1.

Interpreting Charts and Diagrams

Charts and diagrams are graphical and visual display of information in which data
are presented more vividly and accurately. Pictorial texts such as charts, tables,
menus, line graphs, bar graphs, maps, diagrams etc. are called para orthographic
texts.
Charts and diagrams are often used to ease understanding of large quantities of
data and the relationships between parts of data. While interpreting the
information given in charts and diagrams, students are required to study all the
linguistic information carefully. Such texts need to be changed into orthographic
texts (writing system) and vice versa. Interpreting tables and charts Tables, charts
and diagrams are symbolic visual reading materials which contain a lot of
information.
•Charts. Pie charts are different types of data presentation. This data is presented in the form of a circle.
There are segments and sectors into which a pie chart is being divided and each of these segments and
sectors forms a certain portion of the total(in terms of percentage). In the pie-chart, the total of all the data
is equal to 360 degrees.
•Pie charts are used to show proportions and how each piece relates to the whole. This example of a pie
chart shows both in words and graphically what working parents spend their time on. Teachers need to
explicitly teach how to interpret the structure of the chart by asking specific questions about the format.
For example, “What information is in the circles? What do the different sizes and colors represent?”
•Graphs. A bar graph is a pictorial representation of data in the form of bars or buildings on a graph.
•Bar graphs present a set of bars. Each bar stands for a specific quantity, amount or measurement. In this
example, students read Fernando’s weekend activities at the bottom of the graph and discuss the amounts
using the grammar of comparisons that was covered in this lesson. To teach the structure of the graph,
teachers ask questions like, “What information is in the bar? What do the numbers on the left mean?”
•Tables.=One of the simplest methods used to analyze the data and to display the data is in tabular form. In
the tabular form, you get a systematic arrangement of rows and columns. The first column is used to
indicate the titles and the first row is also used to indicate the same. It is very accurate as well as an easy
method to display the data.
•Tables present facts or figures displayed in columns and rows. Information in the title and headings (labels)
tell what the columns and rows represent. The table in this example describes the 30 fastest-growing
occupations from 2010-2020. Teachers need to explicitly teach the format by asking, “What information is
in the rows? What information is in the columns?”
• Generally, charts are described in three paragraphs:
• Paragraph one: It includes the introduction of the text. Students need to write what the
text is about and what type of text it is.
• Paragraph two: it is the main body of the text. In it, students should write actual and
relevant information from the charts and diagrams.
• Paragraph three is conclusion: students should write a short conclusion giving a complete
view of what the chart is about. It may contain two or three sentences which summarize
students’ writing to draw a relevant conclusion.
• Some useful vocabulary and expressions:
• Useful vocabulary: the following verbs, adjectives, adverbs can be used while interpreting
the charts and diagrams.
• Verbs : illustrates, shows, gives, displays, increases, goes up, decreases, goes down, makes
it clear, remains, proves, presents, depicts, provides, drop, fluctuate etc.
• Adjectives: considerable, dramatic, gradual, marked, rapid, slow, sudden, slight
• Adverbs: considerably, dramatically, gradually, markedly, rapidly, slowly, suddenly, slightly
• Vocabularies used to describe a number of trends from charts and diagrams:
• Describing the degree of change:
• Adjectives: slight, dramatic, sharp, huge, enormous, steep, substantial, considerable,
significant, marked, moderate, small, minimal
Example: There has been a slight increase in the value of the dollar.
• Adverbs: slightly, dramatically, sharply, enormously, steeply, substantially, considerably,
significantly, markedly, moderately, minimally, gradually
Example: The value of dollar has been slightly increased.
• Describing the speed of change:
• Adjectives: rapid, quick, swift, sudden, steady, gradual, slow, etc.
Example: There was a rapid fall in the employment last year.
Adverbs: rapidly, quickly, swiftly, suddenly, steadily, gradually, slowly, etc
Example: Unemployment fell rapidly last year.
Expressing movement: Verbs and Nouns
• Expressing movement: Verbs and Nouns
• Direction Verbs =Rose to; Increased to; Went up to; Climbed to; Boomed;
Rocketed; Soared
• Direction Nouns= A rise; An increase; Growth; An upward trend; A boom (a
dramatic rise)
• Direction Verbs =Fell to; Declined to; Decreased to; Dipped to; Dropped to; Went
down to; Slumped to; Reduced to: Plunged
• Direction Nouns =A decrease; A decline; A fall; A drop; A slump (a dramatic fall);
A reduction
• Direction Verbs =Leveled out at; Did not change; Remained stable at; Remained
steady at; Stayed constant at; Maintained the same level
• Direction Nouns =A leveling out; No change
• Direction Verbs= Fluctuated (around); Peaked at; Stood at
• Direction Nouns =A fluctuation; Reached a peak of
• Connectives: Reasons (because; because of; as; therefore), Purpose (so that; in order to); Contrastive
(though / although/even though; however; in spite of/despite, but) Time (until; after; before; when;
while; since; once; whenever; as soon as; as long as; by the time) Condition (if; unless)
• Describing a process: overall; first; in which; following this; which; finally; next; etc.
• Some of the useful tips for Interpreting charts and diagrams:
• First, look at the chart/diagram very carefully to identify an overall trend.
• Then, look at the chart/diagram very carefully to identify major trends.
• See the title of chart and diagram to find out the subject-matter.
• Observe the legends and the items presented in „X‟ and „Y‟ axis.
• Compare and contrast bars or columns in relation to the items.
• Study charts, graphs, tables, diagrams etc. carefully and find out what they are about.
• Look at the symbols and signs given in the charts and diagrams.
• Students should choose appropriate title and headline for explanation.
• Students are required to write down answers showing relationship and comparing the information given
in the text.
• Don’t include information which is not given in the text.
• If the title is not given, write a suitable one.
• Pour your thoughts logically and grasp the reader’s interest.
•Useful expressions:
•The pie chart/table/graph/diagram/bar chart/menu/map is about…………………..
•The bar chart deals with……………….
•The line graph shows………………..
•The slices of the pie chart compare…………………….
•The chart is described into ……….. Parts.
•It highlights …………………….
•……………. Has the largest (number of)………….
•……………has the second largest (number of)………….
•More than …………… percent…………
•The number…………. Increases /goes up/ grows by…………
•The number…………. decreases /goes down/ sinks by…………
•According to the given chart, table, diagram/table…………
•As per the table, chart, diagram……………..
•Overall, it is clear that………
•On the whole, we can come to the conclusion that………
• It is evident from the data that……..
•It is clear to note that……….
•It seems that………
•It can be clearly seen that…..
•It is obvious to note from the diagram, chart/table that………
•It is shown that……………
• Samples:
Write a couple of paragraphs on the basis of
the following Pie Chart.
• The pie chart above shows the total income of
Mr. Gurung and expenses in different items.
• He earns Rs. 50,000 per annum and out of
which he spends Rs.12, 000 each in rent and
purchasing food. According to the chart, he
spends 30% of his income on his children's
education. For clothing, he spends only 14% of
his income. His saving seems nominal just Rs.
4,000 per annum. The chart doesn’t show the
expenses on other items such as transportation,
medicine, and other incidental expenses. It can
be easily guessed that Mr. Gurung hardly saves
any money. According to the chart, it seems that
he has given priority to education. It is
interesting to note that he spends equal amount
of money on rent and food.
• In conclusion, it can be suggested that Mr.
Gurung should either increase his income or
decrease the expense on rent to save money for
incidental expenses.
 Population of Nepal in terms of religious group • Possible answer:
Religious groups Percentage
• The table shows the distribution of the
population of Nepal in terms of the
Hindus 81.3
religious groups. According to the 2068
census, majority of the population
Buddhists 9
follows Hindu religion. That is 81.3% of
the Nepali population is Hindu.
Islams 4.4 Likewise, 9.0% of the population follows
the Buddhist religion. The population
Kirats 3.1 following Islam, Kirati, Christian and
Prakrit is 4.4%, 3.1%, 1.4%, and 0.5%,
Christians 1.4 respectively. It has been recorded that
0.9% follow other religions.
Prakritis 0.5

