UNIT IXREADING TABLES AND GRAPHS (CHARTS)

Objectives:

• to understand kinds of illustrated information

• to familiarize with tables, graphs or charts

• to read graphs, tables, or charts

Table

A table normally consists of five main components:

•Title of the table•Head of its rows•Head of its columns•Information, and•Footnote of the table

Graph (Chart)

There are three types of graphs/charts:

(1)Histogram (Bar Graph), (2)Pie Chart, and (3)Line Chart.

The same as Tables, Graphs also have (1) Title, (2) Information, and (3) Footnote.

Graphs will have only two variables: one independent and one dependent variable presented in Two Axes (for a line graph or a bar graph, but not for a pie graph), namely the axes Y that represents a dependent variable and the axes X that represents independent variable.

HOW TO READ THE CHART OR TABLE?

A good reader will read a table or graph in three steps, from specific to general information by:

1. describing the component of the table or graph,2. inferring its data by comparing and contrasting, and3. concluding

Step I: Describing the component of

the table or graph Here, at first we read (1) the title of the table or graph, (2) the source, and (3) the variables contained in the columns and rows, or the variables in Axis Y and Axis X. Next, we read the content of the information. In reading the content, it is not necessary for you to read all of the information. You can read the information that you might think the most important; even though, to some extent, you have to do that sometimes.

Step II: Inferring its data by comparing

and contrasting

• To Indicate Upward Movement ( ):

• Verb Noun• To increase increase, hike• To raise raise• To jump jump• To climb -• To go up -

To Indicate Downward Movement ( ):

•Verb Noun•To decrease decrease•To fall fall•To drop drop•To decline decline•To go down -

To Indicate Stability:

•Verb Noun•To level out leveling

out•To remain steady -•Not Change no change

Other Situation:

•Verb Noun•To fluctuate

fluctuation•To reach reaching•To revive revival

Amplifying with Adverbs: fractionally higher, slightly lower, somewhat lower, considerably higher,

etc.

•Amplifying with Adjective: a sudden drop, a dramatic rise, a steady growth, a stable situation, etc.

Some ‘prepositions’ are also used to

indicate the changes; e.g:

• The percentage rose from 60% to 80%.

• The figure fell from 80% to 60%.• The amount stood/stayed at 234.000.• The figure rose by three percent.

Step III: Concluding

The final step is conclusion. You might conclude that the table or graph indicates the fluctuation or the rise or the decline of something from time to time. This may lead you to give a suggestion or proposal or recommendation about the strategy to get involved or cope with the related situation in the future.