Graphs and Tables

A graph is a visual, concise means of presenting information; a table presents facts and figures in compact form.

There are three basic kinds of graphs: a circle or pie graph, a bar graph, and a line graph.

Circle/Pie Graph

In studying circle graphs, you should determine:

  1. what the entire circle represents,
  2. what the various parts of the circle represent and
  3. how the percentages compare.

Bar Graph

When studying bar graphs, you should ask:

  1. what the subject of the graph is,
  2. how the various parts relate to this subject and
  3. what the relative percentages that each bar represents are.

Line Graph

Line graph are made up of three important parts--the vertical axis, the horizontal axis, and the diagonal line, which shows the relationship between the figures on the vertical axis and those on the horizontal.

In studying line graphs, you should:

  1. determine the topic of the graph and
  2. look at the axes and diagonal line to understand the relationship that is being illustrated.

Tables

When reading tables, you should:

  1. determine the subject and
  2. establish what each category and subcategory represents.

(From Integrating College Study Skills)

Making Inferences from Graphs and Tables

Graphs and tables are visual representations which can give information both directly and indirectly. In other words, readers sometimes may have to make inferences or draw conclusions based on the data given as well as their knowledge of the world.

Following are some expressions we may use when making inferences:

From the information given, I conclude that _____________________.

infer that _________________________.

assume that _______________________.

From the information given, it can be decided that _________________.

concluded that _______________.

inferred that _________________.

assumed that ________________.

The information (in the text/ in Figure…) implies that ______________.

suggests that _____________.

hints that ________________.

Verb forms used with inferences

  1. Present Tense
    2.

    may/might/could/ must + infinitive form of the verb

    (without to)

    Example: " I can smell gas. The pipe must be broken.

  2. Past Tense
    3.

    may/might/could/must + have + past participle of the verb

    Example: The multiple explosion at the LPG filling station near Klong Ton must have been caused by a gas leak. The station attendants may have been careless with the gas.

     

    Describing Graphs and Tables

    The information contained in a graph or a table can also be expressed in words. The following are some useful expressions describing graphs and tables.

    1. X

    make up

    amount of Y.

     

    account for

     

     

    be responsible for

     

     

    contribute to

     

     

    constitute

     

     

    e.g. According to Figure 1, food garbage makes up 17% of the total solid waste collected in the United States in 1975.

  3. When comparison is involved, these expressions may be used:

a.

Adjective

Noun

 

slight

rise

 

slow

increase

 

gradual

decrease

There is/was/has been a steady decline in X.

 

marked fall

dramatic drop

sharp

rapid

sudden

 

 

b.

Verb

Adverb

 

X

rise

slightly

 

increase

slowly

 

decrease

gradually

 

decline

steadily

 

fall

markedly

 

drop

dramatically

 

e.g. It can be seen from Figure 3 that the concentration of sulfur dioxide increases sharply from September and falls dramatically from December.

(The Division of English for Science and Technology,

Chulalongkorn University Language Institute)

Links

 

Go to ===> EAP Page