Academic Writing Task 1: Chart, Table, Graph, or Diagram

The language of change

Expressing movement

Direction Verbs Nouns
Rose (to)
Increased (to)
Went up (to)
Climbed (to)
Boomed
A rise
An increase
Growth
An upward trend
A boom (a dramatic rise)

Fell (to)
Declined (to)
Decreased (to)
Dipped (to)
Dropped (to)
Went down (to)
Slumped (to)
Reduced (to)
A decrease
A decline
A fall
A drop
A slump (a dramatic fall)
A reduction

Levelled out (at)
Did not change
Remained stable (at)
Remained steady (at)
Stayed constant (at)
Maintained the same level
A levelling out
No change

Fluctuated (around)
Peaked (at)
Plateaued (at)
Stood (at)

A fluctuation
Reached a
peak (of)
Reached at
plateau (at)


Describing the movement (degree of change)

Adjectives Adverbs
dramatic dramatically
sharp sharply
huge
enormous enormously
steep steeply
substantial substantially




considerable considerably
significant significantly
marked markedly
moderate moderately
slight slightly
small
minimal minimally


Describing the movement (speed of change)

Adjectives Adverbs
rapid rapidly
quick quickly
swift swiftly
sudden suddenly
steady steadily
gradual gradually
slow slowly


Expressing approximation

just under just over
well under well over
roughly nearly
approximately around
about

Referring to Chart, Table, Graph, or Diagram
As can be seen
from
in
the
chart,
diagram,
table,
graph,
figures,
statistics,
...
It can be seen
We can see
that ...

From
Table 1
Figure 2
it
can

may
be
seen
concluded
shown
estimated
calculated
inferred
that ...
the
figures
chart
diagram
As can be seen
from
in
Table 1,
Figure 2,
Graph 3,
... It can be seen
We can see

The graph
Figure 1
shows that ...

















Academic Writing Task 2: Advantages and disadvantages, Problems and Solutions or
Arguments
The strength of claim in academic writing
It can be argued that ...
It has been suggested that ...
Some would argue that ...
There is a view that ...

It is widely believed that ...
Most people consider that ...
It is generally agreed that ...
The consensus is that ...
Most would agree that ...

It seems clear, then, that ...
It is highly likely that ...
This appears to prove that ...
It is logical to conclude that ...
An important argument here is that ...
All the evidence points to the fact that ...

It may be the case that ...
It is possible that ...
One argument is that ...
There is some evidence that ...
It is, perhaps, the case that ...

Try out these structures in relation to any topics:
In recent years ...
It is very important to bear in mind that ...
There has been a great deal of discussion about ...
There is also a need to consider ...
To turn now to the problem of ...
On balance I would say that ...
It is worth remembering that ...
A useful starting point for this discussion is the problem of ...
It would perhaps be useful to try and identify the main reasons for ...
On the one hand ...; on the other hand ...
A further argument in favour of .......... is that ...
Introducing strike new measure is vital in tackling the......
Fines and penalties to keep the environment in balance
about concerning or on the subject of
Not sure
2
nd
agree
1
st
agree
Possibility




If as long as or provided that
Examples for task 2
People should be allowed to carry guns
Abortion should be legal
The world would be better if all world leaders were women
Governments should not support religion
We should create a new world with no countries
People under thirty should not be permitted to marry
The government should not give money to help poor people
The death penalty is a good punishment for murderers
Should smoking be banned?
We are leaving an indelible footprint on the earth. Highlight ways in which we are
doing this and suggest ways in which we can lessen the impact of our footprint?
Only formal examinations, written or practical, can give a clear picture of students
true knowledge and ability at university level. Continuous assessment like course
work and projects are poor measures of student ability.
Modern societies need specialists in certain fields, but not in the others. Some people
therefore think that governments should pay university fees for students who study
subjects that are needed by society. Those who choose to study less relevant subjects
should not receive government funding.
Young people in the modern world seem to have more power and influence than any
previous young generation.
In recent years some countries have experienced very rapid economic development.
This has resulted in much higher standards of living in urban areas but not in the
countryside. This situation may bring some problems for the country as the whole.
What are these problems? How might they be reduced?
People who travel to another country to live, work or study for a period of time often
suffer badly from homesickness. Why is this? What are the best ways to reduce this
problem?
Marriage provides a stable and secure environment for society, cohabitation is bad for
society.












Argument Essay

Recently, in many countries around the whole world, it has become an extremely
controversial issue that.....
.Consequently, the concept of has to be taken into
account. Therefore, for the purposes of this essay, I shall confine the discussion to some
arguments on the subject of......


First and foremost, one group in favour of this proposal suggest that.
The opponents of this
proposal might argue that. This is at least
partially true, it seems clear, then, that ....

Obviously, there is also evidence to recommend that .
.Those who disagree with this proposal would take the
position that...This
idea can be refuted by looking at the ...


In conclusion, however, it is not doubtful that.
..has a great deal of problems. These arguments, of course, are clear. So, the
answer, I feel, lies somewhere in the middle. To put it a different way, provided that the
government address the magnitude of this massive problem and its underlying the causes,
they can make a significant difference.






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Problems and Solutions

Recently, in many countries around the whole world, it has become an extremely
controversial issue that.....
..This must be stopped and proper solutions should be applied.
Therefore, for the purposes of this essay, I shall confine the discussion to some problems and
suggest some possible solutions.

Obviously a great deal of ways to cause this problem would be for people to
This problem would certainly be true
that..Another way is that..
. It is, perhaps, the case that
..

Solving these problems is not easy. However, The key to reducing these problems
seems to lie in.+ingEqually important,.
.................Perhaps...can be offered to people
to A final effective solution to combat this
problem might be by.+ing..

In conclusion, however, it is not doubtful that..
has a great deal of problems. These possible solutions, of course, are
clear. So, the answer, I feel, lies somewhere in the middle. To put it a different way, provided
that the government address the roots of this problem, perhaps the solution will come.







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Advantages and Disadvantages

Recently, in many countries around the whole world, it has become an
extremely controversial issue that....
.Therefore, for the purposes of this essay, I shall confine the discussion
to some advantages and disadvantages on the subject of...

First and formost, it is, perhaps, the case that
Equally important,
It is certainly true that today.
.

In spite of these benefits, there are, and should be, a great deal of disadvantages of...........
Perhaps one obviously significant point is that
.....What is more,..
It seems clear, then, that...


In conclusion, however, it is not doubtful that.....
..has a great deal of advantages and disadvantages. Some people emphasize
the benefits of..., while others stress the disadvantages. So, the
answer, I feel, lies somewhere in the middle. To put it a different way, provided that the
government address the magnitude of this massive problem and its underlying the causes,
they can make a significant difference.




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