Describing trends with data
By the end you can: describe the pattern in a graph in full: direction, shape and values with units.
Starting here
A trend is the overall pattern in data: what happens to the dependent variable as the independent variable changes.
A full description has three parts. First the direction: does it increase or decrease? Then the shape: steadily, quickly at first, then levelling off? Then data: quote values from the graph, with units, to back it up.
"Describe" means say what happens. It does not mean say why. Words like "because" belong to an "explain" question, so leave them out here.
Key ideas
- Direction: "As X increases, Y increases / decreases."
- Shape: steadily · rapidly · more slowly · levels off · reaches a peak
- Data: quote at least one pair of values, with units, from the graph
Worked example
Describe how the height of the seedling changes over the 14 days.
- Direction. Height increases over time.
- Shape. It rises steadily at first, then levels off.
- Data. It goes from 0 cm to 12 cm in the first 8 days, then only reaches 14 cm by day 12 and stays at 14 cm.
Answer: The height increases steadily from 0 cm to 12 cm over the first 8 days, then levels off at 14 cm from day 12.
Activities
0 of 4 done
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Now we’ll build those skills by…
…reading graphs with more than one section, building full descriptions step by step and improving answers that lose marks.
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Check
5 questions. One try each: get 4 right to complete the module.
Opens when you finish the stage above.