StructureforWritingGraphsThemostcommongraphsyouaregoingtoseearelinegraphs&bargraphs

Linegraphsandbargraphsshowchangesover

time.piecharts

Piechartsshowpercentagesatpresent.

StructureforWritingGraphs1

Areasoffocus:PresentinganoverviewofthegraphHighlightingmajorchangesorlackofchange(notdescribingeverychange)DescribinggeneraltrendsMakingcomparisonsorcontrasts(whenthereismorethanonefigure)AvoidingmechanicalwritingDescribingGraphs&Tables Areasoffocus:DescribingGra2Wemightcompareanoverviewofagraph,diagramortabletolookingdownonacityorlandscapefromanairplane.Theoutline,shapeandcolorofamountainrange,forexample,canbeseen,butitsdetailslikethekindsoftrees,rocksoranimalsusuallycannot.Thinkingeneralterms.PresentinganOverview(Introduction)PresentinganOverview(Introd3Whatisyourpurpose?Whatdoyouintendtoshowinwritingaboutthisgraph/diagram?PresentinganOverviewWhatisyourpurpose?Whatdo4

AgraphillustratesthetotalnumberofDVDsalesatashopin2007.Byanalyzingthegraph,weareabletoseetheinconsistentpurchasinghabitsofitscustomers.PresentinganOverview600500400300200100Jan.Feb.MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec. Agraphillustratesthetotal5ThediagrambelowdetailsthenumberofDVDssoldatashopbymonthin2007.Fromthediagram,wecanobservefluctuatingconsumertrendsinDVDsalesatthisparticularshop,whichmightreflectthegeneralpurchasinghabitsofDVDselsewhere.PresentinganOverview600500400300200100Jan.Feb.MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.Thediagrambelowdetailsthe6Lookcloselyatthegraphbelow.Howwouldyoudescribethegraphinthreesentencesorless?Writeanoverviewofthegraphinyourjournal.

Lookcloselyatthegraphbelo7Thelinechartbelowindicatestheproportionofthe65yearsandolderpopulationsintheUSA,SwedenandJapan.Ageneralrisingtrendinallthreecountriesisevident.SampleOverviewThelinechartbelowindicates8steadysalesfromJanuarytoMarchansharpdropinAprilahugedipbetweenAprilandMayaslowdeclinebetweenMayandAugustamajorrecoveryinSeptemberasteepincreasefromSeptembertoDecemberDescribingMajorChangesorLackofChange600500400300200100Jan.Feb.MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.steadysalesfromJanuarytoM9Workwithapartner.Togetherdecidewhichchanges(orlackofchange)seemtobethemostimportant.Locateatleastfive.Alsodiscusswhyyouthinkthesechangesmighthaveorwilloccur.DescribingMajorChangesorLackofChangeWorkwithapartner.Together10Sweden’sagedpopulationjumpedabruptlyinthemid-1990s,anincreasethathascontinuedtothisday.TheagedgrowthintheUSAissteadyfromthe1990stothepresentandwillremainsountil2020.TheUSAstartsinfirstplaceandispredictedtoendinlast.Japan’snumberhasrisenslowlybutsteadilysincethelate1980sandwillcontinuetodosountil2030.Japanwillshootupdramaticallyinabout2030,takingitfromthirdtofirstplace.DescribingMajorChangesorLackofChangeSweden’sagedpopulationjumpe11onetrendappearstobeadecreaseinDVDsalesinthewarmermonthsoftheyearandhighersalesincoldermonths.Inthiscase,thereisanobvioustendencywhichcouldberelatedtotheweather.abroadertrendmightpointouthighersalesintheearlyandlatetimesoftheyearanddecreasedsalesinthemiddlemonths.Itmightbeusefultopointoutthatthe……changesinthegraphdonotappeartoberandom;thereislittlefluctuationandaclearpatternofpurchasinghabitscanbeidentified.DescribingTrends/DrawingConclusions600500400300200100Jan.Feb.MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.BettertodiscusstrendstowardstheendofthedescriptionDescribingTrends/DrawingCo12DescribingTrends/DrawingConclusionsGetbackwithyourclassmate.Locateafewgeneraltrendsinthislinegraph.Locateatleastoneforeachcountryandoneortwobroadoveralltrends.

