Ege University School of Foreign Languages
Materials Development Unit
2024-2025 Spring Semester
GAMMA WRITING MATERIAL
DESCRIBING GRAPHS II
DESCRIBING LINE GRAPHS
A line graph is a chart that uses a line to connect data points. This type of graph helps show
how something changes over time or across different groups. It is easy to see how something is
going through a change by the rises and falls on the graph.
Types of Line Graphs Based on Data Complexity
1. Simple line graph (Single Series) represents one dataset with a single line. (e.g. monthly
temperature changes in a city)
2. Multiple line graph (Comparison of Multiple Series) includes two or more lines to
compare different datasets. (e.g. sales trends of two different products over time)
3. Stacked Line Graph (Cumulative Data) shows multiple datasets stacked on top of each
other. It is used to display how different components contribute to a total. (e.g. total
company revenue broken down by different product categories)
Key Features of Line Graphs
● Title and Labels: The title tells you what the graph is about. Labels on the axes explain
what the numbers mean.
● X-Axis: This is the line at the bottom. It shows the time or different groups (e.g. days,
months, or names).
● Y-Axis: This is the line on the side. It shows the numbers or amounts (e.g. sales, scores, or
temperatures).
● Data Points: These are the dots on the graph. Each dot shows one piece of information.
● Connecting Line: A line connects the dots. This helps you see the trend (how the data goes
up or down).
● Optional Features:
o Gridlines: These are light lines that help you see the numbers more easily.
o Markers: These can be symbols that show each data point clearly.
o Legend: This is a small box that explains colors or symbols, but you usually don't
need it when there is only one series.
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Activity 1. Mark the key features of the line graph in Figure 1.
Figure 1. A line graph showing daily exchange rate of USD against EUR (2018-2022)
(taken from https://www.statista.com/chart/10904/usd-eur-echange-rate/)
Activity 2. Read the model text based on the chart above and answer the following questions.
The chart shows the daily exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the Euro between 2018 and
2022. As can be seen, the exchange rate stood at 0.80 in 2018 and gradually increased to 0.94 by
2020. However, throughout the same year, this figure declined gradually and reached its lowest
level at the end of 2020. Finally, the rate of the US dollar against the Euro started to go up and
reached .90 by the end of 2021. By 2022, the exchange rate reached a peak of 1.00. In summary,
although there was a steep fluctuation in the dollar Euro parity, the trend was upwards.
a) Underline the verbs used in the text. Do they inform any changes in trends, or do they
describe a state?
b) What prepositions are used after each verb?
c) Is there a topic and a concluding sentence?
d) How is the transition ensured between the sentences?
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Activity 3. a. Put the verbs/phrases in bold in the following sentences into the correct boxes in
Figure 2.
b. Put the underlined adjectives and adverbs into the correct boxes in Figure 3.
1. After a steady upward trend, the company’s revenue reached its highest level of $10 million
in Q4.
2. The price of oil dropped significantly after October, continuing to decrease throughout the
winter.
3. The line graph shows that the number of visitors reached a peak of 2,000 in August.
4. The unemployment rate remained stable for several months, with little change from January
to April.
5. Stock prices climbed gradually over the next few months, peaking in mid-July.
6. In the final quarter, there was a noticeable decline in sales, dropping by 15%.
7. The unemployment rate troughed in January, hitting its lowest point before starting to
climb again.
8. After several months of decline, the economy stabilized in early autumn, with no further
drops.
9. The sales numbers increased steadily from January to March, showing consistent growth.
10. After a strong beginning, the sales figures sank to a trough in November, reaching their
lowest point.
11. The graph demonstrates that the stock market peaked at $500 per share in early December.
12. After an initial surge, the number of subscribers fell dramatically in the following months.
13. The graph illustrates that the market reached a bottom of $200 per share in mid-July.
14. The number of website visitors began to decrease after July, reflecting seasonal changes.
15. After a slight dip in February, the value of the currency began to rise in March.
16. The number of visitors to the website remained constant throughout the summer, without
significant change.
17. The temperature data went up sharply in June, reaching the highest levels of the year.
18. Throughout the year, the temperature data fluctuated between highs and lows, showing
seasonal variation.
19. The line graph clearly shows that the company’s profits hit a trough in February before
recovering.
20. The graph shows that the number of new customers plummeted in the last quarter, falling by
half.
21. After a slow start, the market demand began to grow significantly in the second quarter.
22. In the second half of the year, the stock index went down, losing 20 points by December.
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Figure 2. Verbs and nouns indicating trends and states
Verbs / Phrases Nouns
movement grow growth
up
the tops
movement
down
the bottoms sink to a trough trough
no change
movement
up and down
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Figure 3. Adjectives and adverbs expressing the speed or amount of change
Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs
Slow Changes Small Changes
gradual gradually
Sudden Changes Big Changes
Activity 4. a. Fill in the blanks with the correct adjective or adverb from the pairs below.
b. Add any new adjectives or adverbs to your lists in Figure 3.
c. Put the nouns in bold below in the correct boxes in Figure 2. Match these
nouns with the verb forms when possible.
