Graphs, charts, and tables are ways of presenting information. Graphs and charts are pictures which show numbers or figures, and tables are just rows and columns of information.

One of the most important things to do is get the main idea of the graph

First, identify the main features of the graph. What is happening? What are the biggest numbers? If it is a time graph, what are the biggest changes? What are the trends?

Ideally you need to find one main idea and, if possible, one or two more smaller ideas.

◾Don’t give too much information

◾Don’t analyze or explain everything in the graph

◾Don’t go from left to right, explaining everything. Instead pick the main ideas.

◾Use the biggest and next biggest – don’t mention everything in between.

◾Don’t mention the small or unimportant stuff

◾Pick an idea and find information that supports it

◾Fell

◾Declined

◾Dropped

◾Decreased

◾Sank

◾Went down

◾Plunged

◾Plummeted

◾Between 1995 and 2000

◾From 1995 to 2000

◾Sales rose from 200 to 250

◾Sales fell to 150 in March

◾Sales fell by 50%

◾slightly

◾a little

◾a lot

◾sharply

◾suddenly

◾steeply

◾gradually

◾gently

◾steadily

◾remained steady

◾were unchanged

◾did not change

◾remained constant

◾remained stable

◾stabilized

◾reached a peak

◾peaked

◾reached their highest level

◾fell to a low

◾sank to a trough

◾reached a bottom

The Introduction should describe the purpose of your report and say what overall trends you see.
 For example, if the graph is climbing up or dropping down, you should mention that.

You need to remember that you are describing a graph to someone who doesn’t see it. Write what the graph is about, its dates and location.

The chart illustrates \shows\indicates \ explains \reveals \talks about …XX

Important! You need to write about all the periods of time and all the subjects of graph. If it shows several years (1992, 1993, 1994) – write about all of them, if it is about men and women – write about both. Remember, summarizing doesn’t mean throwing away information. The secret here is to select what’s important, organize it, compare and contrast.

 Finally, at the end.

1. As it is presented in the diagram(s)/ graph(s)/ pie chart(s)/ table...
2. As (it is) shown in the illustration...
3. As can be seen in the...
4. As the diagrams suggest...
5. According to the...
6. Categorically speaking...
7. Getting back to the details...
8. Now, turning to the details...
9. The table data clearly shows that...
10. The diagram reveals that...
11. The data suggest that...
12. The graph gives the figure...
13. It is interesting to note that...
14. It is apparently seen that...
15. It is conspicuous that...
16. It is explicitly observed that...
17. It is obvious...
18. It is clear from the data...
19. It is worth noticing that...
20. It is crystal clear/ lucid that...
21. It can be clearly observed that...
22. It could be plainly viewed that...
23. It could be noticed that...
24. We can see that...