HOW TO TALK ABOUT A VISUAL AID

1. Choosing the right visual aid

A flow chart is a diagram A pie chart displays the size A (vertical or horizontal) bar
showing the progress of of each part as a percentage chart is used to compare unlike
material through the steps of a of a whole. (different) items
manufacturing process or the
succession of operations in a
complex activity

A line chart depicts changes A table is a convenient way A diagram is a drawing showing
over a period of time, showing to show large amount of data arrangements and situations,
data and trends in a small space such as networks, distribution,
fluctuation ...

2. Presenting a graph

Introduction Topic Circumstances

This graph shows ... the results of our products ... over 10 years.
The diagram outlines ... rates of economic growth ... between 1990 and 1996.
This table lists ... the top ten agencies ... in the industrial world.
This pie chart represents the company's turnover ... for this year in our sector.
This line chart depicts ... the changes in sales ... over the past year.
This chart breaks down... the sales of each salesman ... during the past ten weeks.

3. The four basic trends are :

 upward movement : 
 downward movement : 
 no movement : 
 change in direction :  or 

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4. Indicating upward movement : 

Verbs Nouns
Transitive Intransitive
(to) increase (to) increase (an) increase
(to) raise (to) rise (rose, risen) (a) raise (US), a rise (UK)
(to) push/put/step up (to) go/be up (an) upswing
(to) grow (a) growth
(to) extend, (to) expand (to) extend, (to) expand (an) extension, expansion
(to) progress (a) progression
(to) boom/soar/climb (a) boom
(to) jump, (to) skyrocket (a) jump
(to) reach a peak, (to) peak (a) peak
(to) reach an all-time high

5. Indicating downward movement : 

Verbs Nouns
Transitive Intransitive
(to) decrease (to) decrease (a) decrease
(to) cut, (to) reduce (a) cut, (a) reduction
(to) fall (off) (fall, fell, fallen) (a) fall
(to) plunge, to plummet (a) plunge
(to) drop (off) (a) drop
(to) go down (a) downswing
(to) decline (a) decline
(to) collapse (a) collapse (dramatic fall)
(to) slump, (to) go bust (a) slump
(to) bottom out

6. Indicating no movement : 

Verbs Nouns
Transitive Intransitive
(to) keep ... stable (to) remain stable
(to) hold ... constant (to) stay constant
(to) stabilize (to) stabilize Stability

7. Indicating a change of direction :  or  ...

Verbs Nouns
Transitive Intransitive
(to) level off (to) level off/out, to flatten out (a) levelling-off
(to) stop falling/rising (a) change
(to) stand at (to) remain steady
(to) stop falling and start rising
(to) stop rising and start falling
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8. Indicating the degree or the speed of change

9. Describing the elements of a graph

Look at the graph and write the appropriate letters in front of each definition :

 : the horizontal axis ( or the x axis)  : a solid line

 : the vertical axis (or the y axis)  : a broken line
 : the scale  : a dotted line

10. Analysing an example

The x axis of this graph shows the twelve

months of the past year while our sales in
millions of dollars appear on the y axis. It may
be seen clearly that sales rose steadily in the
first half of the year (from January to May)
and reached their peak in June. Then they
dropped off in July and levelled out in August.
After rising sharply during September, they
suffered a dramatic fall in October but then
made a significant recovery in November.
However, the year ended with a slight
downturn.

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 DESCRIBING GRAPHS AND TRENDS (EXERCISES 1)
NAME : FORM : DATE :

1.Match each sentence below with one of the following graphs

1.  The investment level rose suddenly.

2.  The sales of our products fell slightly in the final quarter.
3.  The Research and Development budget has stabilized over the past few years.
4.  At the end of the first year, sales stood at 50 per cent of the present level.
5.  The price reached a peak before falling a little and then maintaining the same level.
6.  There has been a steady increase in costs over several years.
7.  The sudden collapse in share prices has surprised everyone.
8.  The value of the shares has shown a steady decline.

2. Look at the graph below, then complete the sentences.

1. The ............................................... compares three products : A, B and C.

2. The ............. shows time over ten years while the ............. shows sales in number of units.
3. As you can see, product A is represented by the ...............................................
4. The performance of Product B is shown by the ..............................................
5. And a …………………………………. has been used to show the results of Product C.
6. Clearly, ................................... is the most successful product ....................................
7. Sales of Product B .......................... in recent years while sales of Product C ......................
8. On the contrary, product A has shown a ..................................................

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 DESCRIBING GRAPHS AND TRENDS (EXERCISES 2)
NAME : FORM : DATE :

3. Read the following text and draw the corresponding graph on the right.

The graph opposite covers

the years 1976 to 1995. It
shows that the number of
television viewing hours
rose steadily and steeply
during that period in the US,
starting at just under 5 hours
a day to reach more than 7
hours in 1995. There was a
slight increase in 1982 and
sharper falls in 1986 and
1991. The next decrease, in
1994, is hardly significant.
Though we do not have the
latest figures, it is unlikely
that the trend will have
reversed.

4. Comment on the graph below using and organising the following expressions :

Sales rose / went up /

increased / climbed ...
+ adverb (slowly / steadily /
rapidly / gradually ...)
Sales stood at ...
Sales peaked / peaked out
Sales levelled out / flattened out
Sales bottomed out
This was due to ...
This was the result of ...
This caused ...
This led to ...

Avoid repetitions !

Conclude by saying whether

this graph is typical or not;
Justify your answer.

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 Football Handball Rugby
€20.00 €15.00 €8.000

Refer to the chart above to write true (T) or false (F).

Football tickets are more expensive that handball tickets.

(__) More / Less + ___________ adjective + than …
Football tickets are less expensive that handball tickets. (__)

Football tickets are cheaper than rugby tickets. (__)

Rugby tickets are cheaper than football tickets. (__) Short + ___________ + than …

Introduction:

The bar chart illustrates the amount of money spent on five consumer goods (cars,
computers, books, perfume and cameras) in France and the UK in 2010. Units are measured in
pounds sterling.

Overview:
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 Overall, the UK spent more money on consumer goods than France in the period
given. Both the British and the French spent most of their money on cars whereas the least
amount of money was spent on perfume in the UK compared to cameras in France. Furthermore,
the most significant difference in expenditure between the two countries was on cameras.

Body:

In terms of cars, people in the UK spent about £450.000 on this as opposed to the
French at £400.000. Similarly, the British expenditure was higher on books than the French
(around £400.000 and £300.000 respectively). In the UK, expenditure on cameras (just over
£350.000) was over double that of France, which was only £150.000.

On the other hand, the amount of money paid out on the remaining goods was higher
in France. Above £350.000 was spent by the French on computers which was slightly more than
the British who spent exactly £350.000. Neither of the countries spent much on perfume which
accounted for £200.000 of expenditure in France but under £150.000 in the UK.

The bar chart below shows the amount of money spent on two types of electronic items in Egypt.

Summarize the information in the chart by selecting and reporting the main features. Make
comparisons where relevant.

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