WELCOME TO OUR CLASS
Unit 16 : Space conquest
Lesson 4: Writing
Describing a chart
Warm-up
- What is the feature of a chart description?
The chart shows the estimated population of Australia in 2003.
Generally, the population distribution was not the same across the country. New South Wales state had the largest population, with approximately 6.7 million people. Victoria and Queensland had smaller populations, with nearly 5 and 4 million people, respectively. Western Australia and Southern Australia had less than half the population of Queensland, with only around 1.9 and 1.6 residents, respectively. The smallest populations lived in Tasmania and the two territories. Tasmania had 480,000 residents, Australian Capital Territory had 322,000 residents, and Northern Territory had 198,000 residents.
I. Before - writing
The organization
1. The Introductory paragraph:
- tells what the bar chart is about; that is the time, the location and what is being described in the chart
2. Body paragraph:
- begins with a sentence that sums up the general trend.
- describes the chart in detail
3. Concluding paragraph:
- to summarize the main points (optional)
The chart shows the estimated population of Australia in 2003.
Generally, the population distribution was not the same across the country. New South Wales state had the largest population, with approximately 6.7 million people. Victoria and Queensland had smaller populations, with nearly 5 and 4 million people, respectively. Western Australia and Southern Australia had less than half the population of Queensland, with only around 1.9 and 1.6 residents, respectively. The smallest populations lived in Tasmania and the two territories. Tasmania had 480,000 residents, Australian Capital Territory had 322,000 residents, and Northern Territory had 198,000 residents.
How to describe a chart?
* Useful language
a. Reference structures:
- The table/ chart/ shows that….
- According to the table/ chart…
- As can be seen from the diagram/…
- It can be seen from the diagram/... that…
- We can see from the… that....
b. Verb tenses:
- When the chart shows the present situation, use the present simple tense.
- When the chart shows the past events, use the past simple tense .
VISITOR ARRIVALS IN VIETNAM
(From the USA, France and Australia
(Source: Vietnam National Administration, 2002)
II. While - writing
1. Task 1: Answer the questions below.
2002
2001
II. While - writing
1. Task 1: Answer the questions below.
1. According to the chart, which country had the biggest number of visitors to Vietnam in 2001?
2. How many French visitors arrived in Vietnam in 2001?
3. Which country had the smallest number of visitors to Vietnam in 2002?
4. Is the number of Australian visitors coming to Vietnam in 2001 greater than that in 2002?
5. Which country, France or Australia, had more visitors to Vietnam in 2002?
6. How did the number of American visitors to Vietnam 2002 increase in comparison with that in 2001?
VISITOR ARRIVALS IN VIETNAM
(From the USA, France and Australia
(Source: Vietnam National Administration, 2002)
2002
2001
1. According to the chart, which country had the biggest number of visitors to Vietnam in 2001?
2. How many French visitors arrived in Vietnam in 2001?
3. Which country had the smallest number of visitors to Vietnam in 2002?
4. Is the number of Australian visitors coming to Vietnam in 2001 greater than that in 2002?
5. Which country, France or Australia, had more visitors to Vietnam in 2002?
6. How did the number of American visitors to Vietnam 2002 increase in comparison with that in 2001?
Task 1: Answer the questions below.
- The USA had the biggest number of visitors to Vietnam in 2001
- 99,700 French visitors arrived in Vietnam in 2001
- Australia had the smallest number of visitors to Vietnam in 2002
- No, it wasn’t (the number of Australian visitors coming to Vietnam in 2001 isn’t greater than that in 2002)
- France had more visitors to Vietnam in 2002?
- The number of American visitors to Vietnam 2002 increased by 29,497 (in comparison with that in 2001)
Task 2: Base on the answers to write a description of the chart provided in Task 1.
- The USA had the biggest number of visitors to Vietnam in 2001
- 99,700 French visitors arrived in Vietnam in 2001
- Australia had the smallest number of visitors to Vietnam in 2002
- No, it wasn’t (the number of Australian visitors coming to Vietnam in 2001 isn’t greater than that in 2002)
- France had more visitors to Vietnam in 2002?
- The number of American visitors to Vietnam 2002 increased by 29,497 (in comparison with that in 2001)
You may begin with:
The chart shows the number of visitor arrivals to Vietnam from the USA, France and Australia in 2001 and 2002. The statistics were provided by .....
Correct written work

Check the ideas and common mistakes
Grammar Spelling
III. Post - writing
UNIT 16 : Writing
The chart shows the number of visitor arrivals to Vietnam from the USA, France and Australia in 2001 and 2002. The statistics were provided by Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
It is clear from the chart that the number of visitors to Vietnam from the USA, France and Australia in 2002 is higher than that in 2001. According to the chart, the USA has the biggest number of visitors to Vietnam with 230,470 visitors in 2001 and 259,967 in 2002. France ranks the second with 99,700 visitors in 2001 and 111,546 in 2002. Australia has fewer visitors than France although the number of Australia visitors to Vietnam increased from 84,085 in 2001 to 96,924 in 2002.
A Sample writing
HOMEWORK
- Rewrite the description of chart.
- Prepare for next lesson