essay with diagram

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Should I put diagrams into a formal essay?

I have asked a question like this before in Workplace , but this time is only about diagrams specifically, and on formal work generally. Some answers in there say that I can use the Venn diagram if I make it less childish (drawing by a program, not by hand).

I really like to increasing productivity and efficiency. In his book The Back of The Napkin , Dan Roam argues that to pictures is a power tool to solving problems and selling ideas. I have seen pictures used in solving problem works (e.g. research papers), but never seen them in formal selling idea works (e.g. cover letter, SOP). I want to know if adding them in any formal writing is good or not.

Let alone the space they require, what do you think?

2 Answers 2

In addition to what Monica Cellio said, whose answer I'd take to heart given that it is rife with solid reasoning, if you decide to include charts or diagrams in school applications and/or cover letters, be very careful how large you make them and the amount of visual prominence you give them.

Don't Let the Graphic Replace Your Writing...

If you make the diagrams cover too much of the page, then it will appear as if you're not taking the writing task seriously and are supplanting the necessary task of writing with a gimmick.

Don't Let the Graphic Distract From your Writing...

The same result will easily be created if you give too much visual prominence to the included graphic. If you make the graphic a header element or occupying the full width of the page then the information in the graphic had better be 20x more interesting than the text that would have gone there. Why? When you change the accepted format and force people to review that change, then you are automatically relying on the reviewer to go along with your ideas. But, this is often a very poor assumption and people can be reticent to change or too tired or distracted. So, if you're going to force a change, then what you present has to compensate for the irritation engendered when the reviewer has to now accommodate your new rules of the cover letter or application.

Consider Your Audience...

Lastly, and along the lines of the logic above, your graphic has to undoubtedly prove or forward your goals. It has the be presented in such a way that anyone looking at it will understand why it was included and subsequently agree with your decision. This is a difficult litmus test, but an important one because once you send out your written material you have no control over who looks at it and what mood or state they're in.

If you haven't considered how your audience will respond to the graphics... don't do it.

• I accept this because of the "if you're going to force a change, then what you present has to compensate for the irritation engendered when the reviewer has to now accommodate your new rules of the cover letter or application". I realize that if I just throw out the diagram, no one will understand it. They are there to sum up the idea, and I need to well cover it by words beforehand. The cover letter or the SOP are just for introducing myself and what I've done, not fully explain. –  Ooker Commented Nov 5, 2015 at 5:52

There are a few relevant factors:

Use diagrams when they add value

I see plenty of formal writing that includes diagrams -- technical flow diagrams, trend graphs, timelines, resource-allocation charts, and more. The main question you should be asking yourself is: does this diagram add value? Does it make my point more clearly, compactly, or persuasively than words would? If so, consider adding the diagram. (I don't think your proposed diagrams add value, though. More on this later.)

But follow conventions

If you're writing an analysis piece on recent elections for the press (for example), charts showing voter breakdowns in the sectors or demographics you're talking about are probably normal, maybe even expected. If you're writing a journal article, conventions vary but you can easily find out what the norm is -- look at other published examples and see what kinds and quantities of diagrams are used. And if you're writing for your own blog, you can of course do whatever you want.

You mentioned cover letters and school applications. In my experience, diagrams are extremely rare in these contexts. (I don't see a lot of school applications these days, but I see a lot of cover letters and I've never, ever seen a diagram in one.)

Know when you should blaze a new path anyway

Based on what I've said thus far, you should be very, very reluctant to use diagrams in cover letters and school applications. But that doesn't mean never ; there could be exceptions. If the diagram really is the best way to present relevant information, and doing so demonstrates a quality being sought (maybe you're applying for a design or marketing position), then you could consider adding diagrams anyway. Your application will stand out; you want it to stand out for a good reason and not a bad one.

Finally: about your diagrams

In the case of the examples you've shown here, I personally wouldn't include them. Your diagrams don't convey meaningful information; you seem to want to use them as decorations. The second one supplements what will presumably be text explaining how you work smart (so the diagram doesn't add anything); the first one is actually a bit of a mystery to me and I can't tell what point you're trying to make, but even if I could, you'd probably be better off making that point in words like other cover letters do.

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Mind Maps for Essay Writing (Guide + Examples)

In this article we’ll show you how to use mind maps for essay writing . Mind maps can not only make this often dreadful task a whole lot easier, but also save you a huge amount of time. If you want to learn how this simple yet effective technique works, just follow the steps as outlined below.

Looking for even more ways to use mind maps? Get inspired with these 13 mind map examples .

What Is a Mind Map?

A mind map is a diagram that displays information visually. You can create mind maps using pen and paper, or you can use an online mind mapping tool such as MindMeister . Whatever you use, the rules for creating a mind map are simple:

1) Write the subject in the center of your paper / canvas.

2) Draw branches that point away from the center. Each branch symbolizes one thought or idea related to the subject. Use meaningful keywords to write these ideas onto the branches.

3) From each branch more ideas can branch off . There is no limit to the number of hierarchical levels in a map.

4) Use colors, icons and images whenever possible. These function as mental triggers and can help spark new ideas in you, which is important during brainstorming sessions .

Now that you know how to create a basic mind map, let’s go over how you can use mind maps for essay writing.

Step 1: Using a Mind Map to Find a Good Topic for Your Essay

If you have the opportunity to choose the topic for your paper yourself, try to find one that’s been covered by other researchers before but still gives you a chance to come up with new findings and conclusions . If you choose a topic that has already been explored in depth by a gazillion other researchers, you might be hard-pressed to develop a unique perspective.

Ideally, the topic should be something you are also personally interested in, or at least something you can relate to in some way. This will make the whole task of writing your essay a little less dreadful. The best way to find such a topic is a  brainstorming session .

How to brainstorm topic ideas in a mind map

Create a new mind map and simply write “My Essay” or “My Paper” in the center of the map. Now, start adding ideas around the center. These can be things your professor suggested, related subjects you discussed in class, or anything else relevant to get you started.

Next, note down your own areas of interest and see where they intersect with the former. Once you have a few good ideas for the subject of your paper, you can start weighing them against each other, noting down pros and cons . Eliminate topics until you’re left with only one. This will be the topic of your paper.

In the example below, the only requirement that had been given was to write a paper about literature from the English Renaissance. You’ll see various famous writers of this time mentioned in the map, as well as various aspects of their work that could be examined in a paper, such as the symbolism, dramatic conflicts or themes.

Step 2: Start the Research Process

While working through both primary and secondary sources, it’s quite easy to get confused about the numerous arguments and counterarguments mentioned by the different authors. Many students get frustrated and waste time just trying to figure out how to make all the different pieces of information fit together into a coherent text.

What you need, therefore, is a system to collect and structure all this information  in one central place, so you can easily review the materials while you write.

How to collect research in a mind map

Create a new mind map for each source (book, article, essay) you read and take notes in this mind map while you work through the text . Alternatively, you can use  one single map where you list all your sources and create branches for every page/paragraph/quote you want to use in your paper.

In the map below, you’ll see that — based on our initial brainstorming session — we chose ‘Love in Romeo and Juliet’ as the topic of our paper. For our research map, we wrote this topic in the center and created individual branches for each secondary source we read.

Next to the book title, we noted down the topics covered in the source, its central question as well as important passages that we thought we might want to quote in our essay.

Here are some practical tips to set you up for success:

• Use colors , arrows and icons to indicate connections between the arguments and quotes.
• Be sure to add the page numbers of your secondary sources to the topics in the map so you can quickly go back to do some more fact checking if necessary. If you’re working with online sources, you can also attach their links directly to the topics in your map.
• As you go along, you can restructure the sources according to their common themes. This usually provides a better overview of the material you have available for each section of your paper.

Here’s another example of a research map. This is the map we used to take notes while reading Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , the subject of our paper. As you can see, we created branches for each of the text passages we wanted to analyze in the essay.

Step 3: Outline Your Paper in a Mind Map

Before you start with the actual writing , it’s very important that you first  create an outline of your paper . This will help you create a coherent structure of your arguments, counterarguments, examples, quotes, and the sources you want to reference in each argument.

You can quickly review this outline whenever you get sidetracked in your writing process, or when you’re unsure about how to continue. A mind map is a great format for such an outline because it provides you with a visual overview of your thesis statement  and the entire text structure .

If you’re using mind mapping software such as MindMeister , you can also…

• Link the individual topics in your map with the respective research maps you’ve created.
• Add notes and deadlines to each step to make sure your writing stays on schedule.
• Export your finished outline as a Word document and use it as the basis for your paper.

Using mind maps to plan and outline your essay will not only make the writing process a lot easier. It will also enable you to work through sources more efficiently and help you find and review information more quickly . Of course, you can use mind mapping for all types of writing assignments — from essays to short stories and from book reports to blog posts . Try it out!