1. steady / steadily
The company saw a ________ growth in revenue over the past year.
Sales increased ________ over the last quarter, without any major changes.
2. sharp / sharply
The line graph shows a ________ decline in temperature as winter approached.
The prices of raw materials ________ rose after the announcement of supply chain
disruptions.
3. gradual / gradually
The stock market ________ recovered after the early-year downturn.
The increase in profits was ________, occurring over several months.
4. significant / significantly
The sales numbers improved ________ after the marketing campaign launched.
The drop in website traffic was ________, affecting the company's performance.
5. slow / slowly
The number of new users increased at a ________ pace in the first half of the year.
The unemployment rate decreased ________ over the summer months.
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6. dramatic / dramatically
The temperature showed a ________ rise in just a few days, reaching an all-time high.
The company’s profits increased ________ after the product launch in December.
7. minor / minimally
The stock price changed ________, with only small daily fluctuations.
There was a ________ decrease in production costs, which had little impact on profits.
8. slight / slightly
The market experienced a ________ dip in sales before recovering.
The prices of commodities dropped ________ last month.
9. rapid / rapidly
The inflation rate rose ________ in the second half of the year, reaching an alarming rate.
The graph illustrates a ________ increase in demand for electric vehicles over the past year.
10. sudden / suddenly
There was a ________ drop in customer satisfaction following the service disruption.
The economy ________ fell into a recession after the global crisis began.
11. consistent / consistently
The product's performance remained ________ throughout the year.
The company's sales grew ________ every quarter, with no major fluctuations.
Activity 5. a. Put the sentences into chronological order.
b. Complete the line graph in Figure 4 based on the information below.
a) ______ However, the prices of houses started to increase from 0.5 million to 6 million
between 2015 and 2020.
b) __0___ The graph demonstrates the prices of the houses in millions between 2000 and 2020,
followed by a forecast for the near future.
c) ______ The prices of houses stood at a million in 2000.
d) ______ Overall, the prices of houses fluctuated sharply from 2000 to 2020, but according to
forecasts, they will remain stable in the next five years.
e) ______ Finally, the prices reached a peak of 6 million in 2020.
f) ______ This figure climbed from 1 million to 4 million between 2000 and 2005.
g) ______ This was followed by a gradual fall until it reached its lowest level in 2015.
h) ______ In the near future, the prices of houses are expected to fall slightly from 6 million to
5 million in 2025, and they will probably remain constant at around 5 million after that.
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Figure 4. The line graph described in Activity 5 (incomplete with only some datapoints marked)
Activity 6. Complete the sentences with a preposition from the box.
at between by of to
a) Over the last two decades, the rents have increased __________ 100%.
b) During the winter, temperatures fluctuate __________ 10 and 17 degrees.
c) Sales started __________ $3,000,000 in 2015.
d) Profits grew from 8 billion euros __________ 10 billion in the last quarter.
e) The number of accidents reached a peak __________ 1500 in January.
f) The number of members peaked __________ 25000 last month.
g) By the end of the year, the value of the company stood __________ its lowest level.
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Activity 7. Paraphrase the following sentences.
0. The exchange rate gradually increased from .80 to 0.94 by 2020.
There was a gradual increase in the exchange rate from .80 to 0.94 by 2020.
1. The unemployment rate increased dramatically from 10% to 30% between 2020 and 2023.
There was a _____________________________________________________________.
2. The number of people who work has fallen sharply from 10,000 to 7,000 in the last three
months.
There has been a _________________________________________________________.
3. Regular fast-food consumption has increased gradually from 2.2% to 3% since 2022.
There has been a _________________________________________________________.
4. Share prices have fluctuated rapidly over the last decade.
There has been a _________________________________________________________.
5. Estimates show that the online industry will grow by 9.1% each year between 2025 and 2030.
According to estimates, there will be a ________________________________________.
6. Students’ attendance declined steadily by 20% in the second semester.
There was a _____________________________________________________________.
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Activity 9. Describe the line graph given in Figure 5. (min. 100 words)
Figure 5. A line graph demonstrating a nano influencer’s fan base growth over a year
The nano influencer R.J’s fan base growth over a year
Tips for Describing a Line Graph1
1. Start by saying what the graph shows. (e.g. The graph shows…)
2. Then, describe the patterns or trends in more detail. However, only select the most
important ones to write about, and don't write about your own ideas.
3. Use linking words and a range of vocabulary to describe what you see in the charts.
(You can write % or per cent, but be consistent.)
