GENERAL TIPS –
- Each chart has 9 parts. You do NOT have enough time to write about each one.
- The charts compare changes over time (1960-2011), so write about the significant changes (and similarities!)
- Make sure your details are comparing information. If you just list the data, you will not get a good mark. READ the instructions!
- Your structure should include (i) an introduction (ii) an overview (iii) 1-2 body paragraphs with a clear topic (e.g. one paragraph for “differences” and one for “similarities”)
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
NOTE – Synonyms and advanced vocabulary are included in bold. Linking vocabulary is included italics.
Step 1 – Introduction
The charts give information about different types of waste disposed of in one country in 1960 and 2011.
[Paraphrase] “The charts provide data relating to different methods of waste disposal in a particular country in 1960 and 2011.
TIPS – (i) Common phrases like “give information” should always be replaced with a synonym (ii) If you can’t think of a synonym (sometimes there is not a good one), then change the grammatical structure. In the above example, “waste disposed” has been changed to “waste disposal”.
Step 2 – Overview
Your overview needs to tell the reader the key points from the chart(s). When there are many parts (this one has 9) it can be difficult to clearly report the necessary information. Therefore, let’s write out the data in a list and look for interesting information (big ones, small ones, similarities, and differences)
Paper (1960) 25% (2011) 15%
Green Waste 9% –> 9%
Metal 8% –> 9%
Glass 5% –> 5%
Plastic 8% –> 18%
Wood 4% –> 8%
Food 12% –> 21%
Textiles 17% –> 11%
Other 12% –> 4%
Now we can see that over the period, people disposed of less paper, textiles, and other waste, while they disposed of more plastic, wood, and food. Of course, the other categories remained the same (or almost the same). Now, we can write the overview
SAMPLE – “Over the period, the amount of paper, food and other waste that was disposed of fell noticeably. On the other hand, people got rid of a larger percentage of plastic, wood, and food. Finally, disposal of other items remained roughly constant.
Now, use the data to make your overview clear to the reader. Make sure you use comparative language.
SAMPLE – [Body paragraph 1 – Less] “In 1960, paper made up one quarter of total waste disposal, but by 2011, this had fallen to slightly less than one-sixth. Moreover, the percentage of textiles also experienced a considerable drop, decreasing from 17% to 11%. Lastly, the proportion of textiles discarded in 2011 was three times lower (4%) than it was in 1960 (12%).
In contrast, the percentage of food discarded in 2011 (21%) was substantially higher than the figure of 12% in 1960, while the figure for wood was twice as high, at 8% compared to 4%. Another notable increase was in the percentage of plastic thrown away, which by 2011 (18%) was more than double the 1960 figure (8%).
NOTE – So far, this report is around 170 words. If you have time, you can write about the ones that did not change in a quick paragraph like below.
Last but not least, the disposal of green waste, metal, and glass stayed mostly unchanged, with proportions of approximately 9% for the first two and 5% for the latter.”
FULL ANSWER
The charts provide data relating to different methods of waste disposal in a particular country in 1960 and 2011.
Over the period, the amount of paper, food and other waste that was disposed of fell noticeably. On the other hand, people got rid of a larger percentage of plastic, wood, and food. Finally, disposal of other items remained roughly constant.
In 1960, paper made up one quarter of total waste disposal, but by 2011, this had fallen to slightly less than one-sixth. Moreover, the percentage of textiles also experienced a considerable drop, decreasing from 17% to 11%. Lastly, the proportion of textiles discarded in 2011 was three times lower (4%) than it was in 1960 (12%).
In contrast, the percentage of food discarded in 2011 (21%) was substantially higher than the figure of 12% in 1960, while the figure for wood was twice as high, at 8% compared to 4%. Another notable increase was in the percentage of plastic thrown away, which by 2011 (18%) was more than double the 1960 figure (8%). (173 words)
Last but not least, the disposal of green waste, metal, and glass stayed mostly unchanged, with proportions of approximately 9% for the first two and 5% for the latter.” (202 words)
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