Plan and outline your essays

See also: The Student’s Guide to Mind Mapping

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• How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples

How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples

Published on August 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph , giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold.

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Table of contents

Organizing your material, presentation of the outline, examples of essay outlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay outlines.

At the stage where you’re writing an essay outline, your ideas are probably still not fully formed. You should know your topic  and have already done some preliminary research to find relevant sources , but now you need to shape your ideas into a structured argument.

Creating categories

Look over any information, quotes and ideas you’ve noted down from your research and consider the central point you want to make in the essay—this will be the basis of your thesis statement . Once you have an idea of your overall argument, you can begin to organize your material in a way that serves that argument.

Try to arrange your material into categories related to different aspects of your argument. If you’re writing about a literary text, you might group your ideas into themes; in a history essay, it might be several key trends or turning points from the period you’re discussing.

Three main themes or subjects is a common structure for essays. Depending on the length of the essay, you could split the themes into three body paragraphs, or three longer sections with several paragraphs covering each theme.

As you create the outline, look critically at your categories and points: Are any of them irrelevant or redundant? Make sure every topic you cover is clearly related to your thesis statement.

Order of information

When you have your material organized into several categories, consider what order they should appear in.

Your essay will always begin and end with an introduction and conclusion , but the organization of the body is up to you.

Consider these questions to order your material:

• Is there an obvious starting point for your argument?
• Is there one subject that provides an easy transition into another?
• Do some points need to be set up by discussing other points first?

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Within each paragraph, you’ll discuss a single idea related to your overall topic or argument, using several points of evidence or analysis to do so.

In your outline, you present these points as a few short numbered sentences or phrases.They can be split into sub-points when more detail is needed.

The template below shows how you might structure an outline for a five-paragraph essay.

• Thesis statement
• First piece of evidence
• Second piece of evidence
• Summary/synthesis
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement

You can choose whether to write your outline in full sentences or short phrases. Be consistent in your choice; don’t randomly write some points as full sentences and others as short phrases.

Examples of outlines for different types of essays are presented below: an argumentative, expository, and literary analysis essay.

Argumentative essay outline

This outline is for a short argumentative essay evaluating the internet’s impact on education. It uses short phrases to summarize each point.

Its body is split into three paragraphs, each presenting arguments about a different aspect of the internet’s effects on education.

• Importance of the internet
• Concerns about internet use
• Thesis statement: Internet use a net positive
• Data exploring this effect
• Analysis indicating it is overstated
• Students’ reading levels over time
• Why this data is questionable
• Video media
• Interactive media
• Speed and simplicity of online research
• Questions about reliability (transitioning into next topic)
• Evidence indicating its ubiquity
• Claims that it discourages engagement with academic writing
• Evidence that Wikipedia warns students not to cite it
• Argument that it introduces students to citation
• Summary of key points
• Value of digital education for students
• Need for optimism to embrace advantages of the internet

Expository essay outline

This is the outline for an expository essay describing how the invention of the printing press affected life and politics in Europe.

The paragraphs are still summarized in short phrases here, but individual points are described with full sentences.

• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages.
• Provide background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press.
• Present the thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
• Discuss the very high levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe.
• Describe how literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites.
• Indicate how this discouraged political and religious change.
• Describe the invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg.
• Show the implications of the new technology for book production.
• Describe the rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible.
• Link to the Reformation.
• Discuss the trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention.
• Describe Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation.
• Sketch out the large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics.
• Summarize the history described.
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period.

Literary analysis essay outline

The literary analysis essay outlined below discusses the role of theater in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park .

The body of the essay is divided into three different themes, each of which is explored through examples from the book.

• Describe the theatricality of Austen’s works
• Outline the role theater plays in Mansfield Park
• Introduce the research question : How does Austen use theater to express the characters’ morality in Mansfield Park ?
• Discuss Austen’s depiction of the performance at the end of the first volume
• Discuss how Sir Bertram reacts to the acting scheme
• Introduce Austen’s use of stage direction–like details during dialogue
• Explore how these are deployed to show the characters’ self-absorption
• Discuss Austen’s description of Maria and Julia’s relationship as polite but affectionless
• Compare Mrs. Norris’s self-conceit as charitable despite her idleness
• Summarize the three themes: The acting scheme, stage directions, and the performance of morals
• Answer the research question
• Indicate areas for further study

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-outline/

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How To Write an IELTS Process Diagram Essay

An IELTS process diagram question can contain a wide variety of different types of graphics. It could be a natural process such as the water cycle, a manufacturing process or a diagram of a system.

Using these 5 steps will help you to write a high-scoring process diagram essay:

1)  Analyse the question

2)  Identify the main features

3)  Write an introduction

4)  Write an overview

5)  Write the details paragraphs

In this lesson, we’re going to work through the 5 stages step-by-step as we answer a practice question.

Before we begin, here’s a model essay structure that you can use as a guideline for all IELTS Academic Task 1 questions.

Ideally, your essay should have 4 paragraphs:

Paragraph 1  – Introduction

Paragraph 2  – Overview

Paragraph 3  – 1 st  main feature

Paragraph 4  – 2 nd  main feature

We now have everything we need to begin planning and writing our IELTS process diagram essay.

Here’s our practice question:

The diagrams below show a structure that is used to generate electricity from wave power.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Generating Electricity From The Sea

Source: Official website IELTS Essentials

Step 1 –  Analyse the question

The format of every Academic Task 1 question is the same, with the instruction sentence (highlighted below) identical in every question. Here is our practice question again.

Every question consists of:

• Sentence 1 – A brief description of the graphic
• Sentence 2 – The instructions
• The graphic – diagram, chart, graph, table, etc.

Sentence 2 tells you what you have to do.

You must do 3 things:

1.     Select the main features.

2.     Write about the main features.

3.     Compare the main features.

All three tasks refer to the ‘ main features ’ of the graphic. You  do not  have to write about everything. Just pick out 2 or 3 key features and you’ll have plenty to write about.

Step 2 – Identify the Main Features

The graphic in IELTS process diagram questions should not be difficult to understand. There are not usually any numbers to analyse as in other types of question, just a diagram to interpret or, as in our practice question, two diagrams which each show part of the process.

All you are looking for are the main features. These should be the easiest things to spot. There will be lots of information in the graphic to help you identify them, especially, titles, labels and captions.

Here are some useful questions to ask?

1) Is it a linear or a cyclical process?

A linear process starts and finishes at different places. It will often involve the manufacture or creation of something, starting with the raw materials going in at one end and the finished product coming out the other end. An example of this can be seen in this diagram from a past IELTS process diagram question about the manufacture of bricks.

Linear process

A cyclical process, on the other hand, is a process that goes back to the beginning and repeats over and over again, such as the life cycle of a frog or a butterfly.

Cyclical process

2) Where does the process start and end?

For a linear process this will usually be obvious. It may be harder to determine for a cyclical process so it’s important that you examine the graphic carefully to find out.

3) How many steps are there to the process?

If there are a lot, it can be helpful to number them from 1 to whatever number the final stage is.

4) Can the process be easily broken down into stages?

In the brick-making graphic, for example, there are three stages:

a) Creating the bricks from clay

b) Manufacturing the finished product by drying and firing

c) Packaging and delivery

In the life cycle graphic above, there are also three distinct stages as the frog passes through different stages of development – egg, juvenile, adult.

5) What are the raw materials? What is produced at the end of the process?

These questions obviously apply only to manufacturing processes.

For other types of process, it might be more appropriate to ask the following question.

6) What is the end result of the process?

This question is relevant for our practice IELTS process diagram question which shows a process that creates something using a particular structure. The end result is the production of electricity.

So, what main features stand out in our practice graphic? Here it is again.

This graphic doesn’t contain very much detail. There are only two stages to the process:

Stage 1:  Electricity is generated as the wave flows into the structure (Diagram A).

Stage 2:  Electricity is also created as the receding wave draws air back down the column (Diagram B).

Other diagrams are more complex and you have to go through them stage by stage to work out what’s happening and then pick out just 2 or 3 main feature to write about.

The key features you select will be the starting point for your essay. You will then go on to add more detail later. However, with just 20 minutes allowed for Task 1, and a requirement of only 150 words, you won't be able to include many details.

We’re now ready to begin writing our essay. Here’s a reminder of the 4 part structure we’re going to use.

Step 3 – Write an Introduction 

In the introduction, you should simply paraphrase the question, that is, say the same thing in a different way. You can do this by using synonyms and changing the sentence structure. For example:

Introduction (Paragraph 1): 

The two diagrams illustrate a method of creating electricity from the force of waves using a specifically designed man-made construction.

This is all you need to do for the introduction.

Step 4 – Write an Overview (Paragraph 2)

In the second paragraph, you should give a general description of the diagram/s or process. The detail comes later in the essay.

