How to present a graph

Quite often there is a graph a table or a chart. Here we can learn to

• understand
• analyse and
• interpret

these charts.

Type of charts

• A line chart shows changes over a period of time, showing data and trends.
• A (vertical or horizontal) bar chart is used to compare different items.
• A pie chart displays the size of each part as a percentage of a whole.
• A table is a convenient way to show a large amount of data in a small space.
• A diagram is a drawing showing arrangements and situations, such as networks, distribution, fluctuation ...
• A flow chart is a diagram that represents a workflow or process. A flowchart can also be defined as a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm,

Can you find the matching pairs?

flow chart
pie chart
bar chart
line chart
table
diagram

Can you find the correct terms?

This is a line graph with two lines. One is a solid line (3). The other is a broken line (4) - you can use this if you can't use different colors. A dotted line (number 5) is often used to show projections into the future.

• The horizontal x-axis (2) shows often the timeline.
• the vertical y-axis (1) has got a scale (6) with units.

Presenting a Graph

Introduction	Topic	Circumstances
This graph shows …	the results of our products …	over 10 years.
The diagram outlines …	the rates of economic growth …	between 2020 and today.
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 shows …	the changes in sales …	over the past year.
This chart breaks down …	the sales of each salesman …	during the past ten weeks.

Trends

⇗ Upward Movement

verbs

• (to) go up
• (to) extend, (to) expand
• (to) grow
• (to) increase
• (to) raise
• (to) rise (rose, risen)
• (to) progress
• (to) push/put/step up
• (to) boom/soar/climb
• (to) jump, (to) skyrocket
• (to) reach a peak, (to) peak
• (to) reach an all-time high

nouns:  

• (an) extension, expansion
• (an) increase
• (a) growth
• (a) raise (US), a rise (UK)
  
  
• (a) progression
  
  
• (an) upswing
• (a) boom
• (a) jump
• (a) peak

⇘ Downward Movement

verbs

• (to) go down
• (to) cut
• (to) decrease
• (to) decline
• (to) drop (off)
• (to) fall (off) (fall, fell, fallen)
• (to) reduce
• (to) plunge, to plummet
• (to) collapse
• (to) slump, (to) go bust
• (to) bottom out

nouns:

• (a) cut
• (a) decrease, (a) downswing
• (a) decline
• (a) drop
• (a) fall
• (a) plunge
• (a) reduction
• (a) collapse (dramatic fall)
• (a) slump

⇒ No Movement

verbs

• (to) keep ... stable
• (to) remain stable
• (to) hold ... constant
• (to) stay constant
• (to) stabilize
• (to) stand at
• (to) remain steady

nouns:

• stability

⮍ CHANGE OF DIRECTION

verbs

• (to) level off
• (to) level off/out, to flatten out
• (to) stop falling/rising
• (to) stop rising and start falling

nouns:

• (a) levelling-off
• (a) change

Interactive Exercises

Look at the graphs and match graph and sentence.

A. The investment level rose suddenly.	Graph 3
B. The sales fell slightly in the final quarter.	Graph 7
C. The R&D budget has stabilized over the past few years.	Graph 8
D. At the end of the first year, sales stood at 50 per cent of the present level.	Graph 1
E. The price peaked before falling a little and then maintaining the same level.	Graph 6
F. There has been a steady increase in costs over several years.	Graph 4
G. The sudden collapse in share prices has surprised everyone.	Graph 2
H. The share value has steadily declined.	Graph 5

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FortfahrenAusblenden

How to …

• … search the Internet
• … give a one-minute-talk
• … respond to Visual Prompts
• … work with cartoons
• … present a graph
• … draw a Poster

See also

• Diagramme auswerten und interpretieren

Weblinks

• Linkliste (eslflow.com)
• Describing Trends (onestopEnglish.com)