L2 Writing Line Graphs

Writing about Line Graphs

Look at the line graph below and answer the questions that follow:

1. What does the line graph show?

2. What years does the line graph cover?

3. What do the numbers on the left of the graph represent?

Let’s write an Introduction for the Line Graph:

Sentence 1: What does the line graph show?

The line graph ________ ____________________________ from ______ to ______. (verb) (object=what?) (year) (year)

Sentence 2: What is the main change from the beginning to end of the graph?

In general, Overall, sales of chocolate ice cream cones in the UAE___________during that time. As a general trend, (subject) (verb)Let’s write a Body Paragraph for the Line Graph:

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L2 Writing Line Graphs

Sentence 1: Begin with the first year in the graph and the amount (how much)

In ______, sales of chocolate ice cream in the UAE began at ______________ (first year) (subject) (verb) (how much?) Sentence 2: Describe the next most important part of the line graph. What happened? What were the years and amount?

From ____to ____ chocolate ice cream sales in the UAE fluctuated between ___and __thousand. (first year) (year) (subject) (verb) (how much?)(how much?)

Sentence 3: Describe the next most important part of the line graph. What happened? What were the years and amount?

Next, in 2006, the sales dropped suddenly from ___ thousand to ______thousand. (year) (subject) (verb) (adverb) (how much?) (how much?) Sentence 4: Describe the next most important part of the line graph. What happened? What were the years and amount? Then, from ____to ____ the sales stayed the same at _____thousand. ( year) (year) (subject) (verb) (how much?)

Sentence 5: Describe the last part of the line graph. What happened? What were the years and final amount?

Finally, from ____to ____ the sales rose quickly to _____thousand. ( year) (year) (subject) (verb) (adverb) (how much?)

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L2 Writing Line GraphsNow copy the 2 sentences from the introduction on the previous pages to make one paragraph and the 5 sentences from the body to make a body paragraph. Put them all together into one small report here:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now read the report about vanilla ice cream sales in the UAE between 2000 and 2009. As you read, draw a line on the graph below to show the trends (changes) in vanilla ice cream sales.

The second line graph shows the number of vanilla ice cream cone sales in the UAE between 2000 and 2009. As an overall trend, the number of sales decreased and then increased.

In 2000 the number of vanilla ice cream cone sales began at 90,000. Then, between 2000 and 2003 the number of sales decreased from 90,000 to 50,000. From 2003 to 2004 that number dropped from 50,000 to only

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L2 Writing Line Graphs5000. This number remained at 5000 from 2004 to 2006. Finally, the number of vanilla ice cream cone sales in the UAE rose sharply from 5000 to 100,000 between 2006 and 2009.

Mark all of the subjects and verbs in the report above with “s” + “v”VOCABULARY TO DESCRIBE TRENDSTrends are changes or movements over time.

Direction Verbs of Change Related Nouns

Past Tense Future Tense

Sales…………

rose to increased to went up to

will rise to will increase to will go up to will climb to

a rise an increase an upward trend A climb

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Rising Falling Remaining the same

L2 Writing Line Graphs

(subject)

climbed to

(verb)

Profits…..

(subject)

fell to declined to decreased to dropped went down to

(verb)

will fall to will decline to will decrease to will drop to will go down to

a fall a decline a decrease a drop a reduction

The number…

(subject)

leveled out at did not change remained steady at stayed constant at

(verb)

will level out at will not change will remain steady at will stay constant at

a leveling out no change

The losses…

(subject)

fluctuated (verb)

will fluctuate a fluctuation

(subject)

The amount…

stood at began at…) started at

will stand at

USING ADVERBS TO EXPLAIN VERBS OF CHANGE

1. Complete the sentences below by filling in the correct adverb or adjective - look at the arrows to guide you.

rapidly steadily slightly

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We use ADVERBS (following the verb) to describe to what extent (how much) the verb of change happened.

L2 Writing Line Graphsdramatically

sharply

gradually

moderately

Al Ain’s population rose _______________ to 400,000 people by 2008.

The number of people living in rural areas of China decreased __________.

By 2008, the population of Dubai climbed ___________ to 1.4 million people.

Al Ain’s population _______________ at 400,000 people from 2008 to 2010.

Note: Adverbs help describe the verbs. They are not necessary but add variety.

Vocabulary practice for writing about line graphs

Part 1: Draw an arrow above the sentences to show what the sentence is describing:

Example:

The population of spiders rose dramatically between June and August in Rome, Italy.

1. Between August and December, the number of Nissan Patrols sold in Al Ain fluctuated between 400 and 500.

2. In 2005 the population of Ankara Turkey fell dramatically.

3. The cost of milk dropped in January.

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L2 Writing Line Graphs4. The temperature declined to 27 degrees in October.

5. In 1993 the number of bicycles sold in Al Ain remained steady at 250.

6. From 1990 to 2000, the percent of children with cancer rose from 8% to 12%.

Part 2: Write the following phrases in the box that best matches the arrows:

Look at the line graph about cute babies born in Germany. Write a two paragraph report about it.

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rose to declined to stayed constant at climbed to began at went up tostood at fell to dropped to remained steady increased to did not changedecreased to went down to leveled out at remained steady at

L2 Writing Line Graphs

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L2 Writing Line Graphs____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now look at the line graph which shows the number of cute babies born in two countries.

How would you write your report for this line graph with two lines in it?

Describing two lines in graph:

The line graph shows the number of babies born in two countries, the UAE and Germany,

between 1990 and 1999. As an overall trend, the percent of cute babies in the UAE __________

while the percent of cute babies in Germany _________.

The percent of cute babies in the UAE ____________ 80% in _________. Then, from

1990 to 1994 the percent of cute babies _________ steadily from 80% to 50%. That percentage

dropped ____ 5% from 1994 to________. Next, between 1995 and 1997 the percentage

_____________ at 5%. Finally, from 1997 to 1999 the percentage _______ to 90%.

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L2 Writing Line GraphsIn Germany _________________ began ___ 50% in 1990. _____ percent ______ the

same until 1992. Then, from 1992 to 1997 the percent of cute babies in Germany _______

________ between 90 and 40%. Finally, from 1997 to 1999 the percentage dropped dramatically

to only 5%.

How to write about 2 Lines in a line graph:

Introduction:Sentence 1: What does the line graph show? (mention both lines)

Sentence 2: What is the main change (trend) for both lines in the graph?Body 1:

Line 1: Write a paragraph about one of the lines first. Describe the beginning point, the most important parts in the middle (not all) and the end point.

Body 2:

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L2 Writing Line GraphsLine 2: Write a paragraph about the second line next. Describe the beginning point, the

most important parts in the middle (not all) and the end point.

Practice with 2 lines:

The line chart below shows the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced in two countries over 10 years.

Describe the lines and their most important trends (changes).

You should write at least 120 words.

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1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 20060

100

200

300

400

500

600

700Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Levels for the USA and India

IndiaUSA

Year

Amou

nt o

f CO

2 (in

mill

ions

of t

ons)