State the information simply using synonyms where possible. No elaborate vocabulary or grammar structures are required, just the appropriate words and correct verb tenses.

For example:

Overview  (Paragraph 2): 

The structure, consisting of a wave chamber and a tall column containing a turbine, is erected on a steeply sloping coastal cliff or sea wall where it is subject to the movement of the ocean waves.

Step 5  – Write the 1st Detail Paragraph

Paragraphs 3 and 4 of your IELTS process diagram essay are where you include more detailed information. In paragraph 3, you should explain the first key feature in more detail.

For this question, we will expand on the first stage of the process. Here it is again:

Stage 1: Electricity is generated as the wave flows into the structure (Diagram A).

And this is an example of what you could write:

Paragraph 3 :

The first diagram shows how the incoming wave fills a large chamber and forces the air inside this space up the column and through the turbine. The pressure of the air rotates the turbine which generates a current of electricity. The process does not end there for the structure is able to continue producing power as the sea recedes as can be seen in the second diagram.

Step 6  – Write the 2nd Detail Paragraph

For the fourth and final paragraph, you do the same thing for your remaining key features or, for this question, the second stage of the process.

Here it is again:

Stage 2: Electricity is also created as the receding wave draws air back down the column (Diagram B).

Here’s an example of what you could write:

Paragraph 4 :

As the water now flows away from the structure, it draws air back down the column and downwards through the turbine in the same direction as the previous upward flow of air. The turbine continues to turn thus generating even more electricity. 

Here are the four paragraphs brought together to create our finished essay.

Finished IELTS Process Diagram Essay

This sample IELTS process diagram essay is just over the minimum word limit so you can see that you don’t have space to include very much detail at all. That’s why it is essential to select just a couple of main features to write about.

Now use what you’ve learnt in this lesson to practice answering other IELTS process diagram questions. Start slowly at first and keep practicing until you can plan and write a complete essay in around 20 minutes.

Want  to watch and listen to this lesson?

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Ielts academic writing task 1 – all lessons.

IELTS Academic Writing  –  A summary of the test including important facts, test format & assessment.

Academic Writing Task 1  – The format, the 7 question types & sample questions, assessment & marking criteria.  All the key information you need to know.

Understanding Task 1 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 1 Essay  –  Discover  3 reasons why you must plan, the 4 simple steps of essay planning and learn a simple 4 part essay structure.

Vocabulary for Task 1 Essays  –  Learn key vocabulary for a high-scoring essay. Word lists & a downloadable PDF.

Grammar for Task 1 Essays   – Essential grammar for Task 1 Academic essays including, verb tenses, key sentence structures, articles & prepositions.

The 7 Question Types:

Click the links below for a step-by-step lesson on each type of Task 1 question.

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Grammar check | Essay checker | Writing checker

December 22, 2018

Writing about Charts, Graphs, and Diagrams

by Nicholas Walker , under IELTS and TOEFL

Make sure to organize your IELTS Task 1 essay so that the reader can navigate it easily.

Step 1: Give a clear overview of what the figure is about, showing that you understand the main message it conveys.

Step 2: Describe the data in a systematic way (left to right, top to bottom, biggest to smallest) using numbers and words from the figure.

Step 3: Compare significant elements of the figure, mentioning any trends or changes in the past, extrapolating for the future if you can.

Useful chart, graph, and diagram vocabulary

Some words are likely to appear in a discussion of a chart, graph, or diagram. Use the target structure checker with the following list of common chart, graph, and diagram vocabulary to see if you are using the vocabulary your readers (the examiners) are expecting to see.

above, according to, apparent, are compared, are presented, bar graph, below, can be seen, chart, climbed, comparable, compares, considerable, considerably, decline, decrease, demonstrates, detailed, details, difference, dipped, diving sharply, downward, dramatic, dropped off, evident, falls, fell, fluctuation, fluctuations, gap, gradual, graph, greater, grew, grows, high, higher, highlighted, highlights, highs, histogram, illustrated, illustrates, increase, indicates, jump, leads, led, level, leveled, levelled, leveling, levelling, levels, lists, low, lower, lows, moderate, narrowed, note, number, observe, peak, peaks, period, photo, pie chart, pinpoints, plummeted, presents, proves, rapid climb, rates of, reports, reveals, remained, remains, rise, rises, rose, shown, shows, significant, slid, slight, steady, summarizes, results, value of, to every, to the left, to the right, total, trend, upward, we can see, widened, widening, widens

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Model IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Process Diagram 

Dec 20, 2021 | IELTS , IELTS Test , IELTS Writing

IELTS Writing Task 1 is the biggest challenge for most test candidates. The main reason is that there is such a big variety of them.

In this post, we tackle the Process Diagram. The main thing to remember is that an overview for a process diagram should break the process down into stages. 

The essay follows the following format:

1st Body Paragraph : a paraphrase of the question and an overview

2nd Body Paragraph : all the details

The Question

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. 

The flowchart below shows the order processing system for a computer hardware company.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

You should write at least 150 words. 

The flow chart shows how a computer hardware store has structured its ordering process. The process consists of three main stages: accepting the request, ensuring the item is available, and then dispatching it. A question must be answered at each stage before the product can progress through the process.

When the company receives and checks a request, the first test is whether the order is valid. Should this be the case, it will then be confirmed, at which point the company will check whether the item is available to dispatch. Here, one of two scenarios can occur: if the item is available, the customer is notified. If not, the company will produce and store the item, and subsequently notify the customer. At this point a third question arises: whether or not payment for the item has been received. Assuming it has, the item will be given to a courier, then sent directly to the customer. Should there be a problem with the payment, the customer will be notified, before the order progresses to the delivery stage. 

Write your own answer to this question and receive professional graded feedback by  purchasing one of our Writing Correction Packages .

If you would like to learn more, you can purchase a video course about IELTS General Task 1 essays,  by visiting this page .

Or purchase our  Academic Task 1 eBook , which gives you many more model essays with detailed explanations and exercises. 

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Process Diagram with Model Answer

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 questions can feature anything from diagrams to tables and graphs. To get you familiarized with these question types, let’s take a look at a process diagram practice question from IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, with a model band 9 essay .

To see why this essay is band 9, see our Band 9 essay with scorer commentary , and check out the official IELTS rubric for Task 1 (PDF) .

This particular prompt is a process diagram. Your approach to this diagram should be the same as your approach to any other Task 1 infographic Take a look at the information and think carefully. What is the best way to summarize the way the information is structured and the main points? From there, how can you best compare the most relevant pieces of information? Finally, how should you structure that summary and comparison? For more advice on how to approach this, see our article on IELTS Academic Task 1 paragraph structure , as well as our main page for IELTS sample questions and practice resources .

Try to do this prompt yourself. Then check out our band 9 model essay below the prompt and compare it to your own work to see how you did.

Model IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Prompt: Process Diagram

The diagram below gives information about the recycling of glass and plastic containers.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Model Essay

This flowchart shows the differences and similarities in the life cycles of glass and plastic containers, from creation and use to recycling and re-creation.

This diagram reveals both similarities and differences in the way that plastic and glass goods are made, recycled, and then made anew. The processes have more differences than similarities, but there are some more significant differences in the earlier stages of the recycling process.

The initial collection and transport of both goods are the same. However, after that, glass is sorted by color and may then be immediately crushed, while plastic is sorted by quality and must be bundled before it can be shredded.

Once the glass is crushed and the plastic is shredded, the processes become more similar again. At this point, both the glass and plastic pieces are washed, and then melted and reshaped into new products. These final steps are nearly identical, although the melting and reshaping of the glass must be done by two separate machines rather than one.

More Practice IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Sample Questions with Model Essays

• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Map With Model Answer
• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Bar Chart With Model Answer
• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Line Graph with Model Answer
• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Pie Chart with Model Answer
• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Comparing two Graphics with Model Answer

And after that, you can hungrily seek out knowledge on the entire IELTS Writing section, starting with Magoosh’s handy complete IELTS Writing guide .

David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles , his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram , or connect with him via LinkedIn !

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One response to “IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Process Diagram with Model Answer”

The flow chart illustrates the life cycle and process of recycling glass and plastic bottles. Overall, the steps involved for both products are the same, with minute changes.

Firstly, the new product usage and collection of plastic and glass bottles take 3–8 weeks. Then, transporting them to recycling centres takes about 5–10 days. Next, they are sorted in recycling centres. Glass is sorted by colour, while plastic bottles are sorted by thickness and quality. After this, glass is crushed in a crusher, while plastic recycling involves an additional step, i.e., bundling, and then shredding is done. All the pieces are then washed in a washer. Finally, melting and reshaping are done. However, for glass, it is done by two separate machines, while it is done by the same machine for plastic. At the end, the product is ready to be used commercially and recycled again. In this way, making things economical and environmentally friendly.

