Syllabus | Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Sample Lessons: ELAP N170
Discussing Trends, Implications, Problems, and Assumptions
Once the claim has been made, you will need to support it with minor
claims. How you organize your paragraph will depend on the nature of
your data and your claim. For example, a major claim which you can make
from the data on salaries in the "real world" is that most majors experienced
at least a 2% increase in starting salaries. Minor claims could discuss
how different categories fared against each other.
It is typical to support the claim with specific details, highlighting
aspects of the graphic representation. There are common verbs and expressions
used to discuss trends, implications, problems, and assumptions in data.
Table 5-2
Vocabulary for Trends, Implications, Problems, and Assumptions |
| Discussing change or constancy |
as X increases, Y increases.
The rate/number of X doubled/tripled.
X declined by ____ %/one fourth per year/overall/between…and…
X peaks at [Noun Phrase]
X reaches a high of/a low of…
X remains/stays constant/stable at…
The more…the greater…
X, but so does Y. |
| Discussing changes over time and the
degree of change |
decline
rise
decrease
peak
increase
drop
upward trend
low point
leveling off
fluctuate
gradual(ly)
sharp(ly)
steady (ily)
steep(ly)
sudden(ly)
abrupt(ly)
dramatic(ally) |
| Discussing correlations |
X correlated (weakly) with Y
X was (strongly) correlated with Y.
There was a (strong) correlation between X and Y.
(Something) shows the correlations of X and Y. |
| Note: When you are comparing data, make
sure that the elements being compared are clear. |
[less clear] PCs were less common in
1990 than answering machines.
[clearer] PCs were less common in 1990 than answering machines were.
[less clear] The number of unemployed males was higher in manufacturing
than service jobs.
[clearer] The number of unemployed males was higher in manufacturing
than it was in service jobs. |
Exercise 7
Complete these sentences describing graphs by choosing a word or phrase
from the box. Type your answers in the text boxes and then Click on
'Check' to see if you are right. Incorrect answers will be removed.
| a sharp decline |
an upward trend |
fluctuated |
a steady decline |
| a. |
 |
Figure A indicates
__________.
|
| b. |
 |
As shown in Figure
B, the rates __________ in this time period.
|
| c. |
 |
__________ is shown
in Figure C.
|
| d. |
 |
From Figure D we
can see that there was ___________ in the first two periods.
|
| |
|
|
| peaked |
a low point |
a strong correlation between |
leveled off |
| e. |
 |
The number of users
__________ in the second period.
|
| f. |
 |
Looking at Figure
F, it is clear that there was __________ in the second time
period.
|
| g. |
 |
Figure G shows that
there is __________________________ expenses and income.
|
| h. |
 |
In the fifth period,
the numbers ___________________________.
|
| |
|
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