DescribingTrends/DrawingCo13DescribingTrends/DrawingConclusionsJapan’sproportionisrelativelyunchangedformorethan40yearsuntilthecurrentdramaticsurge.Sweden’sproportionisonanalmostcontinuousrisewithonlytwobriefperiodsofdecline.TheUSA’sagedgrowthisthemostconsistentofthethreeoverthe100yearsandincreasestheleast.ThoughboththeUSAandSwedenlooktoincreasesignificantlyinthefuture,theirgrowthwillbedwarfedbyJapan’sexplosioninabout2030.Theproportionsofallthreearesettoriseinthelate2020s.

DescribingTrends/DrawingCo14Whenyoudescribeagraph,itisimportanttoavoidsoundingtoomechanical.Thepurposeofdescribingagraphisnotsimplytoreportnumbersandchanges.Awritermustremembertowriteinastylethatisdescriptiveandhuman.AvoidingMechanicalWriting600500400300200100Jan.Feb.MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.Whenyoudescribeagraph,it15

ThegraphbelowshowsthenumberofDVDssoldinashopbymonthin2007. InJanuary,theDVDshopsold600DVDs.InFebruaryandMarch,thenumberofDVDssoldremainedconstantatabout580.ThenumberofDVDssoldfelltoabout525inAprilandthendeclinedgreatlydowntoabout290inMay. InJune,JulyandAugust,thenumberofDVDssolddeclinedslowlydowntoabout200,butinAugustandSeptemberthenumberofsalesrosedramaticallyuptoabout400.InOctober,NovemberandDecemberthenumberofDVDssoldcontinuedtoriseuntilithitapeakof600DVDssoldinDecember. ThesearethedetailsofthenumberofDVDssoldatashopin2007.ExampleofanOverlyMechanicalDescription Thegraphbelowshowsthenu16

AgraphillustratesthetotalnumberofDVDsalesatashopin2007.Byanalyzingthegraph,weareabletoseetheinconsistentpurchasinghabitsofcustomersatthisparticularstore. DVDsalesstartatarelativelyhighnumberof600inJanuary,andbusinessremainsstrongforanothertwomonthsbeforeageneraldeclinebeginstoappear.Bycontrast,themonthofAprilshowsamajordropoffasthenumberofDVDssoldplummetstobelow300.Thedownwardtrendcontinuesasthewarmermonthsapproach,hittingalowofunder200unitssoldinearlyAugust. TheendofthesummermonthsandtheusheringinofautumnbringsawelcometrendtotheshopownersascustomersreturnformoreDVDsastheweathercools.LateAugustandearlySeptemberrevealadramaticandabruptincreaseinsales,andbyearlyOctobertheshopisbacktobusinessasusualasthenumberofDVDssoldreturnstoarespectablenumberofabout400.ThereisacontinuousriseinNovemberandDecemberwhenthenumbersoarstoabove600DVDssold. Thegraphdemonstratessomeobvioustrends.DVDsalesareclearlymuchhigherinthecoldermonthsoftheyear,whilewarmermonthsbringmoreoutdooractivitiestoconsumerswhichexplainsthemajordecreaseinspringandsummersales.Thereturntonormalbusinessinthelatterpartof2007confirmsthatthedeclineinsalesisonlyatemporaryinconvenienceforthisshop.

Exampleofagraphdescription,soundinglessmechanical Agraphillustratesthetota17 AgraphillustratesthetotalnumberofDVDsalesatashopin2007.Byanalyzingthegraph,weareabletoseetheinconsistentpurchasinghabitsofcustomersatthisparticularshop.

