Oxford Dictionary Notes on 'Reporting On Data'

 REPORTING ON DATA

 

The most common type of graphs and charts are line graphs (showing developments over a period of time), bar charts (comparing the proportions or amounts of different things) and Pie charts (comparing percentages of parts of a whole piece of data). 

PREPARING TO WRITE 

-- INTERPRETING A LINE GRAPH 

It is essential that you understand the information presented in the diagram before you begin writing. 

You should ask yourself these questions :

-- What is the information about? 

-- What do the numbers on each axis represent?

-- What changes do the lines show?

-- How do the lines stand in relation to each other?

-- What feature of the lines stands out most?

WRITING THE REPORT 

1. LANGUAGE : Accuracy and Clarity are the essential features of a good report. The language you use show be plain and simple, but academic in style. 

2. VOCABULARY : The range of language you need for describing data is small. (See the language bank)

3. ORGANIZATION : Organize the information so that you highlight the main trends or features. There is usually more than one suitable way of doing this. For example, for the graph above, you could focus on the relationship between the various spending categories, or you could focus on the different directions each has taken over 50 years. (Look at the structure of the report on the next page)

PARAGRAPH 1 - INTRODUCTION 

Describes the subject of the data.

PARAGRAPH 2 - TRENDS 

1. A general comment on the trends show in the graph + main trend.

2-3. Provide supporting detail on the main trend. 

PARAGRAPH 3 - TRENDS 

More detail on the trends where expenditure has fallen. 

1-2. A general comment explained in detail in 3.

4. Compare these trends with other expenditure.

PARAGRAPH 4 - TRENDS 

1. More detail on trends where spending rose. 

2. summarizes the main contrast in the trends.

PARAGRAPH 5 - CONCLUSION 

This summarizes the report with a general conclusion. 

LANGUAGE BANK 

-- GENERAL 

The graph/chart shows/represents/indicates...

The figures show/indicate (that)...

draw conclusions from, e.g. : The following conclusions can be drawn from the data.

-- BAR CHARTS : DESCRIBING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMOUNTS 

There were almost twice/three times/half as many

...as

Far/slighly/20% fewer X... than Y...

Many/far/Afew/20% more X...than Y...

A greater proportion of... than of... 

20% of women..., while only 10% of men...

80% of (adults send emails), comapred to 34% (who prefer texts). 

-- PIE CHARTS : DESCRIBING PROPORTIONS OF A WHOLE 

More/less than half of the total...

Only a third/a quarter... just/well under/over 50%...

The biggest/smallest proportion/sector...

The vast majority of...

As many (people were learning French) as (Spanish).

-- GRAPHS  : DESCRIBING DEVELOPMENSTS OVER TIME 

A small/slight/gradual increase/decrease

A significant/marked/dramatic increase/decrease

A small/ slight rise/fall/dip

Steady growth

To rise/increase/fall/decrease/decline/drop

To rise/fall steadily/dramatically/sharply/rapidly

Customer numbers have fluctuated.

(Online sales) reached on all-time high/low.

The graph shows a marked change in...