WRITING TASK 1 OUTLINE

I. Introduction

- Introduce the graph by including what the graph shows, the period of time and
the unit. To do this, you need to paraphrase the task question.
The given shows the number/amount/quantity + of + N time
(pie/line/bar) demonstrates period
chart/graph describes how many/much + N + V & unit
illustrates
The given table compares the percentage/proportion/ratio/rate/share
gives information about + of + N

* Unit: + Units are measured in …

+ …, which is measured in …
Example:

Ex 1: The given line chart describes the average quantity of international students
from Vietnam pursuing their studies in three distinct countries namely France,
Russia and America in the period of 15 years from 2000 to 2015. Units are
measured in millions.
Ex 2: The given line chart provides information about how many students from
Vietnam on average were educated abroad in three different countries namely
France, Russia and America from 2000 to 2015, which is measured in millions.
* Practice: Write an introduction of the following graphs:

chart  graph
shows  compares, illustrates, …
expenditure on sth  spending on sth, expense on sth
monthly  every month
households  families
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graph  chart
shows  compares, illustrates, …
the amount … consumed  fast food consumption
Australian teenagers  adolescents in Australia
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II. Overview

* Graphs with trends (changes over time):

- Write two sentences describing the general trend and one special feature.

+ Overview 1: Which categories increased? Which categories decreased?

+ Overview 2: Most noticeable point (ex: which is highest/lowest?)

OVERVIEW 1
- Overall, … increased while ... witnessed a downward trend over
- As can be seen from the graph/chart, the period shown.
- From an overall perspective,

OVERVIEW 2
Another striking/noticeable point is that … was always the highest/lowest throughout the
report/survey.

… was the highest/lowest in the beginning; however,

… took the lead in the last surveyed/reported year.

* Graphs with no trends (no time):

- Write two sentences describing the two special features.
+ Overview 1: Which is highest/lowest?
+ Overview 2: Another noticeable point
OVERVIEW 1
- Overall, … was the highest while the lowest figure could be
- As can be seen from the graph/chart, seen in ...
- From an overall perspective,

OVERVIEW 2
Another striking/noticeable point is that … (based on each graph)

* Note: Do not include any data in the overview

Example:

Overall, the consumption of fish and chips declined while that of pizza and
hamburgers experienced upward trends over the period shown. Another striking
point is that the amount of fish and chips that were eaten was the highest in the
beginning; however, hamburgers’ figure took the lead in the last surveyed year.
* Practice: Write an overview for the following graphs

- Overview 1: most categories increased >< entertainment decreased

- Overview 2: spending on rent: always the highest
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- Overview 1: France + America increased >< Russia decreased

- Overview 2: Beginning: France – highest

End: America – highest

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III. Body paragraphs

- Divide categories into 2 groups. Each body paragraph describes one group.

- Categories can be divided by various methods:

+ Ascending group – Descending group

+ Highest group – Lowest group

+ Most noticeable group – Least noticeable group

+ Years

+…

Examples:

Body 1: ___________________________________________________________

Body 2: ___________________________________________________________

Method of grouping: ________________________________________________

Body 1: ___________________________________________________________
Body 2: ___________________________________________________________
Method of grouping: ________________________________________________

Body 1: ___________________________________________________________
Body 2: ___________________________________________________________
Method of grouping: ________________________________________________
* Useful tips for body paragraphs:

1. Using ‘trigger expressions’ – Cụm dẫn mở đầu

- In terms of, with regard to, regarding, with respect to, as for + Noun/Noun
phrase

Ex: + Body 1: In terms of city A and B, …

Body 2: With regard to the remaining group, …

- Similarly, likewise, - tương tự như thế

- In contrast, by contrast, - ngược lại

- Meanwhile, whereas - trong khi đó

2. Do not analyse each category separately all the times

- Try to describe categories at once

- Use comparison languages:

 Equal & Comparative & Superlative

 Double / Triple / Quadruple
 Overtake / surpass / exceed - vượt qua

Ex: + The citizen’s average monthly income of city A was higher than that of
city B, $1500 compared to $1450.

+ The population of city A doubled that of city B, 1 million compared to

500 thousand.
 SAMPLE ANSWER

The given line chart compares the fast food consumption of adolescents in
Australia in the period of 25 years from 1975 to 2000. Units are measured in times.
Overall, the consumption of fish and chips declined while that of pizza and
hamburgers experienced upward trends over the period shown. Another striking
point is that the amount of fish and chips that were eaten was the highest in the
beginning; however, hamburgers’ figure took the lead in the last surveyed year.
In terms of consumption data of fish and chip, this kind of food was the most
popular fast food with Australian teenagers, being eaten 100 times a year. This was
far higher than pizza and hamburgers, which were consumed approximately 5
times a year. Although there was a moderate rise again to around 90 times from
1980 to 1985, the consumption of fish and chips gradually declined to just under
40 times per year over the last 25-year period.
Regarding the remaining group, teenagers ate the other two fast foods at much
higher levels. Specifically, the amount of pizza eaten increased gradually until it
overtook the consumption of fish and chips in 1990. It then leveled off from 1995
to 2000 at above 90 times. Meanwhile, the biggest rise was seen in hamburgers
whose consumption climbed up sharply throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s,
exceeding that of fish and chips in 1985. This figure finished at the same level that
fish and chips began, with consumption at 100 times a year.

* Body 1: France + America

- 2000: France higher/over doubled

- 2005: France - America

- 2005 - 2015: France followed by

America: + surpassed France

* Body 2: Russia

- 2000: stood at/be at

- 2000 – 2010:

- 2015: although , was still the lowest