DVDsalesattheshopstartatarelativelyhighnumberof600inJanuary,andbusinessremainsstrongforanothertwomonthsbeforeageneraldeclinebeginstoappear.Bycontrast,themonthofAprilshowsamajordropoffasthenumberofDVDssoldplummetstobelow300.Thedownwardtrendcontinuesasthewarmermonthsapproach,hittingalowofunder200unitssoldinearlyAugust. TheendofthesummermonthsandtheusheringinofautumnbringsawelcometrendtotheshopownersascustomersreturnformoreDVDsastheweathercools.LateAugustandearlySeptemberrevealadramaticandabruptincreaseinsales,andbyearlyOctobertheshopisbacktobusinessasusualasthenumberofDVDssoldreturnstoarespectablenumberofabout400.ThereisacontinuousriseinNovemberandDecemberwhenthenumberplateaustoabove600DVDssold. Thegraphdemonstratessomeobvioustrends.DVDsalesareclearlymuchhigherinthecoldermonthsoftheyear,whilewarmermonthsbringmoreoutdooractivitiestoconsumerswhichexplainsthemajordecreaseinspringandsummersales.Thereturntonormalbusinessinthelatterpartof2007confirmsthatthedeclineinsalesisonlyatemporaryinconvenienceforthisparticularshop.

Doesthisdescriptionpresentanoverviewofthegraph?

Agraphillustratesthetota18

AgraphillustratesthetotalnumberofDVDsalesatashopin2007.Byanalyzingthegraph,weareabletoseetheinconsistentpurchasinghabitsofcustomersatthisparticularshop. DVDsalesattheshopstartatarelativelyhighnumberof600inJanuary,andbusinessremainsstrongforanothertwomonthsbeforeageneraldeclinebeginstoappear.Bycontrast,themonthofAprilshowsamajordropoffasthenumberofDVDssoldplummetstobelow300.Thedownwardtrendcontinuesasthewarmermonthsapproach,hittingalowofunder200unitssoldinearlyAugust. TheendofthesummermonthsandtheusheringinofautumnbringsawelcometrendtotheshopownersascustomersreturnformoreDVDsastheweathercools.LateAugustandearlySeptemberrevealadramaticandabruptincreaseinsales,andbyearlyOctobertheshopisbacktobusinessasusualasthenumberofDVDssoldreturnstoarespectablenumberofabout400.ThereisacontinuousriseinNovemberandDecemberwhenthenumberplateaustoabove600DVDssold. Thegraphdemonstratessomeobvioustrends.DVDsalesareclearlymuchhigherinthecoldermonthsoftheyear,whilewarmermonthsbringmoreoutdooractivitiestoconsumerswhichexplainsthemajordecreaseinspringandsummersales.Thereturntonormalbusinessinthelatterpartof2007confirmsthatthedeclineinsalesisonlyatemporaryinconvenienceforthisparticularshop.

Doesthisdescriptionhighlightmajorchanges,orlackofchanges? Agraphillustratesthetota19

AgraphillustratesthetotalnumberofDVDsalesatashopin2007.Byanalyzingthegraph,weareabletoseetheinconsistentpurchasinghabitsofcustomersatthisparticularshop. DVDsalesattheshopstartatarelativelyhighnumberof600inJanuary,andbusinessremainsstrongforanothertwomonthsbeforeageneraldeclinebeginstoappear.Bycontrast,themonthofAprilshowsamajordropoffasthenumberofDVDssoldplummetstobelow300.Thedownwardtrendcontinuesasthewarmermonthsapproach,hittingalowofunder200unitssoldinearlyAugust. TheendofthesummermonthsandtheusheringinofautumnbringsawelcometrendtotheshopownersascustomersreturnformoreDVDsastheweathercools.LateAugustandearlySeptemberrevealadramaticandabruptincreaseinsales,andbyearlyOctobertheshopisbacktobusinessasusualasthenumberofDVDssoldreturnstoarespectablenumberofabout400.ThereisacontinuousriseinNovemberandDecemberwhenthenumberplateaustoabove600DVDssold. Thegraphdemonstratessomeobvioustrends.DVDsalesareclearlymuchhigherinthecoldermonthsoftheyear,whilewarmermonthsbringmoreoutdooractivitiestoconsumerswhichexplainsthemajordecreaseinspringandsummersales.Thereturntonormalbusinessinthelatterpartof2007confirmsthatthedeclineinsalesisonlyatemporaryinconvenienceforthisparticularshop.