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IELTS with Mark Teacher

How to write ielts task 1 academic ‘map diagrams’.

There are 3 main types of diagrams in Writing Task 1 Academic: a.) Dynamic graphs   b.) Static graphs    c.) Diagrams   (Maps, Processes ) <–  we’re talking about maps

In this post I will show you how to write about  Map Diagrams. 

Already know how to write about Maps in IELTS? Send me your essays for in-depth feedback in 72 hours. 

Fortunately, the essay structure for every type of Task 1 is basically the same. 

Structure: Task 1 – Academic 4 paragraphs 1.) Summary / Introduction 2.) Overview 3.) Body 1 4.) Body 2

What are Map Diagrams?

Map Diagrams can be a few different things.

Map diagrams can be 1 or 2 images of indoor spaces, such as offices:

They can also be the exterior layout of a building, such as a shopping centre, road network, or even an entire town. 

Map diagrams always show  changes to a place. These can be finished changes.  You can see  finished changes in the tasks above and below:

However, IELTS Task 1 Writing map diagrams can be about potential future changes to a place. For example:

Another example of proposed future changes :

In this blog post we will look at how to approach all kinds of IELTS Writing Task 1 map diagrams, paragraph-by-paragraph.

1.) Map Diagram Introduction / Summary

The introduction paragraph in Task 1 only needs to be 1 or 2 sentences. Like all IELTS Writing Task 1 essays, your introduction should present the main purpose of the graph to the reader in your own words. This means paraphrasing the official IELTS diagram description if you can.

Obviously, a diagram is very different from a graph, so we will need quite different language. However, similarly to Dynamic Graphs,  map diagrams also feature changes .

You should change your grammar depending on if the changes have already happened , or if they are expected to happen in the future.

Here is a language table to help you make some summaries / introduction paragraphs in your own IELTS Task 1 Writing essays.

• The images illustrate + the changes that have been made to the floor plan of an office building between 2005 and the present. 
• The pair of diagrams depict + the differences between an office floor plan in 2005 and now.

• The two diagrams depict + the town centre of Islip now and the suggested – planned – proposed changes.
• The images illustrate + Islip town centre as it is now and the proposed / suggested – planned developments for it in the future.

You try! – Write an introduction sentence for this map diagram task. Use the table above to help you. 

The plans show the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.

• The images show … the layout of an airport now and the proposed changes to it after a development project. 
• The two diagrams depict … an airport site in the present and the suggest redevelopments to it in the future.

2.) Map Diagram Overview

The purpose of the overview paragraph is to give a short summary of the main features. In Map Diagrams, the main features can include: 

• New structures / areas
• Moved structures / areas
• Expanded structures / areas
• Reduced or removed structures / areas

There are two approaches you can take to Map Diagram overviews – or you can combine them together. You can describe the main features with adjectives (larger / smaller / more spacious / more developed) or you can generally describe the ​​ literal physical changes (number of rooms, names of new areas and structures. 

To describe generally I try to avoid giving specific locations (north / east etc.). I save these for Body 1 and Body 2. To generalise, I also give the group names of things and places, such as, ‘new housing’, ‘office equipment’, and ‘new transport facilities’, if I can.

Here are some examples of Map Diagram overviews using the tasks you saw earlier:

Main Features : 

• New: sofa and coffee table | coffee machine, water cooler 
• Bigger / Smaller: main room bigger, combined 
• Moved : armchairs, noticeboard 
• Removed: small office room on left gone  
• Other: top left room the same

a. Overall, we can see that the office now features fewer rooms and is more open-plan compared to the past . Some furniture has been rearranged, while some new office equipment and appliances have also been added.

b. Overall, we can see that the updated office plan contains a larger shared area with some new or rearranged furniture , while some other changes to the position of office equipment have been made.

Main Features: 

• New: dual carriageway | bus station, shopping centre, car park, new housing 
• Bigger / Smaller: x
• Removed: shops on north side of main road 
• Other: main road > pedestrian zone

a. Overall, we can see that a wide range of new developments are planned for Islip town centre, such as more extensive road networks and new housing projects . The suggested changes also include a pedestrianised area and improved traffic access via a bus station and a car park .

b. Overall, we can see that a considerable transformation has been planned for the town centre, including a new ring road and a pedestrian area , as well as a wide range of new transport facilities and even new housing.

You try! – Write an overview paragraph for this map diagram task. Use the table above to help you. The main features have been highlighted for you. 

Main Features:  

• New: gates +10 | sky train | ATM, car hire, cafe in arrivals, bag drop and shops in departures
• Bigger / Smaller: new doors +2 (4 total)
• Moved: cafe and check-in in departures
• Removed: walkway to gates
• Other: security, passport control customs all the same

a. Overall, we can see that … the plans for the airport’s redevelopment include significant expansion in the number of gates, passenger amenities and transport options.

My Maps eBook unlocks all the secrets to writing correct, advanced and high-band overviews. Click here to get this 19-page guide or click the picture. 

3.) Body Paragraphs

Next are the Body paragraphs of your Task 1 report. You can write 2 or 3 Body paragraphs. 

Body paragraphs describe the main features of the diagram in detail, including their location (either specifically or in relation to other structures or natural areas on the map). You can also write in detail about any old structures that have been replaced or moved. 

In terms of grammar, we are never told who has made or will make the changes on the diagram, so Map Diagrams often require the passive voice. 

Here is a language and grammar table you can use to write body paragraphs. Again, the grammar changes if you are talking about finished changes or future changes . 

Here are the Body 1 and Body 2 paragraphs of the example map diagrams from before, staring with the f inished changes map diagram : 

Introduction: The images illustrate the changes that have been made to the floor plan of an office building between 2005 and the present. 

Overview: Overall, we can see that the office now features fewer rooms and is more open-plan compared to the past. Some furniture has been rearranged, while some new office equipment and appliances have also been added. 

Body 1: (Biggest change) One of the key changes involves the removal of two small rooms on the western and north eastern sides of the office. It appears that the desks, chairs and cabinets have been removed from both small rooms, and now sit in the north eastern corner of the office to create a larger meeting area. 

Body 2: (Big change – last paragraph already long enough) As a result, the main room by the entrance has expanded into an open area with a new sofa and table, while the armchairs and noticeboard have been relocated from the eastern to the western side beside the new furniture. A new water cooler and coffee machine seem to service this new area as well. 

Body 3: (Exception / Contrast) Lastly, however, the corner office in the north-western corner of the office remains virtually unchanged from any of the rearrangements, remaining in its 2005 layout.

Here is the full example essay of the  future changes map diagram:

Introduction: The images illustrate Islip town centre as it is now and the proposed developments for it in the future.  

Overview: Overall, we can see that … a considerable transformation has been planned for the town centre, including a new ring road and a pedestrian area, as well as a wide range of new transport facilities and even new housing.

Body 1: Starting with the most obvious development, a new dual carriageway is planned to circle around the northern and southern edges of Islip town centre. This is seemingly intended to replace the main road running through the town centre, which in turn is set to be turned into a pedestrianised area.

Body 2: Focusing more on the city centre itself, a raft of new facilities are intended. While the current row of shops will remain, a new bus station, shopping centre and car park are going to be built on the north side of the old main road. In addition, new housing will also be built on the eastern side of town, with another housing project planned beside the park in the southeastern part of town.  

You try! – Write the body paragraphs for this map diagram task. Use the examples above to help you.

• New: gates +10 | sky train | ATM, car hire, cafe in arrivals, bag drop and shops in departures 
• Bigger / Smaller: new doors +2 (4 total) 
• Moved : cafe and check-in in departures 
• Removed: walkway to gates  
• Other: security, passport control customs all the same 

Introduction: The images show the layout of an airport now and the proposed changes to it after a development project. 

Overview: Overall, we can see that after its development, the airport will host considerably more gates, as well as more food and travel amenities for both arriving and departing passengers. 

Body 1: Beginning with the most notable proposal, the number of gates in the airport is set to receive a substantial increase, from 8 at present, to 18 after renovations are completed. To seemingly accommodate an expected increase in passengers, the walkway to the gates will be replaced by a new skytrain, and the amount of doors at the entrance will be doubled from 2 to 4 across departures and arrivals.  

Body 2: In addition, before security, customs and passport control, which will remain in the same place, the amount of facilities will increase significantly. This will include a new cafe in arrivals, as well as an ATM and a care hire kiosk. A bag drop is also set to be added at departures, with new shops planned for departing passengers after they have gone through security and passport control.

There you go! A high-band approach, several examples and a reliable framework for you to use in your own IELTS Writing test. 

Questions? Write them in a comments below. 