4. Be careful to use the correct tenses to describe the time periods shown.
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The tips given under this title are slightly modified version of those which can be found in the following webpage:
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/b1-writing/describing-charts
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DESCRIBING BAR GRAPHS
A bar graph (also called a bar chart) is a type of chart that represents data using rectangular
bars. The length or height of each bar is proportional to the value it represents. Bar graphs are
commonly used to compare different categories or track changes over time.
Key Features of a Bar Graph:
● Title describes what the graph is about and the data being represented.
● Axes
○ X-axis (Horizontal) shows the categories being compared.
○ Y-axis (Vertical) represents the values or frequency of data.
● Bars
○ can be vertical or horizontal.
○ The height (or length) of the bars shows the quantity of each category.
● Labels indicate what each axis represents (e.g., years, products, population).
● Spacing: Bars should be evenly spaced and not touch each other.
● Color Coding (optional): Different colors may be used to represent various data groups for
clarity.
Figure 6. A bar graph comparing favourite social media platforms among two different age groups.
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Activity 8. Mark the key features of the bar graph in Figure 6.
Activity 9. a. Is there an introductory sentence in the graph description below in this box?
b. Is there a sentence summarizing the basic trends?
c. Underline the words or phrases expressing the differences between teenagers and
adults in their preferences of social media platforms.
d. Highlight the words or phrases expressing the similarities between the two age
groups in their preferences of social media platforms.
The bar graph compares the favorite social media platforms between teenagers (13–19
years old) and adults (30–45 years old). Instagram is the most popular platform among teenagers,
with 30 users, whereas only 15 adults prefer it. Similarly, TikTok is significantly more popular
among teenagers (25 users) than adults (10 users). However, Facebook shows the opposite trend,
as 25 adults favor it compared to just 10 teenagers. As for X, it is the least preferred platform for
both groups, but slightly more popular among adults (10 users) than teenagers (5 users). This data
suggests that younger users prefer more visual and interactive platforms, while older users tend to
favor traditional social media like Facebook.
Activity 10. What feature of the graph is missing in Figure 7?
Figure 7.
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Comparison and Contrast in Graph Descriptions
Activity 11. Use the data in Figure 7 to complete the sentences using the following:
whereas, while, like, unlike, similar to, likewise, similarly, both...and.
1. _______ tablet sales decreased steadily over time, smartphone sales increased
significantly.
2. _______ laptop and desktop sales showed a downward trend, smartwatch sales continued
to rise.
3. Desktop sales remained stable _______ smartphone sales.
4. _______ smartwatches, smartphone sales showed continuous growth.
5. Daily tablet sales dropped from 500 to 300 thousand; _______, laptop sales followed a
similar pattern.
6. Smartwatch sales first increased and then stabilized. _______, tablet sales also saw
fluctuations before declining.
7. _______ laptop ____desktop sales showed an overall decline.
Activity 12. Paraphrase the sentences using the words given in parentheses.
1. Smartphone sales increased steadily, whereas tablet sales declined. (unlike, which)
2. Laptop sales dropped slightly, like desktop sales. (similarly, steadily, declined)
3. Both tablet and desktop sales fluctuated over the years. (similar to)
4. Unlike desktop sales, smartwatch sales increased before stabilizing. (continuously, while,
decreased)
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Activity 13. Look at the graph in Figure 7 and write a few sentences using at least
three comparison and contrast words.
Figure 8. A bar graph that shows the same data as the line graph on page 74 of Skillful 22
Activity 14. Complete the graph description with expressions of comparison and contrast based
on the data presented in Figure 8.
The bar graph presents the sales of bread, soda, pizza, and organic food between 2010 and
2016 in grams or milliliters per week. Pizza sales grew steadily, starting at 200 in 2010 and
reaching 600 in 2016, (1)_____ soda sales decreased, dropping from 300 to 200 over the same
period. (2) ______, organic food sales increased until 2013, reaching 200, but then fell back to 100
by 2016, (3)_____ soda, which also declined over time. Bread sales varied slightly between 400 and
450 but remained mostly stable (4) ______ the other items. (5) _____ pizza, which kept rising, both
soda and organic food showed a downward trend overall. This indicated that while pizza sales
increased continuously, soda and organic food sales dropped after reaching their highest points, and
bread sales stayed at a similar level throughout the years.
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Louis Rogers, Series Consultant: Dorothy Zemach, Skillful 2, B1 Reading and Writing ,Student’s Book Pack, second
edition, Macmillan Education, (nd,np), sample copy, p.74
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Writing a Graph Title
A good graph title should be clear, concise, and informative.
● Clearly state what the graph is about (e.g., sales, population, temperature, etc.).