Doesthisdescriptiondescribegeneraltrends?Endingadescriptionofagraphorchartwithtrendsisanexcellentstrategy! Agraphillustratesthetota20

Tip!Don’texplaineverysmalldetailofagraph.Asmentionedabove,focusonthemajordevelopmentsandchanges.Beforeyouwrite,considerseveralquestions:whichchangesordevelopmentsstandout?Whichdonotappearassignificant?Howmuchinformationisenoughortoomuchforthereadertounderstandanddigestinashortessay?Tip!21Whichwordsdon’tyouunderstand?LanguageofChangeLanguageofChange22 LanguageofChange

Change Verbs NounsUp goup - rise arise increase anincrease recover arecovery - ahump jump ajump climb - skyrocket -

HighestPoint peak thepeak - ahighof godown - fall afallDown decrease adecrease descend adescent dip adip drop adrop plummet -

LowestPoint bottomout abottomingout - alowof leveloff alevelingoffNochange

remainconstant - remainsteady - LanguageofChangeChange 23DegreesofChangeDegreesofChange

AdjectiveForm

AdverbialForm considerable considerablygradual graduallyslight slightlysharp sharplysteep steeplyrapid rapidlyabrupt abruptlyslow slowlysubstantial substantiallysignificant significantlygreat greatlyconstant constantlyconsistent consistentlyDegreesofChangeDegreesofCh24PutthedegreeofchangeafterifitisaverbofchangeSalesdropped

considerably.Rainincreased

dramatically.PutthedegreeofchangebeforeifitisanounofchangeTherewasanabrupt

bottomingoutinJanuary.Thegraphshowsaslight

humpinthesecondhalfoftheyear.GeneralRulesPutthedegreeofchangeafter25AnExample:Facebookstocksankadisastrous25percentonMonday,thesocialnetwork'sseconddayoftradingasapubliccompany.ThetimingcoincidedwiththeabsenceoffinancialgiantMorganStanley'sbackingofthestock,whichbalancedthemarketinitiallytoensurethatpriceswouldn'tplummetonFriday,theCaliforniaCompany’sopeningday.Thesocialmediacompany'ssharesfell$4.64to$33.67inthefirstminutesoftrading-adeclineofmorethan12percentfromFriday'scloseandabout24.4percentfromthesoaringhighof$45ashare.Mr.Zuckerberg'sportionofthestockfellnearly$2billionfromthefluctuationandtheclosingbellvaluedashareatameager$34.Thestocks

bouncedbetweenmillionsofbuyersalmostimmediately,callingintoquestiontheentiresystemofdefiningFacebook'struevalue.Nearly581millionsharesweretradedonFridayinthefiveorsohoursthatthestockwasopen.OnMonday,volumewasagainmassivewithmorethan52millionsharestradinghandsin15minutes.Asthestockfell,therewasalonglistofquestions--rangingfromwhetherthepriceoftheshareswastoohighortoolow.AFacebookspokeswomandeclinedtocommentonthesharepriceissue.NewsofthefalteringstockcomesjustdaysafterMrZuckerberg'sannouncementthathewedhislong-timegirlfriendPriscillaChan.ThecouplemetasundergraduatesatHarvardUniversityin2004.Mr.Zuckerberg,now28,dropped

outofcollegetoworkonFacebook,whileMrs.Zuckerberg,apediatrician,stayedtoearnherundergraduatedegreein2007.AnExample:26

