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Writing Task 1 (1)

The document discusses the differences between static and dynamic charts, emphasizing that static charts represent data at a single point in time while dynamic charts display data over multiple time periods. It provides guidance on selecting key features from these charts and outlines methods for effective paraphrasing, including changing word order, using synonyms, and altering word forms. Additionally, it includes activities for practicing paraphrasing skills relevant to IELTS preparation.

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Vania Ziru
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5 views

Writing Task 1 (1)

The document discusses the differences between static and dynamic charts, emphasizing that static charts represent data at a single point in time while dynamic charts display data over multiple time periods. It provides guidance on selecting key features from these charts and outlines methods for effective paraphrasing, including changing word order, using synonyms, and altering word forms. Additionally, it includes activities for practicing paraphrasing skills relevant to IELTS preparation.

Uploaded by

Vania Ziru
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Writing Task 1

Overview
Static charts and dynamic charts

• STATIC Charts contain data points belonging to either a single time


frame - such as one year, one month etc. - or have no time reference
at all.

• DYNAMIC charts, on the other hand, contain data points in a number


of time periods – for example 24 hours from 12 am to 12pm, 10 years
from 2000 to 2010 or days from Friday to Sunday.
Which of the 2 charts below is static?
Overview – Selecting key features
How do I select the correct features?
To understand this we have to think about the different types of graphs and charts we might see. There are generally two different kinds of charts
and graphs: dynamic and static.
Dynamic charts show data over time and static charts show data at just one point in time. This will affect the type of data we select.

When we are looking at dynamic graphs we should be looking out for:


• What does the data do from the start to the finish?
• Do they generally go up or down or do they fluctuate?
• Any significant difference from the general trend?
• Overall increase/decrease?
• Peaks/lows?
When we look at static graphs we should be looking for:
• What are the highest/lowest values?
• What are the most noticeable differences?
• Any similarities?
• Any significant exceptions?
Activity: identify key features
Questions????
• What does the data do from the start to the finish?
• Do they generally go up, down, or fluctuate?
• Any significant difference from the general trend?
• Overall increase or decrease?
• Peaks / lows?
General trend noticed

• Fossil fuel dominant


• Nuclear and renewable sources small but significant proportion
• Despite small projected gains, it is projected they will continue to
grow
Details
1980 - Petrol /oil – biggest share 35q rising to approx./ 40q in 2008
Projection 50q in 2030
1980 – natural gas/coal 2nd & 3rd with 16q and 20q respectively
1990 – coal overtook natural gas expected to be 2nd most used fuel in
2030 with just over 30q
Prediction of natural gas will level off at about 25q
1980- nuclear and renewable energy represented 4q and fluctuated till
2008. Speculated that by 2030 it will reach 10q, solar/wind 5q hydro
drops and remains at approx. 2q
Sorting details - Paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – introduction (paraphrase chart title)


Paragraph 2 – Overview (key features)
Paragraph 3 – Details (Petrol and oil, coal, natural gas)
Paragraph 4 – Details/conclusion (nuclear and renewable energy)
Paragraph 1 & 2 - Introduction and overview

The line graph shows energy consumption by fuel type in the United
States from 1980 – 2008, with projected use until 2030.

Overall, fossil fuels have been the dominant type and will continue this
trend into the future. Nuclear and renewable energy sources have
represented a small but significant proportion of total energy use and
despite small projected gains; it is expected that they will continue
doing so.
Paragraph 3 and 4
Petrol and oil command the biggest share with 35 quadrillion units (35q) in
1980, rising to approximately 40q in 2008 and this trend is set to continue
with a projected value of nearly 50q in 2030. In 1980 natural gas and coal
came in second and third, with around 16q and 20q respectively. However,
coal overtook natural gas in 1990 and despite some variations, is set to be
the second most used fuel in 2030 with just over 30q. It is predicted that
natural gas will level off and remain relatively constant at about 25q.
Nuclear and renewable energies all represent around 40q in 1980 and
fluctuated up until 2008. It is speculated that nuclear energy will reach 10q
by 2030 and solar/wind around 5q with hydropower dropping and then
remaining constant at approximately2q.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is simply re-writing a phrase or sentence so that it has the same
meaning, but with different words.
EXAMPLE:
Original Example: Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills to learn
before doing your IELTS test.
Paraphrased: Prior to taking the IELTS test, mastering paraphrasing is one of
the most crucial things to do.