others 0.3
The given table is the Examination grade sheet of Abina. Go through the sheet carefully, and find the grade she scored in the
different subjects.  Now divide the students into pairs, and ask each pair to write down any five sentences explaining the
information in the grade sheet.
Subjects English Nepali Maths Science Social HPE OPT Account
Studies Maths
Grades

Possible answer
1. The given grade sheet shows the grades Abina has scored in her
examination.
2. According to the sheet, she has scored „A+‟ is one subject, i.e.
English.
3. She has scored „A‟ grade in two subjects- Nepali and Accounts.
4. Likewise her scores in Maths and Science are „B+‟ and „B‟,
respectively.
5. In Optional Maths, she has got „C+‟, and in Social Studies, and HPE
her scores are „D+‟ and „D‟, correspondingly.
 The Favourite Sports Events of the Students

Gymanastics
11%

Swimming
27% Tennis
12%
Gymanastics
Tennis
Cricket
Soccer
Swimming

Cricket
21%
Possible answer (Accept any other suitable answer.):
Soccer
30% The above pie chart shows the favourite sports events
of the students. The chart shows that soccer is the
favourite game of 30% of the students. Likewise,
according to the chart, 27% of the students loves
swimming. The chart also shows that 20%, 12% and
11% of the students‟ favourite sports are cricket,
tennis and gymnastics, respectively.
Mr. Basnet monthly income and expenditure

saving; 16%; 16% education; 17%; 17%

travelling; 7%; 7%
Clothes; 11%; 11%

stationery; 9%; 9%

food; 21%; 21%

rent; 19%; 19%

education travelling food rent

stationery Clothes saving