Introduction sentence (25-30 words, 3 minutes)

WITH TIME PERIOD

NO TIME PERIOD

Find: 1) type of chart 2) what is being measured 3) units 4) categories 5) years 6) time period

Type of chart: line graph, bar chart, table, pie chart, diagram, flowchart, cycle diagram, process, map, combination of two types

presents statistical data / information on /// provides data / information on /// compares and contrasts data

on the changes in the amount / number / levels of… (what is being meas.)

on the differences in the amount / number / levels of… (meas.)

of X, namely… (categories)

over a X-year period from A to B. (time period)

measured in…(units) …in X (years)

The line chart compares and contrasts data on the changes in the GDP levels of three different cities, namely Paris, New York and Tokyo, over a 12-year period from 1996 to 2007.

The table compares and contrasts data on the differences between 12 types of cosmetic and toiletry products in Japan, measured in billions of US dollars, in 2004.

An overview of the diagram / bar chart shows that… // A closer look at / study of the diagram shows that / highlights the fact that… // In general,

Write about the largest and smallest category // figure when there is no time period

It is clear that X represents the largest portion..... whereas Y is undoubtedly the smallest.

It can clearly be seen that, while sales for all three categories rose over this time period, figures for Windows were usually higher than the other two.

A closer look at the diagram highlights the fact that the revenue for all three categories, Windows, Google and iPod, rose over this period of time.

(In contrast // In comparison // However // On the other hand // While // whereas // although // but)

Write about the EXTREMES (the largest and smallest categories)

Specify the General Statement (using specific numbers and categories) ----- More specifically, // To be more precise, //

sales of _____ stood at __% in 1925 ...whereas sales for X were just 10%.

in 1955, approximately three quarters were male.... while in 1960, this had fallen to just under a fifth.

The CONSTANT (no change) --- In addition, X remained constant at…

The EXCEPTIONS: …with the notable exception of X, which experienced…

The CONTINUED RISE / FALL (over a period of time) ---- The only X to experience a continued rise / fall was Y, dropping from A to B.

The PEAK / THE TROUGH ---- One further point to note is that X reached a peak of A in B. (peak / reach a peak, hit a peak)

One main point worth noting is that… (main = significant, important, obvious, noticeable, distinctive, underlying, widespread)

OTHERS: - only category to always rise/fall // biggest / smallest increase // comparison of change // two categories the same //between two categories

NO TIME PERIOD: the relative size of one category with another // the rankings of one category to another//Parts of whole (only with percentages) --- Phrases: the biggest contributor to // the third most important category // the second main contributor // this contrasts markedly // with much lower figures // by almost a fifth (19%) // nearly three times bigger // over tenfold larger // a difference of over 70% // figures of 72% and 7% respectively

climb, recover / pick up again (used after drops), exceed (ex: exceeded 15%), jump, developed, enhanced, grew, increased, jumped, rose

DRAMATICALLY: soar, rocket, leap (leapt), surge, double, triple/treble, take off, reach its highest point, skyrocket, boom

Add reason why it is dramatic, e.g. dramatically from $10 to $100, a rise of $90. (dramatic = considerable, significant, substantial, marked, considerable)

drop, dip (noun: a dip), slip back (used after rises), decline, reduce (noun: reduction), shrink, declined, decreased, diminished, dropped, fell, minimized,

DRAMATICALLY: plummet, sink, plunge, halve (noun: half), reach its lowest point, bottom, reach the bottom, dive, nosedive, slump

did not change / there was no change // remain/stay + stable/steady/static/unchanged (at) // maintain the same level // levelled off

modest(ly), slight(ly), marginal(ly), moderate(ly), minimal,

sudden(ly), steep(ly) and sharp(ly) can be used for relatively minor changes that happen quickly.

ANTONYM for sudden, steep and sharp => steady (steadily), gradual(ly), consistent(ly).

Other adjectives: overall, upward, downward. Adverbs: upwards, downwards.

differed by /different among /difference of / By contrast  Similarly /similar (to) /same as

Future: predicted, expected, forecast, anticipated