Want to show me what you’ve learnt from this guide? Send me your IELTS Writing Task 1 Essays for detailed feedback: 

If you still want more guidance and advice about IELTS Maps, I highly recommend my IELTS Maps eBook. It’s full of high-band grammar and vocabulary structures that you can’t find on my website, custom-made maps to help you tackle the most common types of maps in IELTS and much more! Click here or the picture to see more about this download PDF.

<– Back to Task 1 Academic example essays and lessons.

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IELTS Writing task 1: describing a diagram

In this lesson you will learn how to describe a diagram in IELTS Writing task 1 .

We will deal with a process diagram . Although diagrams are not very common in IELTS, they do appear in Writing and are very different from other types of graphs you can get. So it's a good idea to learn how to structure your answer when describing a diagram.

• See IELTS Writing digram question
• Learn how to write a band 9 answer
• Learn useful vocabulary
• See video tutorial

As an example, let's take a look at the following question card:

The diagram illustrates how steel rods are manufactured in the furniture industry.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

You can watch a video tutorial on how to describe diagrams in IELTS Academic Writing task 1:

• Introduction
• General overview
• Specific features

Now we'll take a look at each part of the answer.

1. Introduction

The first paragraph of your answer should be an introduction. For the introduction, you need to paraphrase the topic in your own words. It shouldn't be longer that 2 sentences.

And this is a possible way to write your introduction:

You could also write the introduction in another way:

In fact, there are plenty of ways to write your introduction. Just keep in mind that you should use synonyms and paraphrase the topic from your question card.

2. Overview

• how the process begins and ends
• the number of stages

If the diagram has loops or repeating stages, or your process is cyclic - write that in your overview too!

Here is a good way to write a general overview:

Overall, the process consists of eleven stages, beginning with the raw material and ending up with the product’s inspection.

Always use word overall to start your overview. This way you will indicate the examiner that you’re describing general trends.

3. Specific features

After you've given the overview, you should write about specific details of your diagram. To do that, you need to describe each stage of your process in detail . Don't forget that you should provide information in a logical way!

This is a possible way of describing the specific features of our diagram:

First of all, iron ore, yellow ore and carbon are collected to serve as a raw material for steel rods manufacturing. After that, the raw material is melted in a melting slit, where it is heated to a temperature in range of 1300-1500 °C. The melted mass is then transferred to a smelting cabin to undergo refinement. Next, the candescent metal is put in a pouring machine and poured into ingots.

In the next stage, the ingots are connected to a cooling reservoir, where the temperature falls to 60-100 °C. Metal goes through special nozzles and cools down, forming strands. Following this, the metal strands proceed to rollers that change their shape. Next, the products are put into a heating machine, where they undergo heat treatment. Subsequently, a measuring automaton completes a surface check of the products.

After that, the metal rods are sized by special cutters and get ID stamping. Finally, the products undergo inspection and are ready for use.

Using connectors

• first of all
• in the next stage
• following this
• subsequently

Using additional information

Your diagram will often provide you some additional information and hints for most stages of the process. Make sure that you use all that information while describing specific features of your diagram!

However, sometimes you may see that some stage lacks information for description . For example, we only know that the third stage of our process is called refinement and it happens in a smelting cabin . But we don't know what exactly happens during this stage.

In this case, you can use a verb to undergo . To undergo = to experience. For example, you can write: " the material undergoes refinement in a smelting cabin ".

And don't forget that you should NOT write a conclusion in Writing task 1 as you're not giving your opinion, you're describing the data.

Practice. Choose the correct options:

• The table shows the amount of students who study abroad in 2001 and 2011. The table shows the number of students who study abroad in 2001 and 2011.

Amount or number? Note that students are countable.

• The graph illustrate China's annual growth rate of exports of goods. The graph illustrates China's annual growth rate of exports of goods.

Look at the verb that follows the word graph . Hmm, the graph should be singular, so illustrates is the correct option.

• The line graph shows how many Finnish people went to the cinema between June and October 2014. The line graph shows how much Finnish people went to the cinema between June and October 2014.

You can say how much water or how much effort (these nouns are uncountable). But people are countable, so you should use how many in this case.

• The pie charts compare the world population of 1900 with 2000 . The pie charts compare the world population in 1900 and 2000 .

You should use phrase in + year , not of + year or at + year . Moreover, it seems like you compare population with year in the first sentence.

• The bar chart gives information about average household expenditure in Japan. The bar chart shows information about average household expenditure in Japan.

You can use either gives information about or shows , but not both at the same time.

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2x Process Diagram Model Essays

Posted by David S. Wills | Jun 26, 2017 | Model Essays | 0

This week I’m giving you two sample essays from IELTS writing task 1 (academic). In the past I have given answers to line graphs and bar charts , but this week we’ll look at a more tricky type of question – process diagrams . It’s important to remember to take time to read the diagram, and then think about how to change the verbs to passive form .

Beneath the essays, I have written some comments that I think will be useful. They explain some points about my sample essays that should help you to understand them better and incorporate my suggestions into your own unique work.

I hope these examples can help you write your own excellent IELTS essays. Good luck!

Process Diagram 1

The process diagram shows how coffee is produced by using a dry method. There are twelve stages altogether, beginning with the beans being sorted and ending with the coffee being packed and sold at a supermarket or shop. To begin with, the beans are sorted by hand and then cleaned by using a sieve. Next, they are dried in the sun for four weeks, before being raked and turned. Then they are stored in a silo until the time when they are sent to a mill in a truck. At the mill, the beans are hulled and graded before they are bagged. After the process of being bagged, the coffee is sold in bulk to retailers, who will undertake the last two steps of the process. Finally, it is roasted, packed, and then sold again to the consumer in a shop. The bag of coffee is the final product.

In the IELTS Writing Task 1 , you really aren’t allowed to add anything extra; however, in this essay I have stated a few extra details that I think are most likely true from the diagram. This is that the bags of coffee are sold to consumers in a shop and that the coffee is sold in bulk to retailers. I think it would be hard to dispute either of those facts.

Note also how I have taken the verbs from the diagram and altered them into the passive voice. This is very important. When describing a process diagram, you should always change the verbs to passive voice. Take stage 4 for example:

• the man rakes and turns the beans
• the beans are raked and turned

Finally, I have been very careful in my use of transition phrases to show the passage of time. Some students will say “first, second, third…” and so on, which sounds a little basic. Try to get some variety, and remember that you can put two or more stages into the same sentence to avoid this.

Process Diagram 2

There are two diagrams showing industrial processes. The first shows the production of cement, while the second shows the production of concrete. It is apparent from the beginning of the second picture that cement is used in the production of concrete, and so these images are linked as part of one longer process to make concrete from a number of different materials. In the diagram showing cement production, limestone and clay are tipped into a crusher until they become powder. This powder is then fed into a mixer and then later into a rotating heater. The resulting material is ground into cement, which is then bagged in large sacks. These bags of cement are poured into a concrete mixer with water, gravel, and sand. This mixture must be carefully measured according to the percentages on the diagram. The concrete mixer will combine the ingredients by rotating in order to produce concrete.

In this diagram, we are not given any verbs to use, so we need to change the nouns (like “crusher” and “heater”) into verbs. Remember again to change these into the passive voice.

This exercise is harder than the first one because you have to look at the diagram for longer to understand it. It doesn’t just go 1,2,3,4,5… However, you’ll see that in my introduction I have explained how it functions, with the first diagram leading into the second. This longer description means I wrote two shorter paragraphs actually describing the processes.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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Venn Diagrams to Plan Essays and More

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• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

A Venn diagram is a great tool for brainstorming and creating a comparison between two or more objects, events, or people. You can use this as a first step to creating an outline for a  compare and contrast essay .

Simply draw two (or three) large circles and give each circle a title, reflecting each object, trait, or person you are comparing.

Inside the intersection of the two circles (overlapping area), write all the traits that the objects have in common. You will refer to these traits when you  compare  similar characteristics.

In the areas outside the overlapping section, you will write all of the traits that are specific to that particular object or person.

Creating an Outline for Your Essay Using a Venn Diagram

From the Venn diagram above, you can create an easy outline for your paper. Here is the beginning of an essay outline:

1. Both dogs and cats make great pets.

• Both animals can be very entertaining
• Each is loving in its own way
• Each can live inside or outside the house

2. Both have drawbacks, as well.

• They can damage property
• Both can be costly
• Both require time and attention

3. Cats can be easier to care for.

• Leaving for a day

4. Dogs can be better companions.

• Going to the park
• Going for walks
• Will enjoy my company

As you can see, outlining is much easier when you have a visual aid to help you with the brainstorming process.

