Syllabus | Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Sample Lessons: ELAP N170
Discussing Trends, Implications, Problems, and Assumptions
Table 5-3 gives some phrases which are commonly used to discuss problems
and make conclusions when writing data commentary.
Table 5-3
Common Phrases to Discuss Problems and Make Conclusions |
| Discussing problems |
may be due to
can be attributed to
can probably be accounted for by
is probably a consequence of
would seem to stem from
There is a discrepancy between X and Y.
There is an anomaly in the results…
There is not enough data to…
The lack of sufficient data/statistically significant data…
One unexpected result is… |
| Making conclusions and speculations |
X is a possible direction for further
research.
Further research needs to be done.
In the future, we could expect … |
Exercise 10
The following sentences discuss problems in the data. Complete them
by choosing a word or phrase from the box below. Type the answers in
the text box and then click on 'Check' to see if you are right. Incorrect
answers will be removed.
| a lack of |
result |
be attributed |
to be done |
expect |
due to |
| a. |
The leveling off of growth may be __________ a consequence
of a certain cautiousness on the part of companies. |
| |
|
| b. |
That these results are not significant can probably
__________ to the small number of surveys returned. |
| |
|
| c. |
Considering this trend, we could __________ a similar
increase in the future. |
| |
|
| d. |
Although these results are significant, more research
needs __________ to firmly establish this trend. |
| |
|
| e. |
One unexpected __________ was that e-mail use was
lower than answering machine use. |
| |
|
| f. |
This anomaly could be due to __________ sufficient
data. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
