Writing tasks 1
TASK 1 WHAT TO WRITE: 1. Write one sentence to introduce the subject and graphic. 2. Write one or two sentences to show the relationship between the data or to comment on the main trend. 3. Write an in-depth description of the information given. Include details from the most important to the least important, depending on time. 4. Write one sentence to conclude your answer STEP 5 - WHAT NOT TO WRITE Only describe the data. Don not give your interpretation of it.
BAR CHARTS A bar chart consists of rectangular bars arranged horizontally or vertically from the x or y axis. Which is the tallest bar? Which is the shortest bar? Have the bars changed over time? How? How do the bars compare to each other?
PIE CHART A pie charts is a circular chart divided into sectors or pie slices. It presents information in segments of a circle or pie, which together add up to 100%. Ask yourself: Which is the largest segment? Which is the smallest segment? How do the segments compare with each other?
LINE GRAPH A line graph plots the changes in data over time: Ask yourself: What is the highest level / point? What is the lowest level / point? Is there a point till when the trend was increasing or decreasing? When did the trend change?
TABLES A table presents information in different categories, making it easy to compare. Look out for the following: What is the highest figure? What is the lowest figure? What is second highest, etc. ?
Percent - the word percent comes after a number Percentage - The word percentage comes after words like the, a, this and that. Often, it is preceded by an adjective. For numbers up to ten, write the numbers in words. For numbers over 10, you can write the numbers in numbers. If the sentence starts with a number, always write it in words.
GRAMMAR Take note of the following prepositions which you will need to describe dates, numbers and comparisons: Dates In December, In 2005, From 2001 -2010, By 1998, Between 1965 -1969 Numbers Increase of 25% Decreased by 10% Fell from 200 in July to 150 in August Comparison Compared to Compared with Relative to
Sales fell dramatically by 100 million in 2001 There was a dramatic fall in sales of 100 million in 2001 that the adverb comes after the verb, whereas the adjective comes before the noun the use of the word ‘by’ before the amount of change when using a verb the use of the word ‘of’ before the amount of change when using a noun
Unscramble the letters in the table below to find the adverbs. Then convert the adverbs into adjectives. ADVERBS ciamalrtdlay yasginincftil myratdeloe gihtllsy ADJECTIVES
In the early hours of the morning. . 6 am. . . . 8 am, the radio was more popular than television reaching a peak of just under. . . . of the population by 8 am. However, ……… the next 6 hours this figure ……… steadily to around 10% of the population. . 2 pm. In contrast, after a slow morning start, television audiences. . . dramatically from 2 pm reaching a peak of almost… Of the population. . . . 8 pm. Radio audiences for the same period continued to. . . to below 10% of the population. . . 2 am. . . 4 am, less than. . of the population were watching TV or listening to the radio.
