Comparative graph

A graph or table without a trend.

You should compare and contrast the data given in the graph/table
General structure
• Write an introduction to the topic of the graph in your own
words. (Paragraph 1)
• Give an overview of the main ideas in the graph. (Paragraph
2)
• Describe the most important details, including numbers
(Paragraph 3 and 4)
 Understanding and interpreting the graph
Before you start, think about these questions:
1. What will you write in the introduction?
2. What are the main differences between the objects stated in
the graph?
3. How could you group the data?
4. What grammar and vocabulary will you need to use?
Understanding and interpreting the graph
Decide whether these statements about
the graph are True (T) or False (F)
1. On a typical Saturday, Bernie’s Buns is
generally busier than Lovely Loaves.
2. Doughnuts are by far the most
popular item among customer in both
stores.
3. The second-best selling item in
Bernie’s Buns is cookies.
4. Fresh loaves are the least popular
snack overall.
5. Toasted sandwiches are as popular as
cookies.
6. Lovely Loaves sells slightly more
salads than Bernie’s Buns.
 Language for making comparisons
1. Grammatical structures:
- Equal comparison: as……as….
- Comparatives Combine with adverbs showing the amount of
differences: much, a lot, slightly, a bit,
- Superlatives considerably, a little, far

Ex: Lovely Loaves’ revenue of selling cookies is

considerably higher than Bernie’s Buns’.
 Language for making comparisons
2. Linking words
a. Contrasting words:
- while, whereas, meanwhile, however, nevertheless,…
- But, yet, by contrast, in contrast, …
b. Comparing words:
- Both … and …,
- Not only … but also…, similar, likewise,
- … same as …
c. Others:
- Despite/ Inspite of/ Although
- Except for, Apart from…
 Language for making comparisons
3. Amounts, quantities and other measurements
• Quantity = number
• Amount
• Figure = value = data
• Rate = ratio = percentage
• Proportion = portion
• Half/ double/ triple
• A half (n) = halve (v)
• Double = twice as much as
Ex: The number of students in University A was double/ twice as much as the
University B.
• Double (v) = rise two-fold