UNIT IX READING 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: Histogram (Bar Graph), Pie Chart, and 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, and 3. 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

To fluctuate fluctuation To reach reaching To revive revival Other Situation: Verb Noun To fluctuate fluctuation To reach reaching To revive revival

Amplifying with Adjective: 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.