Graphical

Interpretation of
Data

Types

Graphical data can be in many forms. They are

information in the form of:
Bar charts
Histograms
Pie charts
Tables diagrams
Pictures
Line graphs
pictographs

Functions

To show the information more clearly

To make information easier to understand
To show how two sets of information or variables
amounts are related usually by lines or curves
To explain how what is being represented works
A key is provided to represent information in the
graph

To draw a graph you need to plot results along

the x and y axes
Different amounts are presented by thin
vertical or horizontal rectangles which have
the same width but vary in height or length
Information is usually very clear and detailed

Tables

Probably the most frequently used visual in

reports
Presents quantitative information
Arrange facts and numbers in rows and
columns
Information can be easily tabulated for easy
reference
Systematic form of presenting data

Bar Charts

Enable visual comparison

Used to compare related items
Illustrate changes in data over time
Show how parts relate to a whole
Bars can be presented vertically, horizontally,
grouped or segmented

Line Graphs

Show changes over time thus indicating trends

Do not provide precise data but give an overall
or impression of the data
Used to highlight important points or trends
Simple line graphs show just one variable
Multiple line graphs combine several variables

Pie charts

Enable readers to see a whole and the

proportions of its components or wedges
Less flexible than bar or line graphs
Useful in showing percentages
A wedge can be exploded or popped out for
special emphasis
Include actual percentage or absolute value for
each wedge

Use four to eight segments for best results

Distinguish wedges with colours, shading or
cross-hatching
Keep all labels horizontal

Graphical data can be used to analyse data

from different sources:
Sales profit and sales loss
Tabulating the results of a survey
Comparison of different years
To show progress
Makes information quick easier to understand
than written reports

When to use visuals

To clarify support text descriptions of

graphic topics: quantitative or numeric
information
To simplify divide complicated descriptions
into components
To emphasize call attention to important
points by illustrating them with line, bar or pie
chart

To summarize review major points in the

narrative by providing a chart or table to sum
up the data
To reinforce present information in visual
form to supplement description in text
To attract make material seem more
interesting by breaking up the text with visual
aid

To impress to convey authenticity and

precision
To unify depict the relationships among
various elements of a whole

Effective visual choice

Table to present individual, exact data

Line graph, bar graph to show trends in one
or more variable, or the relationship between
those variables over time. To compare two or
more sets of data.
Pie chart to show frequency or distribution
of parts in a whole

Interpreting Graphs :
Useful Vocabulary

Movement (Verbs) Up :
Rose
Went up
Increased
Grew
Shot up
Surged
Rocketed

Movement (Verbs) Down :

Fell
Declined
Dropped
Decreased
Sank
Went down
Plunged
Plummeted

Prepositions
Between 1995 and 2000
From 1995 to 2000
Sales rose from 200 to 250
Sales fell to 150 in March
Sales fell by 50%

Adverbs & Intensifiers

slightly
a little
a lot
sharply
suddenly
steeply
gradually
gently
steadily

No Movement (Verbs with

adjectives,Verbs)
remained steady
were unchanged
did not change
remained constant
remained stable
stabilized

Tops & Bottoms

reached a peak
peaked
reached their highest level
fell to a low
sank to a trough
reached a bottom

Exercise :
Match the graphs to the correct
definitions by using the
numbers of each graph

Sales bottomed out in May.

Sales levelled off from July.
Sales rose steadily over the year.
Sales peaked in June.
Sales remained the same.
Sales increased sharply from June.
Sales rose gradually through the year.
Sales fell steadily through over the year.

Answers

Sales bottomed out in May.

Sales levelled off from July.
Sales rose steadily over the year.
Sales peaked in June.
Sales remained the same.
Sales increased sharply from June.
Sales rose gradually through the year.
Sales fell steadily through over the year.

8
5
1
7
3
4
2
6

Presenting (Writing)
Visuals : Useful Phrases
& Vocabulary

As you will see from this graph ...

I'd like to show you ...
Let me draw your attention to this part of the
graph.
Let's look more closely at this month's figures.
This figure refers to the sales in China only.
This pie chart shows our share of the European
market today

As you can see, our main competitor has an even bigger share.
The bar chart represents sales in our Asian outlets.
Here you can see a comparison between ...
On the line graph you will note :

despite occasional fluctuations ...

with a slight drop during the holiday season ...
with occasional variations due to
a strong upward trend in the sales of product A ...

On the line graph you will note :

the overall performance of produce B is good.

The initial surge in sales was followed by a period of
slower growth
in the second half of the year.
The instant success of the product was followed by a
period of
stabilization in the level of sales.

Commenting Trends Useful

Phrases

Increases :

a slight/constant/marked/substantial/increase in sales
an increase of about/roughly/approximately/in the region of ... %
a little over/above what we predicted
the recovery/upturn began in (month)
an overall increase in ...
an upward trend in the demand for ...
sales reached record levels / reached a peak in (month)
a strong surge in the sales of ...
by (month), the figure had risen to ...
we predict that sales will soar in the coming year / over the next ...
months

Commenting Trends Useful

Phrases

Decreases :

just under our target

way below our expectations
a slight / notable / significant decrease in ...
the downturn began in (month)
the situation began to deteriorate in (month)
the number has continued to fall

Commenting Trends Useful Phrases

Fluctuations :

a slow start developed into steady progress in sales

an initial upward trend was followed by ...
we note slight fluctuations through the year
normal seasonal variations are the cause of
occasional downward trends
sales have been (rather) irregular
the level / the rate has been unstable since ...
you will note a certain instability in the rate of ...

Commenting Trends Useful Phrases

Conclusions - useful phrases :

We must focus our attention on ...
What I suggest is ...
There is a necessity for ...
We need more ...
We have no choice but to ...
Appropriate measures must be taken
The only option we have is to ...
These changes are inevitable.
We will have to revise our estimation.
The result / outcome will be ...
I strongly recommend ...
To conclude, I am happy / I regret to announce that ...

General Guideline in Writing Graph

Interpretations

Typically consists of 3 4 paragraphs.

Use simple present tense for the introduction. Describe

what you see (title, categories, etc.)

Use past tense throughout the body paragraph.

(Describe the major and SOME of the minor trends by
using statistics sparingly, use various sentence types
noun and verb phrases)

Conclusion (repeat the topic sentence differently and

only the overall/major trend generally, without statistics).