Describing Table

8/18/2019 Describing Table

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Signpost Words

The art of signposting is using key words and

phrases to enable the reader or the listener to

navigate their way through your argument. Hereare some signposting words which will prove

invaluable in that process. You may have your

own favorites.


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Highlighting or emphasizing a point

Importantly, …

Indeed, …

In fact, …More importantly, …

Furthermore, …

It is also important to highlight …


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Changing direction or creating a

comparisonHowever, …

Rather, …

In contrast, …

Conversely, …On one hand, …

On the other hand, …

In comparison, …

Compared to …

Another point to consider is …


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Adding a similar point

Similarly, …

Likewise, …

Again, …Also, …

Summarising

Finally, …

Lastly, …

In conclusion, …

To summarise, …In summary, …

Overall, …

The three main points are …


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ACADEMIC WRITING

Being more specific

In particular, …

In relation to …

More specifically, …

With respect to …In terms of …

Giving an example

For instance, …

For example, …this can be illustrated by …

…, namely, …

…, such as …

Acknowledging something and

moving to a different point

Although …

Even though …

Despite …

Notwithstanding …

Following a line of reasoning

Therefore, …

Subsequently, …

Hence …

Consequently, …Accordingly, …

As a result, …

As a consequence, …

To this end, …


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Building on the last section

having established that

if so

in order to

in that/this case

in this connection

moreover

so

that/which implies

then

Adding

also, and, as well (as)

besides

furthermore

in addition

similarly

Examples

as an illustration

exemplifying this

for example

for instance

Reformulating an idea

again

alternatively/an alternative is

in other words

on the other hand

or

ratherthat is

Result

accordingly

as a resultconsequently

for this reason

hence

so

then

therefore

ACADEMIC WRITING


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Describing Table

By Muhammad Fuad


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The Difference between Bar and Table


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The Difference between Bar and Table

Country GNP per head

(1982: US

dollars)

Daily calorie

supply per head

Life expectancy

at birth (years)

Infant

mortality (per

1000 live births

Bangladesh

Bolivia

EgyptIndonesia

USA

140

570

690580

13160

1877

2086

29502296

3653

40

50

5649

74

132

124

9787

12


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Analysing IELTS Table

• Do not describe all the data presented - present

the main points of each feature (you should make

sure you mention each feature though).

• Look for significant data; e.g. the highest, the

lowest etc.

• Try and group the data. This may require you to

use some general knowledge about the world,such as recognising developed and developing

countries.


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Example

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The following table gives statistics showing the aspects of quality of life in five

countries.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information in the table below.

You should write at least 150 words.

Country GNP per head

(1982: US

dollars)

Daily calorie

supply per head

Life expectancy

at birth (years)

Infant

mortality (per

1000 live births

Bangladesh

Bolivia

Egypt

Indonesia

USA

140

570

690

580

13160

1877

2086

2950

2296

3653

40

50

56

49

74

132

124

97

87

12


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Writing Plan

• What is the table measuring?

• What type of language do you need to use(Change? Comparing and contrasting?)

• What tense would you use? Which country hasthe best quality of life and which has the worst?

• What information could you use for an overview /conclusion?

•

How could you group the information?• How many paragraphs would you have and what

you would write about in each one?


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Writing Plan

• Topic – standard of living, 5 countries

• Language – comparison

• Time / tense – 1982 = past• Overview – USA far higher

• Groups :

1. USA = highest2. Egypt, Indo, Bol = similar

3. Bangladesh = very low


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The table uses four economic indicators to show the standard of living in fiveselected countries in 1982. Overall , it can be seen that the quality of life in the USA

was far higher than the other four countries.

To begin, the USA, which is a developed country, had the highest Gross national

product (GNP) at 13,160 dollars per head. It also had a much higher daily calorie

intake and life expectancy, and the lowest rate of infant mortality.

The other developing countries had quality of life ratings that were significantly

lower . The range of indicators for Egypt, Indonesia and Bolivia were similar , with

Egypt having the highest quality of life amongst the three. However, the infant

mortality rate in Egypt’s was slightly higher than Indonesia’s at 97 deaths per 1000

compared to 78 in Indonesia.

Bangladesh had by far the lowest quality of life in all the indicators. Its GNP was

one hundred times smaller than the USA’s. Its calorie intake and life expectancy

were about half those of the USA, and its infant mortality rate was 10 times

greater .

Result


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Example 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The table shows the Proportions of Pupils Attending Four Secondary School

Types Between 2000 and 2009 Summarize the information by selecting and

reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.SECONDARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

2000 2005 2009

Specialist Schools 12% 11% 10%

Grammar Schools 24% 19% 12%

Voluntary-

controlled Schools52% 38% 20%

Community

Schools12% 32% 58%


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Writing Plan

• Topic – School Attendance, four different types ofsecondary school

• Language – Comparisons

• Time – past (2000-2009)• Overview –

1. Grammar and Voluntary-controlled school : decline

2. Community school : the most important

•

Groups –1. Declining

2. Increasing


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ResultThe table illustrates the percentage of school children attending four different

types of secondary school from 2000 to 2009.

Overall, it is evident that the specialist, grammar and voluntary-controlled schools

experienced declines in numbers of pupils, whereas the community schools

became the most important providers of secondary school education during the

same period.

To begin, the proportion in voluntary-controlled schools fell from just over half to

only 20% or one fifth from 2000 to 2009. Similarly, the relative number of children

in grammar schools -- just under one quarter -- dropped by half in the same

period. As for the specialist schools, the relatively small percentage of pupils

attending this type of school (12%) also fell, although not significantly.

However, while the other three types of school declined in importance, the

opposite was true in the case of community schools. In fact, while only a small

minority of 12% were educated in these schools in 2000, this figure increased to

over half of all pupils during the following nine years.


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Example 3The table illustrates the proportion of monthly household income five European

countries spend on food and drink, housing, clothing and entertainment.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make

comparisons where relevant.

Proportion of household income five European countries spend on food and drink,

housing, clothing and entertainment.

Food and drink Housing Clothing Entertainment

France 25% 31% 7% 13%

Germany 22% 33% 15% 19%

UK27% 37% 11% 11%

Turkey 36% 20% 12% 10%

Spain 31% 18% 8% 15%


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Writing Plan

• Topic – proportion of household income spendson 4 items in 5 different european countries

• Language – Comparisons

• Time – present• Overview –

1. The majority : Food, Drink and Housing

2. The minority : Clothing and Entertainment

•

Groups –1. The Gaps between Housing and food and drink

2. Two least expense


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ResultThe table shows the amount of household income that five countries in Europe spend per

month on four items.

Overall, it is evident that all five countries spend the majority of their income on food and

drink and housing, but much less on clothing and entertainment.

Housing is the largest expenditure item for France, Germany and the UK, with all of themspending around one third of their income on this, at 30%, 33% and 37%, respectively. In

contrast, they spend around a quarter on food and drink. However, this pattern is reversed

for Turkey and Spain, who spend around a fifth of their income on housing, but

approximately one third on food and drink.

All five countries spend much less on the remaining two items. France and Spain spend theleast, at less than 10%, while the other three countries spend around the same amount,

ranging between 13% and 15%. At 19%, Germany spends the most on entertainment,

whereas UK and Turkey spend approximately half this amount, with France and Spain

between the two.

Documents

Describing Table