Structures for map
Maps can be divided into three types based on the time they
represent: past maps, present maps, and future maps
Map Type Years Tense
Shown used
Past map 1990,2010 Past
Simple,
Past
perfect
Present 1990-now Present
map perfect
Future 2025-2030 Future
map simple,
future
perfect
Introduction and body paragraphs should follow
these rules
INTRODUCTION:
(present map; 2005-now) --> The maps illustrate how a
twenty-year redevelopment has shaped the Central library.
(past map; 1990-2010) The maps illustrate how a twenty-
year redevelopment shaped the Central library.
(future map; 2025-2045) The maps illustrate how a twenty
-year redevelopment will shape the Central library,
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C HANGES TO DESCRIBE :
1) New things can appear
2) Some things can disappear
3) Relocations & replacements
4) Results of changes
Grouping
There are multiple ways of grouping: By maps, by changes, by
areas
By maps;
Body1
Body2
By changes;
Body1; Replacements, relocations,
Body2 ; things that disappeared or appeared or remained
unchanged.
By areas;
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Vocabulary
Useful vocabulery when deseribing maps the following
expressions can be handy:
🏝(of trees) to be chopped, to be cut down, to be cleared, to make
way for, make room for, to be felled
to be planted
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e-g. The trees north of the river were chopped down to make way for new
skyscrapers.
🏯 (of buildings):
to be demolished, to be erased, to be knocked down to be cleared to
be destroyed, to be pulled down to be put up, to spring up, to be
constructed, to be built
e.g. The rows of houses were cleared to make room for a new factory.
🚧🚦 (of roads, railway lines, rivers)
to run, a stretch of, along, across
e.g. A new stretch of railway was built running directly north
🧭 (geographical directions):
Nouns: north, north-east, north-west, south, south-east, south-west, east,
west
Adjectives: northern, north-eastern, north-western, southern, south-eastemn,
south-western, eastern, western
Other adjectives: The northernmost/ southernmost/easternmost/
westernmost tip/extremity/point of.
Directions: front, back, side, north, south, west, east, at the right side, at the
left side, in front of, next to, in between.
Synonyms; row of houses,
residential properties,
residential blocks, houses
Describing
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changes
For replacements: make way for, give way to, get replaced
by, built in place of, at the cost of
You can first mention the old place and then replaced
one.
Examples:
The industrial area had been replaced by/ substituted with
a new swimming pool.
The industrial area had been removed to make way for a
new swimming pool.
The industrial area had been cleared to make room for a
new swimming pool.
The industrial area had been demolished to make space
for a new swimming pool.
The industrial area had been repurposed as a swimming
pool,
The industrial area had been converted/transformed into
a swimming pool.
You can also first mention new ow place and then the
old one
Examples:
A new swimming pool had been added on the left-hand
side of the lake to replace/ substitute the old industrial
area.
A new swimming pool had been introdiuced on the left
side of the lake in place of the former industrial area.
A new swimming pool had been built/constructed/set
up on the left side of the lake where an industrial area
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once stood I used to be situated.
A new swimming pool had been set up on the left side
of the lake, an area previously occupied/covered by an
industrial area.
A new swimming pool had been set up on the left side
of the lake, thereby replacing the former industrial area.
For relocations;
A new harbour was built/constructed/erected to the
Northeast in a previously vacant I empty area.
The swimming pool was relocated/repositioned to the
North.
Expansions and reductions in size:
Something got bigger: made wider, expanded(new),
enlarged, extended(existing), lengthened(roads,paths)
Something got smaller: be cut in size, lost in size,
demolished, shrink by….
The number of residential properties in the center had
doubled.
The swimming pool had been enlarged 1 expanded I
extended increased in size
The playground will shrink by a third, giving way to new
sport facilities.
Remained unchanged:
Despite these changes, the convention center remained
unchanged in its original form.
In spite of these alterations, the convention center stayed
the same in its initial position
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Regardless of these transformations, the convention
center retained its original form.
It is the convention center that preserved its initial form
irrespective of these changes.
Reminder: It is recommended to use them in the end of
the bodies, as there should be some changes before them.
How to describe the positions
🏫 From the 1985 School Map:
1. The left-hand side of the school featured a library and
an office.
2. The southern part of the school had a large playing field
3. What could be seen in the eastern area of the school
was a two-storey classroom block.
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4. Situated in the centre of the northern part of the school
was a large car park.
5. Located between the library and the classroom block
was a smaller car park.
6. A library was positioned in the southwest, while an
office was positioned in the northwest.
[Link] school featured a large playing field in 1985, flanked
by the classroom block on the east and the library on the
west.
8. Two main roads intersected in the west and north,
forming a junction near the northwest corner, while the
school was located in close proximity. ( not related to
given map)
Junction – a place where roads meet or cross
Intersect – to cross or meet at a point
In close proximity – very near or nearby
Maps can change their focus towards: technology, self-
service, recreation, sports, tourism, entertainment/leisure,
family-friendly activities, urban development and etc.
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The maps illustrate how a twenty-year redevelopment has
shaped the Central library.
In terms of overall changes, the library has shifted its
focus towards technology, self-service, and recreation,
with the addition of a computer room, self-service
machines, a cafe, and storytelling areas in place of old
elements or features like reading rooms and enquiry
desks. Of particular note is the removal of central tables
and chairs to create more open space.
Of particular note is …( use Noun Phrase like: removal,
addition, expansion……)
Body paragraphs
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Two decades ago, there were two groups of tables and
chairs immediately upon entering the library, which are no
longer present. To the left of the entrance, a reading room
containing newspapers and magazines has been
converted = transformed into a computer room. The area
above the computer room previously featured adult fiction
books but now house all reference books. On the upper
left hand side of the library, the CD, video, and computer
game room has been removed, and the children's area has
been relocated = repositioned from the opposite corner
and expanded = enlarged to make way for storytelling
events and sofas.
On the upper right hand side of the library, a lecture room
now stands in place of the previous children's zone. Below
the lecture room, there is an area devoted to = dedicated
to = designated for adult fiction books, an information
desk, and self-service machines that [ which ] used to
accommodate = house = feature only adult non-fiction
books. Another noticeable alteration is the construction =
introduction = addition of a new cafe where the enquiry
desk for tickets and book returns used to be located =
situated.
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Future map (sample)
The maps describe the current layout of a school as well
as some proposals to its structure for a future year, 2025.
Overall, though school facilities such as the main school,
sports building and the football court are expected to
remain unchanged, more sports areas like basketball and
tennis courts are set to be built at the expense of the
school playground in 2025. Of a particular note is the
addition of new parking lots to the school campus.
At present, the school is accessible from the main road to
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its east, from a parking lot in the north, which
accommodates 200 cars. The main school building is
sited at the center, flanked by two basketball and four
tennis courts to its east and a small canteen and a sports
building to its west. There is also a large playground in the
southern part of the school campus, with a football field to
its south-west. Finally, a row of residential blocks are
located across the street from the school.
The school campus is expected to see a complete
makeover in 2025. While there is only one access point to
the school area now, a south entrance leading to a new
parking space will be available. A roundabout will be
constructed in the north, which will connect the old
parking area and a new one holding 20 spaces for staff.
Tennis courts in the east are set to be replaced by a new
canteen, while the old one will have been converted into a
science building. The playground will shrink by a third,
giving way to new basketball and tennis courts.
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