A4003/UNIT 1/1

UNIT 1: BAR CHARTS

OBJECTIVES

General objective: To recognize and understand bar charts.

Specific objectives: At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

recognize different types of bar charts

understand the different functions and uses of

bar charts

understand information conveyed in bar charts

make oral presentation of information contained

in bar charts.
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BAR CHARTS

INTRODUCTION

Bar charts are generally useful for showing overall trends and comparisons.
The most common ones are horizontal and vertical bar charts. The other
types are multiple bar charts and subdivided bar charts.

1. Vertical Bar Chart

POLISAS STUDENTS
Number of students

1600 2. Horizontal Bar

1400 Chart
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Engineering

Engineering

Engineering

Commerce
Mechanical

Technology
Electrical

Food
Civil

Departments

COMPARISON OF SALES

Europe & UK

Middle East

Far East

Canada

USA

0 2 4 6 8 10
RM Millions
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3. Multiple Bar Chart

SALES:JANUARY TO JUNE 2001

10
8
Thousands

Product A
6
Product B
4
Product C
2
0
Jan Feb Mac Apr May Jun

4. Subdivided Bar Chart

VALUE OF CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

IN KUANTAN

500
Amount(RM)

400
300 Roads
200 Public building
100 Private building
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Vertical and horizontal bar charts are useful in comparing differences in

quantities. Multiple bar charts, on the other hand, make it possible to compare
two or three variables within a single bar. If you need to show how different
facts (components) contribute to a total figure, then the subdivided bar chart is
desirable. A legend is provided in the multiple and subdivided bar chart as a
key to the variables, facts or components.

BAR CHARTS
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PRE READING

Look at the following bar charts. Then answer the questions below.

A.

100.00% 97.38%
Productivity

95.00%
90.00% 87.56%

85.00%
80.00%
1 2
Average,Jan2001throughJune2001.AverageJuly2001throughDec2001

Figure 1.1

B.

AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY 2001

100.00%
Productivity

95.00%
90.00%
85.00%
80.00%
Jan-June July-Dec

Figure 1.2

1. Do you think Chart A or B would make a better visual?

2. Why?
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INPUT

Background: Ms Jeyanthi is the Human Resource Manager of Tangoh Sdn.

Bhd. Recently, the number of accidents at the Kuantan plant has increased
and she is requested by the manager to carry out an investigation at the plant
as well as the Kuala Terengganu and Johor Bahru plant.

The following is the script of the presentation she gave at the monthly
staff meeting.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. You may have Introduces-

heard that a serious accident had occurred at the Kuantan backgr
ound
plant in December. The accident has robbed the informa
employee of a means to earn a living as his hands had to tion
be amputated. Therefore, Mr.Tan, our manager, has
requested me to carry out an investigation on accidents
that occurred at the Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and
Johor Bahru plants. I completed the investigation on 15th
January and I would like to present the results now.

FREQUENCY OF ACCIDENTS AT THE

PLANTS (SEPT-DEC 2001)

8
Number of accidents

6
Kuantan
4 K.Terengganu
Johor Bahru
2

0
Sept Oct Nov Dec

Figure 1.3
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First, Id like to talk about the number of accidents that Refers to

occurred at these plants from September to December Figure 1.3
Focuses on
2001. If you look at the screen, you can see that the Kuantan
number of accidents that occurred at the Kuantan plant plant
increased from the month of September to December.
The accidents were considerably higher in the month of
December.
Focuses on
At the Kuala Terengganu plant, the number of accidents in Kuala
the four months was consistent. Terengganu
plant
However, at the Johor Bahru plant, the number of Focuses on
the Johor
accidents decreased. It was substantially lower in the Bahru plant
month of December.

Now, Id like to move on to the level of safety at the

plants. I have visited the plants and read the reports
submitted. As a result, a few conclusions were reached.

SAFETY LEVEL OF THE PLANTS

100
90
80
70
Percentage

60 Kuantan
50 KT
40
JB
30
20
10
0
Maintenance Safety Staff training

Figure 1.4

This graph shows the level of safety at the plants. The Refers to
 A4003/UNIT 1/7

horizontal axis shows the measures that should be Figure 1.4

taken by the management. They are:
1. the maintenance of machines and equipment used
in the plants.
2. the effectiveness of the safety measures adopted.
3. the training of staff in handling the machines and
equipment.

As you can see, the measures taken in the Kuantan

plant are somewhat lower compared to the KT plant and
much lower compared to the JB plant. The JB plant has
successfully decreased the number of accidents in the
plant.

I therefore recommend that the two plants, that is, the

Kuala Terengganu plant and the Kuantan plant take the
necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of any
accidents in their plants.

I would also like to suggest that the two plants adopt

the measures taken by the JB plant. In future, we hope Concludes
that there will not be any accidents in any of the plants.

Thank you for your attention.

