paragraph 4:
about ______ grams. 5 years later, this figure ______ at about 80 grams
Body 2
before falling slightly to approximately 70 grams in 2007.

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