As you can see, the second sentence (paraphrased sentence) uses synonyms to
change some vocabulary (e.g., ‘important’ for ‘crucial’ and ‘’prior’’ to ‘before’
and changes the grammar (e.g., Paraphrasing is one of the most important
skills” for “mastering paraphrasing”). You can also change the word order.
Method Number 1: Change the Word Order
Changing the word order also allows us to effectively paraphrase a sentence, but again,
we have to be careful. Don’t change the word order without thinking about how this
affects the grammar of the sentence. By changing the word order you may have to add a
word, subtract a word or change the form of the word.
You can easily change the order of the clauses, if the original sentence has more than one
clause (part of a sentence that contains a verb.)
Question: As languages such as Spanish, Chinese and English become more widely used,
there is a fear that that many minority languages may die out.
Paraphrased by changing word order: There is a fear that many minority languages may
die out, as languages such as Spanish, Chinese and English become more widely used.
We could also add some synonyms to paraphrase it even more:
Paraphrased with changing word order AND synonyms: There is dismay that many lesser
used languages may become extinct, as languages such as Chinese, English and Spanish
become more broadly spoken.
Method 2: Using Synonyms
Using Synonyms
Synonyms are different words that have the same meaning. For
example, ‘humans’ is a synonym of ‘people’ and ‘attractive’ is a
synonym of ‘beautiful’. This method simply replaces words with the
same meaning in order to produce a new sentence.
For example:
• My car needs petrol.
• My vehicle requires fuel.
Method Number 3: Change the Form of the Word

Method Number 3: Change the Form of the Word


There are many different forms of words including nouns, verbs,
adjectives and adverbs. Changing the form of a word allows us to
paraphrase effectively. Again, don’t just change the form of the word; you
also need to check that your changes make grammatical sense. You might
need to change the words around it to make the sentence error free.
Question: Longer life spans and improvements in the health of older
people suggest that people over the age of sixty-five can continue to
live full and active lives.
Paraphrased by changing word form: Longer life spans and
improvements in the health of older people are suggesting that people
over the age of sixty-five can continue living full and active lives.
Method Number 4: Change from Active to Passive

The passive voice is often used in academic writing and can therefore be used
in the IELTS academic writing test. Only verbs with an object can be turned into
the passive.
Example active sentence: The property developers invested $20 million in the
development of the shopping centre.
Example passive sentence: $20 million was invested in the development of
shopping centres.
We often use the passive voice in academic writing when we don’t want to say
it is our opinion.
Example active: People say that global warming is caused by the burning of
fossil fuels.
Example passive: Global warming is said to be caused by the burning of fossil
fuels.
How many methods should be used?

The four methods can be used independently or together. I advise my students to


try and change the grammar (word order and/or word form) and use synonyms.
Remember only use the methods you feel 100% comfortable using and that you
are sure your work is error free.
Next Steps
These paraphrasing methods will only help you in the IELTS exam if you practice
using them. Find some example writing questions and try paraphrasing them using
these methods. You can use the methods individually and then combine them. Try
all of them to see what works for you. If you practice enough you will begin to see
patterns in the questions and common words and phrases will become easy for
you to change.
Activity - Paraphrasing
Some people believe that car emissions have a massive impact on the
environment.
Which is correct?
(a)Some people believe that car emissions have a large impact on the
environment.
(b)Some people believe that car emissions have an enormous impact on the
environment.
The level of crime has increased noticeably in different ways.
(c )There was an increase noticeably in the level of crime in different ways.
(d) The increase in the level of crime has been noticeable in different ways
Successful sports professionals earn more money than people in other
important professions.
(a) People in other important professions earn more money than
successful sports professionals.
(b) People in other important professions earn less money than
successful sports professionals
Some people believe that logging is a serious problem. They believe
that it may lead to the extinction of animal life.
(e) Some people believe that logging is a serious problem, while others
believe that it may lead to the extinction of animal life.
(f) Some people believe that logging is a serious problem and it may
lead to the extinction of animal life.

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