○ Example: "Monthly Sales of Laptops in 2024"
● Include the time period if specified.
○ Example: "Unemployment Rate in Country X (2020-2024)"
● Include the place name such as name of the city, country, or region, if specified.
○ Example: "Average Rainfall in Istanbul (2010-2020)"
● Include the measurement unit such as percentage, kilogram, dollar.
○ Example: "Percentage of Students Who Own a Smartphone (2024)"
○ “Annual Income of a White Collar Worker in USD (2000-2025)”
● Avoid long or complicated titles.
○ bad example: "A Graph Showing the Increase in the Number of Tourists Visiting
Paris Each Year from 2015 to 2024"
○ better example: "Annual Tourist Visits to Paris (2015-2024)"
● Capitalize important words, but avoid using ALL CAPS.
○ Example: "Internet Usage Trends in Europe (2015-2025)"
● Make sure the title matches the graph type:
Graph Type Example Title
Bar Graph (comparison) Number of Students in Different School Clubs (2024)
Line Graph (trends over time) Global Temperature Changes (1900-2020)
Pie Chart (proportions) Market Share of Smartphone Brands (2024)
Activity 15. What type of graph do you think the following titles are suitable for?
Monthly Coffee Sales in a Café (January–June 2024)
Internet Usage by Age Group in 2024
Energy Consumption in the USA (2010-2020) in Megawatts
Top 5 Most Popular Social Media Platforms in 2024
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Writing the Introductory Sentence of a Graph Description
An introductory sentence of a graph description should introduce the general topic and give an
overview of what the graph is showing.
● Start by identifying the type of graph
● Identify the key information in the graph: What is it showing? (e.g., sales, temperatures,
market share)
● Use a verb like "illustrates," "shows," or "displays."
● Mention the time period or category (e.g., "in 2024," "over the course of the year").
● Keep the sentence general and don't go into specific details yet.
1. Pie Chart (proportions and distribution)
● The pie chart presents the percentage of income spent on different household expenses.
● The chart displays the proportion of different energy sources used worldwide in 2024.
● The pie chart illustrates the distribution of students’ favorite leisure activities.
2. Line graph (trends over time)
● The line graph depicts the rise in online shopping trends between 2015 and 2024.
● The graph shows the fluctuation in coffee prices over the past decade.
● The chart illustrates the population growth in City X from 2000 to 2024.
3. Bar graph (comparing different categories)
● The bar graph illustrates the number of books read by students in different age groups in
2023.
● The chart compares the average monthly electricity consumption in five different countries.
● The bar graph presents the number of tourists visiting three major cities over a five-year
period.
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Summarizing Basic Trends in Graph Descriptions
At the end of a graph description, basic trends are summarized in one or two sentences.
● Use general trend words: increase, decrease, remain stable, peak, fluctuate, drop, grow
● Use comparisons when necessary: higher than, lower than, the most, the least
● Keep it short and clear (1-2 sentences)
● Focus on the main trend, not every detail.
● At the beginning of the last sentence, use a signal word or expression followed by a
comma (,) such as
○ In general,
○ On the whole,
○ As a whole,
○ To sum up,
○ All in all,
○ By and large,
Activity 16. Look at the last sentences (summarizing the basic trends) taken from various graph
descriptions and write a suitable title and an introductory sentence for each.
1.“Overall, bananas were the best-selling fruit, followed by oranges and apples, while grapes had
the lowest sales last year.”
2. By and large, the unemployment rate increased between 2020 and 2021 but has steadily declined
since then, reaching its lowest point in 2024.”
3.“All in all, Mapple has the largest market share, followed by Pamsung, while Muawei and other
brands together make up only 30% of the market.
4. “On the whole, car sales increased steadily from January to May, showing a consistent upward
trend each month.”
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Activity 17. For each graph, write a title, an introductory sentence and a sentence, or two, to
summarize the basic trends. Use the prompts given for each.
1. average daily temperatures/ London/ ℃
Title:
Introductory sentence:
Summarizing basic trends:
2. a white collar worker/ daily activities
Title:
Introductory sentence:
Summarizing basic trends:
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3. number of students/school clubs
Title:
Introductory sentence:
Summarizing basic trends:
Activity 18 . Describe each graph given in Activity 17 in a paragraph of minimum 100 words.
Make sure you
● write an introductory sentence
● describe the trends or states using a variety of vocabulary and sentence structures
● use expressions of comparison and contrast when necessary
● and summarize the basic trends and states at the end of your description.
Activity 19. a. Write the title of the graph in Figure 7.
b. Describe the bar graph presented in Figure 7 in a paragraph of minimum 100
words.
Make sure you
● write an introductory sentence
● describe the trends using a variety of vocabulary and sentence structures
● use expressions of comparison and contrast
● and summarize the basic trends at the end of your description.
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