More Uses for Venn Diagrams

Besides its usefulness for planning essays, Venn Diagrams can be used for thinking through many other problems both at school and at home. For example:

• Planning a Budget: Create three circles for What I Want, What I Need, and What I Can Afford.
• Setting Priorities: Create circles for different types of priorities: School, Chores, Friends, TV, along with a circle for What I Have Time for This Week.
• Choosing Activities: Create circles for different types of activities: What I'm Committed to, What I'd Like to Try, and What I Have Time for Each Week.
• Comparing People's Qualities: Create circles for the different qualities you're comparing (ethical, friendly, good looking, wealthy, etc.), and then add names to each circle. Which overlap?
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• Write a Compare and Contrast Essay
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Diagrams in Essays: Exploring the Kinds of Diagrams Students Generate and How Well They Work

Diagrammatic Representation and Inference

Using appropriate diagrams is generally considered efficacious in communication. However, although diagrams are extensively used in printed and digital media, people in general rarely construct diagrams to use in common everyday communication. Furthermore, instruction on diagram use for communicative purposes is uncommon in formal education and, when students are required to communicate what they have learned, the usual expectation is they will use words – not diagrams. Requiring diagram inclusion in essays, for example, would be almost unheard of. Consequently, current understanding about student capabilities in this area is very limited. The aim of this study therefore was to contribute to addressing this gap: it comprised a qualitative exploration of 12 undergraduate students’ diagram use in two essays (in which they were asked to include at least one diagram). Analysis focused on identifying the kinds of diagrams produced, and the effectiveness with which those diagrams were use...

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Diagrams in Essays: Exploring the Kinds of Diagrams Students Generate and How Well They Work

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• Emmanuel Manalo 14 &
• Mari Fukuda 15  

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• International Conference on Theory and Application of Diagrams

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Using appropriate diagrams is generally considered efficacious in communication. However, although diagrams are extensively used in printed and digital media, people in general rarely construct diagrams to use in common everyday communication. Furthermore, instruction on diagram use for communicative purposes is uncommon in formal education and, when students are required to communicate what they have learned, the usual expectation is they will use words – not diagrams. Requiring diagram inclusion in essays, for example, would be almost unheard of. Consequently, current understanding about student capabilities in this area is very limited. The aim of this study therefore was to contribute to addressing this gap: it comprised a qualitative exploration of 12 undergraduate students’ diagram use in two essays (in which they were asked to include at least one diagram). Analysis focused on identifying the kinds of diagrams produced, and the effectiveness with which those diagrams were used. Useful functions that the diagrams served included clarification, summarization, integration of points, and provision of additional information and/or perspectives in visual form. However, there were also redundancies, as well as unclear, schematically erroneous, and overly complicated representations in some of the diagrams that the students constructed. These findings are discussed in terms of needs, opportunities, and challenges in instructional provision.

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Students’ Spontaneous Use of Diagrams in Written Communication: Understanding Variations According to Purpose and Cognitive Cost Entailed

How communicative learning situations influence students’ use of diagrams: focusing on spontaneous diagram construction and protocols during explanation, the impacts of domain-general vs. domain-specific diagramming tools on writing.

• Self-constructed diagrams
• Essay writing
• Effective communication
• Student instructional needs

1 Introduction

Alongside problem solving and thinking, communication is one of the areas of human activity where diagram use is considered to be beneficial. When appropriately used, diagrams can clarify and/or complement verbal information presented in speech or text, so that both verbal and visual channels of working memory are utilized, thus facilitating more efficient cognitive processing [ 1 , 2 ].

Diagrams can contribute to both message encoding and decoding (i.e., the production and the comprehension of communication), thus being of value to both the communicator and the communication receiver. Especially in contexts where there are some constraints or limitations to conveying the message through verbal means, diagrams can be indispensable. They can supplement speech or text by providing complementary or alternative means of conveying the intended message. Examples of such contexts include communicating complicated procedures, like furniture assembly [ 3 ], and communicating with people who speak a different language [ 4 ].

However, despite the apparent usefulness of diagrams in communication, its actual use remains very limited. Pictures and various kinds of diagrams, including illustrations, are regularly used in books, magazines, websites, and various forms of printed and digital media, but most of those visual representations are commercially or professionally created. They are not generated by regular people in everyday communication contexts. Regular people are often only receivers of such visual representations. In most communication contexts, they do not generate their own diagrams: they rely almost exclusively on written or spoken words. In formal education provided in modern societies, diagram use for communicative purposes is rarely taught. Despite the recognition in research and policy documents of the value of being able to use multiple forms of representation [ 5 , 6 ], students seldom receive explicit instruction about how to create and use diagrams. In both school and higher education, when students are asked to communicate what they have learned and what they think (e.g., in essays, which are focused pieces of writing intended to inform or persuade), the general expectation is that they will express that information in words – without the use of any diagrams [ 7 ].

Considering that much of the knowledge and ideas that students have to engage with, learn, and then communicate are quite complex, and diagrams have the capacity of representing complex ideas effectively [ 8 ], the general lack of attention in education to cultivating skills in diagram use is troubling. Like words, diagrams can be used effectively or ineffectively [ 9 ], so the question of the extent to which instruction or guidance may be necessary would appear important to address. In tasks like problem solving and information organization in subjects like mathematics and science, the kinds of diagrams that students generate and use have previously been investigated [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. However, very few studies have examined diagram use in communicating information in the social sciences [ 13 ], where traditionally a greater emphasis has been placed on the quality of language that is used. In fact, the present authors are not aware of any studies that have examined students’ diagram use in essays . Our current understanding of student capabilities in using diagrams in such contexts is very limited, including what we know of the potential benefits that such use might afford.

The present study was motivated by this knowledge gap, and it comprised a qualitative exploration of student diagram use in two essays they produced for an undergraduate-level introductory course in educational psychology. In the two essays, the students were asked to include at least one diagram to portray processes or mechanisms of moderately complex ideas. Both essays were expository-type essays, hence requiring the students to demonstrate not only knowledge of the topic, but also the ability to communicate information clearly – which the appropriate use of diagrams is supposed to facilitate. The following were the main questions we addressed:

What kinds of diagrams would students use to portray processes/mechanisms?

In what ways do students use diagrams effectively in their essays?

In what ways do they not use diagrams effectively?

This investigation comprised analysis of the contents of two essays that students produced as part of their coursework. No experimental manipulation was involved. The analysis was conducted following completion of the course, so it had no bearing on the students’ grading. Permission was obtained from all the students for use of their essays.

There were 12 students in the course (females = 4), 7 of whom were in their first year of study, while the remaining 5 were in their second year or higher. Nine of the students were Japanese, and 3 were international students from other East Asian countries. All had English as a foreign language, but were adequately proficient in that language (a requirement for acceptance to the university). The course was conducted entirely in English, and all assignments (including the essays) had to be written in English.

The essays were each worth 20% of the students’ final grade, and they dealt with topics covered in the course. However, both essays required students to seek additional information (beyond what was covered in class), and to provide explanations that could not simply be obtained from the instructions provided in the course. The first essay required the students to research and then explain one theory about how young children develop their understanding of the world around them. The second required them to undertake research on formative assessment and explain how it can promote more successful learning. In both essays, the students were asked to include at least one diagram, which was allotted 3 points (out of 20) in the grading rubrics (in this case, for “demonstrating a clear understanding of the mechanisms or processes that it illustrates”). Diagrams can assist in clarifying ideas [ 8 ] and so, from a pedagogical perspective, one purpose of asking the students to include the diagram was for them to better understand key processes covered in the course. The diagram had to be self-constructed (i.e., not copied-and-pasted from some other source). In the first essay, the instruction given to the students indicated that the diagram was to “help in explaining the progress in understanding that children develop ”, while in the second essay the diagram was to “help in clarifying how formative assessment facilitates learning ”. No other instruction was provided on what form the diagram should take or how they should construct it, and no diagrams relating to those or other similar mechanisms/processes were shown during instructions provided in class. During grading of the essays, apart from the score out of 3 on the grading rubrics (see above), no explicit comment or feedback was provided on the type, content, or quality of construction of the diagrams the students included.

In the analysis, firstly the number and kinds of diagrams included in the essays were determined with the use of a coding schema comprising categories from previous research [ 10 , 11 , 13 ]. Apart from the first author’s coding, the second author, who initially was not involved in this research, also independently coded the diagrams. Initial inter-coder agreement was 75%. Differences were then discussed and subsequently agreed upon. Second, the diagrams were evaluated in terms of how effectively they were used. For this, key questions asked were: Does the diagram contribute to clarifying the process it refers to – and, if so, how? Apart from clarification, does it serve other useful functions? When diagrams did not appear to work well, the reasons were also carefully considered. Again, both authors independently coded the diagrams (initial inter-coder agreement was 92%), and then discussed differences to reach agreement.

Examples of diagrams belonging to each of the categories that were identified

3 Results and Discussion

3.1 kinds of diagrams used to portray processes/mechanisms.

