Describing Graphs

Even the most complicated graphs are easy
to describe - if you use a few simple techniques!
Let's take a closer look, for example, at grain prices...

Source: The Economist 18.04.08

Choose any graph you like and

1. describe to yourself what you see
2. note the key points
3. practise writing up these notes as a) introduction, b) body, c) conclusion.

Once you’ve completed your description, check the TENSES! Have you used the right tenses?

Graphs generally talk about
What has happened
What is happening
What is going to happen.

These tenses are your best friends. So get to know them!

Collect useful phrases
- and learn them by heart.

Focus first on phrases for the start and end of your description!
Make a list of all the good phrases you see or hear:

A According to the statistics, greenhouse gas emissions have more than doubled over the past next 25 years.
B These levels are likely to increase significantly as incomes in these countries grow

Which above is the forecast and which is the analysis?

The more you read the easier it will become to decide what sounds right!

Practice

Describe what the above graphs tell us about how grain prices have changed over the past year.

What could be the reasons for these price fluctuations?

Are the graphs correlated at all? Describe any correlation you see!

Avoid phrases like:

“The graph is going up” (Achtung, it has wheels!)

Say instead:

"Figures/The number of..... etc. are/is going up. "

- OR -

“The trend will continue in next few years”.
How do you know? Are you a soothsayer?!

Qualify your statements with words like:
“probably”, “is likely to”, “seems set to” and “economists forecast that….”

Related Know Howe
How to write a critical analysis
Business Topics

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