VocabandStructureof

PieCharts

Now

lookatwordsthatshowanumber.NumberAmountPercentageTotalProportionAllocationShareQuantity

VocabandStructureof

Pie27Usingverbstoexplainwhatweareshowing:

Theseareasrepresent...Theseareassymbolisethat...Thisaccountsfor...Thisindicatesthat...Thesefiguresdemonstratethat...Thisshowsthat...Theseareasillustratethat...Thesepercentagesdisplay...研究生英語(yǔ)寫(xiě)作第四次課課件28Usingwordstocomparetwoormorethings.Incomparisonto/withComparedto/withIncontrastto/withContrastedto/withComparativeadjectives:

More/LessthanHigher/LowerthanLarger/Greater/SmallerthanSuperlativeadjectives:Most/LeastHighest/LowestLargest/Greatest/SmallestUsingwordstocomparetwoor29Anexample:ThepiechartdisplaysdifferentpercentagesofethnicitiesinAmericain2009.ItisverycleartoseethatthelargestproportionofpeoplelivinginAmericaisCaucasianpeople.Theyaccountfor54.6%ofAmericancitizensincomparisontoNativeAmericanwhorepresentonly0.3%ofthepopulation,thelowestpercentageinthecountry.ThesecondlargestethnicitylivinginAmericaisLatinopeople,whosymbolise20.3%ofthepopulation,lessthanhalfthenumberofCaucasiancitizensinAmerica.Thepiechartillustratesthat14.5%ofpeopleareAsian-Americans,whichisstillarelativelyhighamountofpeople,especiallywhencontrastedwithmissingpeopleandthoseofotherethnicities,whichdisplayjust3.8%intotalofthepopulation.Finally,thepiechartindicatesthat6.5%ofthepopulationareAfricanAmerican.研究生英語(yǔ)寫(xiě)作第四次課課件30Activity:WritingareportusinggraphsActivity:31

Unit4（B)

Translation

Unit4（B)Translation

32

夜是安靜的，然而也是生動(dòng)的。狗兒活躍起來(lái)了，它們悄然無(wú)聲地沿著院子圍墻跑著，不時(shí)地停下來(lái)支支耳朵，細(xì)察來(lái)自遠(yuǎn)近的一切動(dòng)靜，履行保衛(wèi)主人的職責(zé)。2022/11/1233

夜是安靜的，然而也是生動(dòng)的。狗兒活躍起來(lái)了，它譯文I：Thenightwasquiet,butitwasalive.Thedogswere

nowactive.Theyrannoiselesslyalongthecourtyardwall.Nowandthen,theystopped,prickeduptheirearsandlistenedcarefullyforanysoundnearandfar.Theyweredefendingtheirmastersdutifully.

2022/11/1234

譯文I：Thenightwasquiet,buti譯文Ⅱ：Thenightwasquietbutalive.

Thelivelydogs,dutifullydefendingtheirmasters,ranalongthecourtyardwallnoiselessly,stoppingnowandthen,prickinguptheirearscarefullylisteningforanysoundnearandfar.2022/11/1235

譯文Ⅱ：ThenightwasquietbutalStructureforWritingGraphsThemostcommongraphsyouaregoingtoseearelinegraphs&bargraphs

Linegraphsandbargraphsshowchangesover

time.piecharts

Piechartsshowpercentagesatpresent.

StructureforWritingGraphs36

Areasoffocus:PresentinganoverviewofthegraphHighlightingmajorchangesorlackofchange(notdescribingeverychange)DescribinggeneraltrendsMakingcomparisonsorcontrasts(whenthereismorethanonefigure)AvoidingmechanicalwritingDescribingGraphs&Tables Areasoffocus:DescribingGra37Wemightcompareanoverviewofagraph,diagramortabletolookingdownonacityorlandscapefromanairplane.Theoutline,shapeandcolorofamountainrange,forexample,canbeseen,butitsdetailslikethekindsoftrees,rocksoranimalsusuallycannot.Thinkingeneralterms.PresentinganOverview(Introduction)PresentinganOverview(Introd38Whatisyourpurpose?Whatdoyouintendtoshowinwritingaboutthisgraph/diagram?PresentinganOverviewWhatisyourpurpose?Whatdo39