Table 1 shows the kinds/categories and corresponding frequencies of diagrams the students included in their first and second essays, and in total, while Fig.  1 shows examples of the diagrams belonging to each of those categories. In the first essay four of the 12 students included more than one diagram (two student with 3 diagrams, and two with 2 diagrams), and in the second essay two students included more than one diagram (both with 2 diagrams). The frequencies shown in Table 1 include all the diagrams the students generated.

All except one student included self-constructed diagrams (as the assignments required). We were fairly confident about this because the language use in and appearance of the diagrams included suggested non-native and/or non-professional creators. The one student who included diagrams that obviously came from some Internet source (they were both watermarked) did so in both the first and second essays. Both diagrams were in the category of illustrations.

Although a “list” on its own does not – technically speaking – count as a diagram, it has been included in the categories because one student erroneously included a list as one of his 3 diagrams for the first essay, and three other students included lists as part of their “combination” diagram.

The kind of diagram most frequently used was a flow diagram: apart from the total of 10 flow diagrams shown in Table 1 , 7 of the 9 combination diagrams comprised a flow diagram with another kind of diagram. This is probably understandable given that flow diagrams (also known as “flow charts”) are meant to depict processes, procedures or sequence of steps, and cause-and-effect relationships. An interesting point to note is how the number of flow diagrams increased from the first to the second essay. No instruction or hint was given to the students about what diagram to use, so this increase could have been due to a number of other possible reasons, including differences between the two essays in the procedures/mechanisms that needed to be represented, the students seeing other diagrams their peers have generated (although there were no indications of copying), and development in the students’ understanding of what works well (or not) in using diagrams to communicate particular kinds of information.

It is also worth noting that although we often consider flow diagrams as being most appropriate for representing processes and mechanisms, other forms of diagrams can work as effectively when designed well to match their intended purposes. For example, Panels C and F in Fig.  1 show two examples depicting the progression through the stages of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, using a table in C, and a combination of illustration (of steps) and line diagram in F. Although they differ in appearance, the diagrams can be considered as working equally well not only in showing the proposed stages of the theory, but also in conveying the incremental progression through key cognitive abilities with increasing age (corresponding to those stages).

3.2 Ways that Diagrams Were Used Effectively

The majority of the students did not refer to their diagrams in the text of their essays: only two students did in both essays. Thus, this is perhaps an academic writing method that undergraduate students (like these students) could usefully be instructed to do. However, in general, the students placed their diagrams appropriately, following the text where they deal with the information that is portrayed in the diagram – thereby making the connection between text information and the diagram more apparent.

Concerning the question of whether the diagrams that the students constructed contributed to clarifying any of the processes or mechanisms they were explaining: in the first essay, 7 of the students were considered to have satisfactorily achieved this with at least one of their diagrams, while 8 of them were considered to have done so in the second essay. In each of these cases, the diagrams served a useful function in the essay, to the extent that if they were not included, something sufficiently important in the essay would have been lost, not achieved, or not conveyed as adequately. In most of the cases, the diagrams clarified how the stages or processes referred to in the essay text connect or relate to each other and progress through particular sequences: Panels A and D in Fig.  1 are good examples of this. However, in a few cases, the diagrams also made clearer concepts that – to those unfamiliar with them – could be difficult to understand, such as what is involved in developing the ability of conservation (Panel B of Fig.  1 ).

In some cases, the diagrams also showed or clarified the connections to other components, such as children’s abilities in connection to the progression of developmental stages in the previously referred to Panels C and F in Fig.  1 . In a way, some of the diagrams that worked well served a summarizing function: they visually represented key components and showed more saliently how they were related to each other – which were not as easy to apprehend in sentences because of temporal/sequential separation. This is one of the reasons diagrams are considered effective: they integrate all information that is used together, reducing the need and effort for searching [ 14 ].

In the majority of cases where the diagrams worked well, they visually represented content that was already represented in words in the text – albeit with some enhancements like integration, as noted above. However, in a few exceptional cases, the diagrams also introduced content that was not present in the text of the essays. Figure  2 provides two examples of this. In Panel A, the diagram includes details in the lower part about unsuccessful (arrows with x) and successful (arrows with o) outcomes which require different responses. These details were not explicitly provided in the text but they enable readers to better understand how formative feedback is used in the example of solving story problems. Likewise, in Panel B, the diagram shows details not duplicated in the text about how different categories of complexes are formed, leading eventually to the formation of concepts [ 15 ]. The illustrations of different object combinations make the categories of complexes easier to grasp and distinguish from each other.

Examples of diagrams that introduced content or elaborations not present in the text

3.3 Ways that Diagrams Were Not Used Effectively

There were also numerous instances when the diagrams the students included did not appear to serve any useful function in the essay. In a couple of those cases, the diagrams were redundant: they showed images that portrayed information from the text that was simple enough not to require visual clarification. The illustration in Panel A in Fig.  3 is an example of this. Another ineffective use manifested was when the schematic structure of the diagram was unclear or erroneous. Examples of this are shown in Panels B and C of Fig.  3 . In Panel B, both the intended message and the connections between the components shown are unclear. In Panel C, the meaning of the arrows, and therefore what process might be depicted by the diagram, is unclear. In addition, there were a few diagrams, like the one shown in Panel D of Fig.  3 , which were quite complicated and therefore hard to understand. The contents of Panel D were also referred to in the text of the student’s essay, but the relationships shown in the diagram are new configurations that are not obvious and not explained explicitly in the text. It is therefore difficult to grasp its possible contribution to explaining, in this case, children’s development of understanding of the world around them.

Examples of diagrams that did not effectively serve their intended purpose in the essay

3.4 Implications for Theory, Research, and Practice

The many purposes that diagrams can serve in enhancing communication have been established in previous research [ 2 , 5 , 8 ], and the findings of the present study provide additional evidence for those in the area of student essay writing at the tertiary level. The findings also provide support for the idea that the same communicative purpose can be served by different kinds of diagrams [ 14 ]. Thus, for example, conveying the progression of a particular process can effectively be achieved using a flow diagram – or a table … or an illustration. This means that, in the same way that different words can convey the same meaning, different diagrams – if used/constructed appropriately – can communicate the same meaning. However, in future research, it would be useful to examine the range of communicative purposes that different kinds of diagrams can serve as there are probably important limitations to it. For example, if the communicative purpose is to describe what something looks like , other kinds of diagrams may not be quite as effective as an illustration (e.g., a table or a flow chart would be quite limited in conveying qualities pertaining to appearance).

The findings of the present research also suggest that many students, even at the tertiary level, would likely benefit from receiving some instruction or guidance on the use of diagrams not only in essays but also other forms of communication. While some students were able to generate diagrams that served useful functions in their essays, there were also quite a few who did not manage to do this. However, the findings of this exploratory study were based on a small sample of students taking the same course, so future investigations about spontaneous use and the effects of instruction provision ought to be conducted with larger and more diverse student groups.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by a grant-in-aid (20K20516) received from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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Manalo, E., Fukuda, M. (2021). Diagrams in Essays: Exploring the Kinds of Diagrams Students Generate and How Well They Work. In: Basu, A., Stapleton, G., Linker, S., Legg, C., Manalo, E., Viana, P. (eds) Diagrammatic Representation and Inference. Diagrams 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12909. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86062-2_56

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IELTS Diagram: Model Answer Band Score 9

This IELTS diagram model answer is estimated at band score 9. It is possible to have a diagram in your IELTS writing task 1 academic paper. A diagram is also known as a process. The diagram shown below is from IELTS Cambridge Book 8, Test 3.

The diagram below shows the stages and equipment used in the cement-making process, and how cement is used to produce concrete for building purposes. Source: IELTS Cambridge English Test Book 8

Diagram Model Answer

The diagrams illustrate the steps and equipment involved in the production of cement and the way in which cement is then used to make concrete.

Overall, limestone and clay pass through four stages before being bagged ready for use as cement. Cement is then combined with three other materials to create concrete. While the process of making cement uses a number of tools, the production of concrete is simpler and requires only a concrete mixer.

In the first stage of making cement, limestone and clay are crushed together to form a powder. This powder is then combined in a mixer before passing into a rotating heater which has constant heat applied at one end of the tube. The resulting mixture is ground in order to produce cement. The final product is afterwards put into bags ready to be used.

Regarding the second diagram, concrete consists of mainly gravel, which is small stones, and this makes up 50% of the ingredients. The other materials used are sand (25%), cement (15%) and water (10%). These are all poured into a concrete mixer which continually rotates to combine the materials and ultimately produces concrete.

Comments: This diagram gives a concise introduction. The overview contains key features of both diagrams and also highlights the connection between them. The body paragraphs are organised well and linking devices are used flexibly and accurately. Each body paragraphs explained the steps of each process in a logical order. Complex sentences are accurate and there is also passive voice used. Collocations are well used.

