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Effective Graph Descriptions for Presentations

This document provides instructions and examples for effectively introducing and commenting on visuals during presentations. It includes exercises to practice completing sentences that introduce key points about graphs, charts, and diagrams. Expressions are provided to highlight important details in visuals, draw attention to specific areas, and interpret the significance of the information presented. The document also contains examples comparing stock market performance that demonstrate how to describe trends and changes in data visualizations.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
212 views11 pages

Effective Graph Descriptions for Presentations

This document provides instructions and examples for effectively introducing and commenting on visuals during presentations. It includes exercises to practice completing sentences that introduce key points about graphs, charts, and diagrams. Expressions are provided to highlight important details in visuals, draw attention to specific areas, and interpret the significance of the information presented. The document also contains examples comparing stock market performance that demonstrate how to describe trends and changes in data visualizations.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Introducing Visuals
  • Commenting on Visuals
  • Change and Development 1
  • Change and Development 2
  • Change and Development 3
  • Cause, Effect, and Purpose

presenring in english 2.

1 exploiting visuals

Introducing Visuals

TASK 1
Divide the visuals below into three groups: 1. GRAPHS
2. CHARTS
3. DIAGRAMS

What sort of visuals do you regularly use in your job?


m TASK 2
Effective presenters introduce and highlight visual information briefly and clearly, Remember
to keep everything simple. Write out the following sentence fragments in the correct order to
make complete presentation extracts. The cassette provides a good model for you. Use it to
check your answers after you have done the exercise.

EXTRACT 1
see, it's a fairly typical growth
Have a look at
stages of its developmenr. The vertical axis
and the horizontal
this graph. As you can
shows turnover in millions of dollars
curve for a young company in the early
axis represents the years 1990 to 1996

EXTRACT 2
productivity of our European
levels in the Netherlands, shown
looking at very clearly
plants, and gives you some
T h e graph we're
here, exceed the rest
idea of how far production
demonstrates the comparative

EXTRACT 3
products. Let's take a closer
which shows the current
growth sector
I'd like you
position of six of our leading
movement in the high
to look at this chart,
look for a moment at product

Now underline the most useful expressions used to introduce visuals and highlight key
points.
Commenting on Visuals

TASK 1
These expressions highlight important information in a visual. Complete them using the
following words:
on to at out about

us to look 1. . . . . . . this part of the graph in more detail.


us to focus our attention 2. . . . . . . one particularly important feature.
I'd like you to think 3. . . . . . . the significance of this figure here.

l to point 4. . . . . . . one or two interesting details.

l to draw your attention 5 . . . . . . . the upper half of the chart.

TASK 2
These expressions comment on important information in a visual. Complete them using the
following words:
If As Whatever Whichever However

1. . . . . . . . . . . you can see, there are several surprising developments.


2. . . . . . . . . . . you look at it more closely, you'll notice a couple of apparent anomalies.
3. . . . . . . . . . . you try to explain it, this is very bad news.
4. . . . . . . . . . . the reasons for this, the underlying trend is obvious.
5. . . . . . . . . . . way you look at it, these are some of our best results ever.
TASK 3
These expressions interpret important information in a visual. Complete them using the
following words:
lesson message significance conclusions implications
-

1.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to be drawn from this are


2.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .to be learned from this is
I'm sure the 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of this are clear to all of us.
4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of this is
5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . here is

Now highlight all the useful expressions, eg. I'd like us to look at, I'd like us to focus our
attention on etc.

TASK 4
I n the box below prepare a visual which is relevant to your work, company or interests.
Present it several times, using the suggested expressions to help you.

Introduction and Explanation


Take a look at this / Let's have a look at this / I'd like you to look at this.
.......
Here we can see
The ...... ......
represents And the ......
represents .......
Highlights and Comments
I'd like us to look at ......
in more detail. As you can see, .......
I'd also like to draw your attention to .......
If you look at it more closely, you'll notice .......
Interpretations
I'm sure the implications of this / the conclusions to be drawn from this are clear
to all of us.
presenting in english 2.3 exploiting visuals

Change and Development 1

TASK 1
Here are the most important verbs used to talk about change and development. Complete
them by adding the vowels a, e, i, o and U.

1 5 . ~ -- k 16.h-t - l-W [Link]-W [Link]-nk


17.b-tt-m --t 19.-xp-nd 21.d-cl-n-

TASK 2
Now answer the following questions:

1. Which of these verbs are irregular (eg. rise - rose - risen)?


2. Which can be both a verb and a noun (eg. to rise - a rise)?
3. Which can be changed into a noun (eg. fluctuate - fluctuation)?
presenting in rnglirh 2.4 exploiting visuals

Change and Development 2

TASK I
Write the following adjectives in the correct space on the diagram below according to what
kind of change they describe:
substantial rapid encouraging slight spectacular
a(n) disastrous increase
moderate disappointing steady enormous

Which of the words above mean more or less the same as the following:
[Link] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b. gradual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[Link] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[Link] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TASK 2
Cross out the word which does not fit in the following sentences:
1. Demand increased slightly / steadily / tremendously / disappointingly.
2. Interest rates rose sharply / considerably / keenly / marginally.
3. Profitability slumped moderately / disastrously / suddenly / rapidly.
4. The price of oil fluctuated enormously / wildly / gradually / dramatically.
Now reewrite the sentences above using a noun instead of a verb:
1. There was a(n). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :. . . . .
2. There was a(n). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3,Therewasa(n). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. There was a(n). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
presenting in english 2.5 exploiring visuals

Change and Development 3

m TASK 1
Below you will find an extract from a presentation comparing stock market performance in
four European countries. Complete it using the words given in the lists.