AgraphillustratesthetotalnumberofDVDsalesatashopin2007.Byanalyzingthegraph,weareabletoseetheinconsistentpurchasinghabitsofitscustomers.PresentinganOverview600500400300200100Jan.Feb.MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec. Agraphillustratesthetotal40ThediagrambelowdetailsthenumberofDVDssoldatashopbymonthin2007.Fromthediagram,wecanobservefluctuatingconsumertrendsinDVDsalesatthisparticularshop,whichmightreflectthegeneralpurchasinghabitsofDVDselsewhere.PresentinganOverview600500400300200100Jan.Feb.MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.Thediagrambelowdetailsthe41Lookcloselyatthegraphbelow.Howwouldyoudescribethegraphinthreesentencesorless?Writeanoverviewofthegraphinyourjournal.

Lookcloselyatthegraphbelo42Thelinechartbelowindicatestheproportionofthe65yearsandolderpopulationsintheUSA,SwedenandJapan.Ageneralrisingtrendinallthreecountriesisevident.SampleOverviewThelinechartbelowindicates43steadysalesfromJanuarytoMarchansharpdropinAprilahugedipbetweenAprilandMayaslowdeclinebetweenMayandAugustamajorrecoveryinSeptemberasteepincreasefromSeptembertoDecemberDescribingMajorChangesorLackofChange600500400300200100Jan.Feb.MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.steadysalesfromJanuarytoM44Workwithapartner.Togetherdecidewhichchanges(orlackofchange)seemtobethemostimportant.Locateatleastfive.Alsodiscusswhyyouthinkthesechangesmighthaveorwilloccur.DescribingMajorChangesorLackofChangeWorkwithapartner.Together45Sweden’sagedpopulationjumpedabruptlyinthemid-1990s,anincreasethathascontinuedtothisday.TheagedgrowthintheUSAissteadyfromthe1990stothepresentandwillremainsountil2020.TheUSAstartsinfirstplaceandispredictedtoendinlast.Japan’snumberhasrisenslowlybutsteadilysincethelate1980sandwillcontinuetodosountil2030.Japanwillshootupdramaticallyinabout2030,takingitfromthirdtofirstplace.DescribingMajorChangesorLackofChangeSweden’sagedpopulationjumpe46onetrendappearstobeadecreaseinDVDsalesinthewarmermonthsoftheyearandhighersalesincoldermonths.Inthiscase,thereisanobvioustendencywhichcouldberelatedtotheweather.abroadertrendmightpointouthighersalesintheearlyandlatetimesoftheyearanddecreasedsalesinthemiddlemonths.Itmightbeusefultopointoutthatthe……changesinthegraphdonotappeartoberandom;thereislittlefluctuationandaclearpatternofpurchasinghabitscanbeidentified.DescribingTrends/DrawingConclusions600500400300200100Jan.Feb.MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.BettertodiscusstrendstowardstheendofthedescriptionDescribingTrends/DrawingCo47DescribingTrends/DrawingConclusionsGetbackwithyourclassmate.Locateafewgeneraltrendsinthislinegraph.Locateatleastoneforeachcountryandoneortwobroadoveralltrends.

DescribingTrends/DrawingCo48DescribingTrends/DrawingConclusionsJapan’sproportionisrelativelyunchangedformorethan40yearsuntilthecurrentdramaticsurge.Sweden’sproportionisonanalmostcontinuousrisewithonlytwobriefperiodsofdecline.TheUSA’sagedgrowthisthemostconsistentofthethreeoverthe100yearsandincreasestheleast.ThoughboththeUSAandSwedenlooktoincreasesignificantlyinthefuture,theirgrowthwillbedwarfedbyJapan’sexplosioninabout2030.Theproportionsofallthreearesettoriseinthelate2020s.