ACTIVITIES

TASK 1

Look at the script, Figure 1.3 and Figure 1.4. State if the following statements are
true or false.
TRUE FALSE
1. The employee who was injured at the Kuantan plant
is back at work now.
2. The Kuantan plant recorded the highest number of
accidents.
3. The number of accidents at the Kuantan plant was a
great deal higher than the Johor Bahru plant in the
month of December.
4. The safety measures adopted by the Johor Bahru
plant was the most effective.
5. The Kuala Terengganu plant has successfully
reduced the number of accidents by adopting
effective safety measures.
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LANGUAGE FOCUS

TASK 2A

The following phrases are used to express the extent of change in bar
charts.

fractionally higher
marginally lower

slightly higher
a little lower

somewhat lower

considerably higher
substantially lower

a great deal higher

far lower
much lower
dramatically lower

Read the input again. Take note of the phrases in bold.

 A4003/UNIT 1/9

Look at the graphs below and complete the sentences using the phrases
on page 8.

250
200
150 1. Sales were ___________________________in 1.
100
50
0
1 2

300
2. Productivity was _______________________in 2
200

100
last month.
0
1 2

250
200 3. The level of productivity in 1 is _______________
150
100 compared to 2.
50
0
1 2

TASK 2B

Read the input on pages 5 7 again. Take note of the bold phrases in
italics. They are signals commonly heard in presentations.

Look at the following signals and write them under the correct headings
in the table below.

1. This graph shows

2. First, Id like to talk about
3. Id now like to turn to
4. In summary, Ive explained
5. After that, Ill talk about
6. Next, let me describe
7. In the first part of my presentation, Ill describe
8. As you can see from the graph
9. Now, lets look at
10. The vertical axis is

Introducing Sequencing Referring to Changing a Concluding

a subject visuals topic

TASK 3
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Situation: You are the Quality Assurance Executive of Quality Control

Department, working for Ming Sdn. Bhd. Productivity was substantially lower
last year due to defects in two of the product lines, namely electronics and
automotive supplies.

Defects in product lines:

Jan-Mac Apr-June July-Sept Oct-Dec

Electronics 14 11 9 13
Automotive
supplies 33 35 38 40

1. Present the information in a bar chart. The chart should show the
differences in the number of defects in the two product lines.

2. Integrate the bar chart in an Oral Report. Indicate which of the two
product lines the Quality Control Department should concentrate its
efforts to reduce defects.

SELF ASSESSMENT
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Look at the bar chart below and complete the script of the oral presentation .

CORROSION TEST RESULTS

80
Percentage

60
40
Ordinary
20 Stainless
0
Saltwater Rainwater
Water

Figure 1.5

Script:
1 ___________________________, Ive carried out Greets the
corrosion tests on the new stainless steel for twelve audience
months. I would like to present the results now.
Refers to the
2 ___________________________, the corrosion test graph
results.

3 ___________________________, you can see the Refers to the

type of water used, saltwater and rainwater and x-axis and y-
axis
4_________________________, the percentage of
corrosion.

If you look at the first and second bar, with regard to Focuses on
the saltwater tests, you can see that there was the saltwater
5____________________________ corrosion evident tests
on the stainless steel. The ordinary steel recorded 80%
corrosion compared to only 20% corrosion in stainless
steel.

6 __________________________, in the rainwater Focuses on

tests, the stainless steel also performed better. There the rainwater
tests
was no corrosion during the twelve-month test.

7 ____________________________, the effectiveness Concludes

of the new stainless steel against corrosion.
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FEEDBACK

Suggested answer:

1. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen

2. This graph shows
3. If you look at the x-axis
4. on the y-axis
5. far lower/much lower/dramatically lower
6. Now, if you look at the third and fourth bar
7. This clearly shows
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ANSWER KEY

TASK 1

1. F
2. T
3. T
4. T
5. F

TASK 2A

1. slightly higher
2. far lower/much lower/dramatically lower
3. considerably higher

TASK 2B

Introducing Sequencing Referring to Changing a Concluding

a subject visuals topic

2 5 1 3 4
7 8 6
10 9

TASK 3
1.

DEFECTS IN PRODUCT LINES

40
30
Number of Electronics
20
defects
10 Automotive
0 supplies
Jan- Apr- July- Oct-
Mac June Sept Dec

Presentation Script:
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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Im Mr. Loh, the Quality Assurance
Executive. The level of productivity in the two product lines, Electronics and
Automotive Supplies, was substantially lower last year compared to the
previous year. This is due to the large number of defects in the two product
lines.

This graph shows the number of defects in the Electronics and Automotive
Supplies lines. One hundred and ninety-three defects were recorded last year.

If you look at the red bars, which indicate the Automotive Supplies lines, you
can see that the number of defects was a great deal higher than the
Electronics lines. The Automotive Supplies lines recorded one hundred and
forty-six defects compared to forty-seven defects in the Electronics lines.

I therefore recommend that the Quality Control Department concentrate its

efforts on the Automotive Supplies lines so that the number of defects can be
reduced.

Thank you for your attention.