Section Three / Lesson Four - Linking and Comparisons Review
In this class, we will look back at three different ways to compare data and link our ideas together cohesively.
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In the first part of this class, we will quickly review what we covered in the comparisons class in section 2 (here). However, this time we will look at how we can use the language to describe change over time.
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After this, we'll look at how transition words can help the flow of your writing, before looking at a technique for describing the flow of time.
Comparisons
We will again use this line chart which describes the number of cases of measles in the USA between 2010 and 2019.
You must make comparisons in all writing task 1 answers.
We always need to make comparisons with writing task one. We can use the same structures as covered in the comparatives lesson in section 2 here. Below I have written examples for each of the structures from this lesson to describe the line chart above.
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1. The USA had a sizeable number of cases in 2019.
2. In 2010, Zika virus was more common than the other two viruses.
3. The number of cases of dengue fever was around ten times bigger than measles in 2016.
4. After 2011, there was larger number of cases of dengue fever than measles.
5. There were more cases of zika virus in 2016 than in any other year.
6. Around 300% more cases of dengue fever were reported in 2013 than in 2011.
7. Dengue fever was the most common disease.
8. Most of the cases of Zika virus were reported in 2016.
9. The majority of the cases of Zika virus were reported in 2016.
10. The number of cases of measles was as high as dengue fever in 2014.
11. Not as many cases of dengue fever were reported in 2011 as in the 2010.
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Comparisons are a great way to link our ideas together. They can be used alongside our change over time language covered so far in section three by comparing two different times. They are also useful to move your essay onto a new section, graph or data point. We'll look at these two uses of comparatives in the model answer in the next class.
Transitions
Another way to link between ideas is to use transitional phrases. In this lesson, we'll look at how these can be used in two ways:
1. Contrast - We use these phrases to show that the next idea is notably different than the previous idea. This can often be used before one of the comparison structures above.
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e.g. in contrast, however, but, in spite of, despite
2. Addition - We use these phrases when moving onto a completely new unrelated idea. This should be used as little as possible, as you should try to use comparisons with a contrasting transition or one of the structures above as much as possible.
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e.g. and, additionally, furthermore, in addition
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These transition phrases are usually in one of two forms which need to be used in a slightly different way:
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1. Conjunction - These are used between two sentence (with their own subject and verb)
and, but, although, though, whereas,
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The USA had a sizeable number of cases of Zika virus in 2016 but the number had dropped to almost zero by 2017.
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2. Adverb / Preposition phrase - These are best used at the start of a new sentence followed by a comma.
Preposition phrases - In contrast, In spite of that, Despite that, In addition,
Adverb - However, Nevertheless, Additionally, Furthermore,
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The USA had a sizeable number of cases of Zika virus in 2016. However, the number had dropped to almost zero by 2017.
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We will look many more transitional words and phrases in future lessons.
Before + ing
Time is another element we need to make clear in our writing when describing change over time. We usually do this with preposition phrases, as shown in this lesson. However, we can also use the transitional conjunction 'before' to show the order of time between two sentences or phrases.
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The best way to use this when describing change over time is to write the first change, use before, and follow it with the ...ing form of a verb which describes the next change. This links the two changes together showing contrast between them.
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The number of cases plummeted between 2010 and 2011 from nearly 700 cases year to only 200 before gradually increasing again over the next two years.