DescribingTrends/DrawingCo49Whenyoudescribeagraph,itisimportanttoavoidsoundingtoomechanical.Thepurposeofdescribingagraphisnotsimplytoreportnumbersandchanges.Awritermustremembertowriteinastylethatisdescriptiveandhuman.AvoidingMechanicalWriting600500400300200100Jan.Feb.MarchAprilMayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.Whenyoudescribeagraph,it50

ThegraphbelowshowsthenumberofDVDssoldinashopbymonthin2007. InJanuary,theDVDshopsold600DVDs.InFebruaryandMarch,thenumberofDVDssoldremainedconstantatabout580.ThenumberofDVDssoldfelltoabout525inAprilandthendeclinedgreatlydowntoabout290inMay. InJune,JulyandAugust,thenumberofDVDssolddeclinedslowlydowntoabout200,butinAugustandSeptemberthenumberofsalesrosedramaticallyuptoabout400.InOctober,NovemberandDecemberthenumberofDVDssoldcontinuedtoriseuntilithitapeakof600DVDssoldinDecember. ThesearethedetailsofthenumberofDVDssoldatashopin2007.ExampleofanOverlyMechanicalDescription Thegraphbelowshowsthenu51

AgraphillustratesthetotalnumberofDVDsalesatashopin2007.Byanalyzingthegraph,weareabletoseetheinconsistentpurchasinghabitsofcustomersatthisparticularstore. DVDsalesstartatarelativelyhighnumberof600inJanuary,andbusinessremainsstrongforanothertwomonthsbeforeageneraldeclinebeginstoappear.Bycontrast,themonthofAprilshowsamajordropoffasthenumberofDVDssoldplummetstobelow300.Thedownwardtrendcontinuesasthewarmermonthsapproach,hittingalowofunder200unitssoldinearlyAugust. TheendofthesummermonthsandtheusheringinofautumnbringsawelcometrendtotheshopownersascustomersreturnformoreDVDsastheweathercools.LateAugustandearlySeptemberrevealadramaticandabruptincreaseinsales,andbyearlyOctobertheshopisbacktobusinessasusualasthenumberofDVDssoldreturnstoarespectablenumberofabout400.ThereisacontinuousriseinNovemberandDecemberwhenthenumbersoarstoabove600DVDssold. Thegraphdemonstratessomeobvioustrends.DVDsalesareclearlymuchhigherinthecoldermonthsoftheyear,whilewarmermonthsbringmoreoutdooractivitiestoconsumerswhichexplainsthemajordecreaseinspringandsummersales.Thereturntonormalbusinessinthelatterpartof2007confirmsthatthedeclineinsalesisonlyatemporaryinconvenienceforthisshop.

Exampleofagraphdescription,soundinglessmechanical Agraphillustratesthetota52 AgraphillustratesthetotalnumberofDVDsalesatashopin2007.Byanalyzingthegraph,weareabletoseetheinconsistentpurchasinghabitsofcustomersatthisparticularshop.

DVDsalesattheshopstartatarelativelyhighnumberof600inJanuary,andbusinessremainsstrongforanothertwomonthsbeforeageneraldeclinebeginstoappear.Bycontrast,themonthofAprilshowsamajordropoffasthenumberofDVDssoldplummetstobelow300.Thedownwardtrendcontinuesasthewarmermonthsapproach,hittingalowofunder200unitssoldinearlyAugust. TheendofthesummermonthsandtheusheringinofautumnbringsawelcometrendtotheshopownersascustomersreturnformoreDVDsastheweathercools.LateAugustandearlySeptemberrevealadramaticandabruptincreaseinsales,andbyearlyOctobertheshopisbacktobusinessasusualasthenumberofDVDssoldreturnstoarespectablenumberofabout400.ThereisacontinuousriseinNovemberandDecemberwhenthenumberplateaustoabove600DVDssold. Thegraphdemonstratessomeobvioustrends.DVD