PART 1
around at downs SO upward of

First, let's have a look at this graph, which shows us the


ups and 1) . . . . . . . . in the 'footsie' over the last three
months. As you can see, the overall trend is (2) . . . . . . .
with the index finishing up (3) . . . . . . . . (4) . . . . . . . .
3,200 in mid-May. This trend, however, can't hide the fact
that there was a fall (5) . . . . . . . .some eighty points or
(6) . . . . . . . . between the middle of February and the
beginning of March. We'll be looking at the reasons for
this unexpected dip in a moment.

PART 2
at about of over to from
PARIS
In Paris it's been the same story, with the C A C falling
(1) . . . . . . . . just (2) . . . . . . . . 1850 in mid-February
(3) . . . . . . . . (4) ........ 1720 three weeks later. Again,
though, overall performance has been good, the C A C
putting on roughly 120 points over the three-month
period, peaking (5) . . . . . . . . just short (6) ....... .2020,
give or take a point.
prescn ting in englislz 2.5 exploiting visuals

PART 3
down between over of by downward
MILAN
As you can see, the picture in Milan is rather different.
T h e early trend was decidedly (1) . . . . . . . . . In fact, the
MIBTel had already fallen (2) . . . . . . . . in excess
(3) . . . . . . . . 1400 points by mid-March.
It then fluctuated (4) . . . . . . ..9700 and 9300 for the best
part of a month, before partially recovering to end up well
(5) . . . . . . . . a hundred points (6) . . . . . . . . o n the figure
for mid-February.

PART 4
for in below near down UP

If anything, the DAX has fared rather worse.


In mid-February it was well (1) . . . . . . . . at getting on
(2) . . . . . . . .2200 and looking strong. But by the end of
March it was way (3) . . . . . . . the 1950 threshold and
nowhere (4) . . . . . . . . where our forecasts had put it. And
it's still well (5) . . . . . . . . at somewhere (6) . . . . . . . . the
region of 2080.

TASK 2
Now try to remember some of the phrases from the presentation which could be of use to
you:

1. . . . . . . . . and downs 6. the overall ........


2. a rise o f . . . . . . . ten points 7. an unexpected . . . . . . . .
3. give or . . . . . . . . a point 8. in the . . . . . . . . of 1080
4. just . . . . . . . . of 2000 9. a couple of weeks .......
5. the . . . . . . . part of a week 10. getting . . . . . . . for 1800

Source of graphs: T h e European


y reserz f irzg in english 2.5 cxplo iting visuals

PRESENTATION
Complete the visuals below with information relevant to your work, company or interests.
Make a few notes on each before you present them. You don't need to describe the visuals in
detail. Give approximate figures and point out the overall trends and developments.

notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................

notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
........................
........................
........................
Cause, Effect and Purpose

TASK 1
Look at the following extracts from a report. Change them into what you might say in a
presentation, using and, because and to. Remember to change noun phrases into verb
phrases where possible. The first words are given:

1. TV coverage of the launch led to a significant increase in customer response rate.


The launch, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. There has been a dramatic fall in operating costs as a result of last year's efforts.
Operating costs ...........................................................
3. Product modifications may be needed in order to remain internationally competitive.
We ....................................................................
4. Market entry was successful due to our competitive pricing strategy.
We .....................................................................
5. Investment was increased so as to take advantage of the upturn in the economy.
We ....................................................................
6. The slowdown in growth was caused by a loss of corporate confidence.
Growth .................................................................
presenling in english 2.6 exp/oirir~gvisuals

TASK 2
Sort the following expressions:

thanks to brought about gave rise to can be traced back to


accounts for owing to resulted in is attributable to

PRESENTATION
Present the graph below. Don't worry about quoting precise dates and figures, but pay
particular attention to the language of cause, effect and purpose. Remember, and, because
and to are usually the only words you will need. The graph has labels to help you.

Takeover of
1000s UNITS main competitor

Change to new
distributor

presenring in english 2. 
1 
exploiting visuals 
Introducing Visuals 
TASK 1 
Divide the visuals below into three groups: 
1.
m TASK 2 
Effective presenters introduce and highlight visual information briefly and clearly, Remember 
to keep everything s
Commenting on Visuals 
TASK 1 
These expressions highlight important information in a visual. Complete them using the 
follow
TASK 3 
These expressions interpret important information in a visual. Complete them using the 
following words: 
lesson 
mes
presenting in english 2. 
3 
exploiting visuals 
Change and Development 1 
TASK 1 
Here are the most important verbs used to
presenting in rnglirh 2. 
4 
exploiting visuals 
Change and Development 2 
TASK I 
Write the following adjectives in the corr
presenting in english 2. 
5 
exploiring visuals 
Change and Development 3 
m TASK 1 
Below you will find an extract from a pr
prescn ting in englislz 2. 
5 
exploiting visuals 
PART 3 
down 
between 
over 
of 
by 
downward 
MILAN 
As you can see, the
y reserz f irzg in english 2. 
5 
cxplo iting visuals 
PRESENTATION 
Complete the visuals below with information relevant to
Cause, Effect and Purpose 
TASK 1 
Look at the following extracts from a report. Change them into what you might say in a 
pr

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