Why These Need Different Skills
| Data Charts (Line/Bar/Pie) | Process Diagrams and Maps |
|---|---|
| Numbers and percentages | NO numbers - describe steps or changes |
| Active voice: "Sales increased" | Passive voice: "The beans are dried" |
| Comparison language | Sequencing (First, Then, Finally) |
| Trend vocabulary | Location vocabulary (north, adjacent to) |
Process Diagrams: The Passive Voice Rule
Why Passive Voice?
In processes, we do not know (or care) WHO does the action. We focus on WHAT happens.
"Workers harvest the olives. Then they wash them. After that, a machine crushes them."
Problem: Focuses on WHO (workers, machine) when we should focus on WHAT happens to the olives.
"The olives are harvested and then washed. Following this, they are crushed into a paste."
- Present passive: is/are + past participle - "The olives are washed"
- Use present tense for processes that are ALWAYS true
Activity: Convert to Passive Voice
1. "Workers pick the coffee beans" becomes:
2. "Machines dry the beans in the sun" becomes:
3. "The factory packages the final product" becomes:
Sequencing Language
First / Firstly
Initially
At the first stage
The process begins when...
Then / Next
After this / Following this
Subsequently
At the next stage
At the same time
Meanwhile
During this stage
Finally / Lastly
In the final stage
The process ends when...
Process Diagram: Full Practice
Step 1: Write the Overview
State how many stages and the start/end points. NO detailed description.
Model Overview:
"Overall, the diagram illustrates an eight-stage process for producing recycled paper, beginning with collection from recycling bins and ending with the cutting of dried sheets."
Step 2: Write the Body Paragraphs
Use passive voice + sequencing words. Group related stages.
Body Paragraph 1 (Collection and Preparation):
At the first stage, used paper is collected from recycling bins. Following this, it is sorted by type to separate different grades. The sorted paper then is shredded into small pieces before being mixed with water to create pulp.
Body Paragraph 2 (Processing and Finishing):
Once the pulp is formed, any ink is removed through a cleaning process. At this point, the pulp may be bleached if white paper is required. In the final stages, the cleaned pulp is rolled into thin sheets, which are then dried and cut to size.
Maps: Describing Change Over Time
- The SAME place at TWO different times (e.g., 1990 vs 2020)
- OR a proposed development plan (present vs future)
Your job: Describe what CHANGED - what was added, removed, or modified.
Greenfield Village - 1990
Greenfield Village - 2020
Key Language for Maps
in the north/south/east/west
to the north of
in the centre
adjacent to / next to
was built / was constructed
was added / was introduced
was developed
was removed / was demolished
was cleared
was replaced by
was extended / was expanded
was widened
was converted into
- Past maps (1990 vs 2020): Use PAST PASSIVE - "was built", "were removed"
- Future plans (now vs proposed): Use FUTURE - "will be built", "is going to be removed"
Map Practice: Complete Answer
Using the Greenfield Village maps, write a complete answer.
Step 1: Write Overview
"Overall, Greenfield Village was transformed from a small rural settlement into a developed suburban area, with the northern natural areas being replaced by residential and commercial facilities."
Step 2: Write Body Paragraphs
Organize by: what was removed/replaced, then what was added.
Body Paragraph 1 (Removals and Major Changes):
The most significant changes occurred in the northern part of the village. The forest in the northwest was cleared and replaced by a car park. Similarly, the farmland in the northeast was developed into a large housing estate containing 150 homes, compared to the original 12 houses.
Body Paragraph 2 (New Facilities):
In the centre of the village, a shopping center was constructed, with a school built to the east of it. The river in the south remained unchanged, although a marina was added alongside it.
Key Takeaways
- Use PASSIVE VOICE throughout (is/are + past participle)
- Use SEQUENCING words (First, Then, Following this, Finally)
- Overview states: number of stages + start/end points
- Group related stages into paragraphs
- Use PAST PASSIVE for historical maps (was built, were removed)
- Use LOCATION phrases (in the north, adjacent to, opposite)
- Overview states: main transformation
- Organize by: removals/replacements, then additions
- Using active voice: "Workers build" instead of "is built"
- Forgetting location phrases in maps
- Using chart vocabulary (increased, decreased) - there are no numbers!
- Wrong tense: present for past maps, or past for future plans