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Should not the second last sentence in the second paragraph say grind instead of ground?

The second last sentence in the first body paragraph uses the passive voice: is ground. You create the passive voice using the verb “to be + past participle”. The past participle of grind is ground. Diagrams quite commonly use the passive voice in sentences.

The diagram illustrates the production of cement through various stages involved along with several tools used. Further it demonstrates how this cement is utilized for the generation of concrete which is essential for building purposes.

It is apparent from the diagrams that the production of cement involves undergoing several stages such as mixing , rotation and grinding. This cement is then used for the formation of concrete which undergoes a simple process of mixing various substances such as with water , sand and gravel.

Initially limestone and clay are allowed to pass through crusher and this outcome is transferred to Mixer. The product formed after mixing moves towards the rotating heater accompanied by heat produces the pre-form of cement. This pre-form then allowed to pass through the Grinder to form a final powder type material called cement which is ready to be packed into bags .

Now 15% of cement is mixed with 10% of water along with 25 % and 50% of sand and grovel (composed of small stones) respectively. At next this final mixer passed through the concrete mixer process. After rigorous rotation ,we get concrete as the final product ready to be used as construction material.

The two diagrams delineate how cement is manufactured and used to make concrete for the purpose of construction.

Overall, the procedure of cement making involves five steps, divided into two primary stages of processing raw materials and packaging, while the concrete production comprises only one step of mixing the ingredients together.

Regarding the first diagram, natural products such as limestone and clay are poured into the crushing machine, where they are passed between the two rollers to form a fine powder. Following this, the resultant powder is then placed in a mixing equipment for blending, after which a direct heat source is applied to a rotating heater to raise its temperature. Next, the hot amalgam is broken down into finer particles by a grinder to create cement, whereupon it is then put into bags to be distributed to construction sites.

As required, the cement is spun in a concrete mixer, accounting for 15% of the total mixture, along with 10% of water, 25% of sand and 50% of gravel. The final product of this treatment is concrete to be used for building various structures. (184 words)

Please any one review my task 1: The diagram illustrates the way to produce cement by using these materials, secondly, how to convert cement into concrete and develop concrete for construction purposes from cement. Overall, the cement production starts from Limestone and Clay, after completing the stage then ending up disappearing into the cement bags. Concrete is generated from cement after involving water and contributes stones around about 50 percent The cement-making uses a number of tools and creates concrete using a concrete mixer. There are first linear graph relays on 10 steps and concrete on 5 parts. In the stage of making cement, the Limestones and clay are crushed into form powder. After that mixer has been rounded heater and transferred to the heat view. After completing the heat stage, the grinder grinds the heat and produces actual cement. The cement is packed in bags to be sold in the market. In the second diagram, cement and water have a crucial role in producing concrete. Just 15 percent cement and approximately 10 percent water are used for making concrete. Gravel is almost 50 percent and sand 25 percent of usage through the concrete mixer. The concrete mixer combine all item in one stage and, finally, change cement into concrete format. The small stones used 50 percent as compared to other tools.

The diagrams depict the process of cement production and its further usage to make concrete for construction.

Overall, there are two major stages which can be determined: cement production, which has 4 steps and requires multiple tools and less complicated concrete making.

Initially, limestone and clay are combined together to be crushed by a crasher. Once the crushed powder is ready, it goes through the mixer to the rotating heater, where under the influence of heat, from the opposite end of the tube, the mixture is being rotated. After this step is finished, the mixture is grinded by a grinder in order to become cement. The final step is to place cement into bags for storing and further usage.

At this point, concrete is ready to be made. In order to do this, 4 ingredients are needed: a quarter of sand, 10% of water, 15% of cement and 50% of gravel, which are small stones. All the ingredients are mixed together in a concrete mixer, which makes concrete by constant rotating.

This diagram clearly depicts the step-by-step process of cement production and its role in the creation of concrete. The production of cement involves 8-10 rigorous stages that are essential for its creation. On the other hand, concrete is formed by combining cement, water, sand, and gravel in varying proportions. The initial stage of cement creation involves blending limestone and clay to form a fine powder, which is then mixed with other ingredients and heated at high temperatures in a rotating heater. The resulting substance is then ground in a grinder and stored in different bags. Furthermore, the second diagram emphasizes that gravel is the primary component of concrete, constituting 50% of the ingredients, followed by cement (15%), water (10%), and sand (25%). These constituents are combined in a rotating concrete mixer to produce the final product.

The diagram illustrates the manufacturing process of cement production and the way in which concrete is manufactured from the cement.

Overall, the cement is manufactured in 8-10 stages. Whereas, concrete is produced using cement, water, sand, and gravel in different proportions.

In the first stage of cement making, limestone, and clay are mixed together and powder is formed. Then after this powder is taken into the mixer and mixed with several ingredients. through which it passes through the rotating heater and is heated at high temperature, and then finally the product is grinded in a grinder and the cement is kept in different bags.

Regarding the second diagram, concrete consists mainly of gravel, which is small stones, and this makes up 50% of the ingredients, The other materials are cement (15%), water (10%), and sand (25%). These all ingredients are poured into a concrete mixer which continuously rotates to combine the materials and ultimately produces concrete.

Hi liz, Please correct my mistakes and guess the band score of my writing.

The diagram illustrates the raw materials and the process with the corresponding equipment required for making cement and how the concrete is produced for building purposes using cement and other ingredients. Overall, cement which is mixed with different ingredients(water , sand, and gravel) is produced from 4 main stages where raw materials (Limestone and Clay) are used.

At first, limestone and clay is passed through crusher to break it down in the form of powder which is then passed through the mixer. The mixed powder is then passed to next station where it is heated by rotating heater to make cement granules. And finally, it is passed through grinder to make it fine particles which is then packed into bags ready to use.

Regarding the second diagram, cement is used for concrete production which accounts for 15% of total ingredients to be used. The cement is then mixed with 10% of water ,25% of sand and 50% of gravel(small stones) in the concrete mixer which is then rotated for certain time to make final product of concrete which can be used for building purposes.

The two diagrams show the different stages and equipment used in the process of making cement, and how is cement used in the production of concrete.

Overall, there are four different phases a limestones and clay have to passed through before it became cement and ready for use, while making concrete requires only 1. While the process of making cement uses numbers of equipment, only mixer is being used in making a concrete.

In making cement, Firstly, the limestones and clay will pass through a crusher. This crusher will break the limestones and clay into a smaller piece till they became powder in appearance, then they will be put into a mixer to mix them evenly. After that, the mixed powder will pass again through a tube which is connected to a rotating heater which has constant heat at the end of it. From this point, the product will then go to a grinder and from then cement is made and is ready for bagging.

In concrete production, combinations of different amount of materials like cement at 15%, sand 25 %, water and small stones at 10 % and 25 % respectively are being put in a concrete mixer and all of these will be mixed together and the end product is a concrete which is ready for making buildings.

The given diagrams represent about the procedure and equipment required while producing cement and eventually concrete from obtained cement. The obtain cement has been filed in the plastic bags. On the contrary, in the complete production of concrete, cement work as raw material. Initially Limestone and Clay has been mixed and passed through a crusher which crush and convert in powder form. This will then pass to a mixer which help in mixing the power and then pass through a rotating heater which has passed over-heat. It is crucial to give the proper amount of heat before passing to the grinder which is the final stage before producing cement which would then be pack in plastic bag and ready for sell. On the other hand, it has been observed with the shared diagram that the Gravel (tiny [pieces of stones] consists half of the total composition (50%). The rest half has been further divided in three parts. The first of them is sand which constitutes one-fourth of the total composition. The rest one-fourth after (50% of Gravel & 25% of sand) constitutes (cement and water).

The diagrams illustrate the process of making cement through various steps and one step procedure of making concrete with the help of cement. Overall, lime stone and clay is being processed through many paces, untill it is packed into bags; Moreover, this cement is being used in the production of concrete with other three ingredients. while the cement production is quite a complicated procedure as compared to making concrete which has only one step. In the first picture , clay and lime stones are being crushed to form powder which is next sent to the mixing cylinder. In the next phase the mixer is being heated in a rotating heater with a continuous heat resource from the one side of it , now the mixer is ready to be ground in a grinder and finally cement is ready to be packed. Regarding the second diagram, there are four ingredients water,cement, sand ,and gravel which is small stones and used in large quantity, with the ratio of 10%, 15%, 25% and 50 % respectively are poured together into a concrete mixer. The concrete mixer rotates the materials continuously to form concrete , Finally. please anyone can check my task and point out my mistakes. Moreover ,let me know my scores.

The first picture illustrates the way in which cement with materials is made step by step, and the second picture shows how is concrete produced by cement for the infrastructure of buildings in one step.

Overall, it is conspicuous that the process of cement manufacture is made up of 4 stages, commencing with providing initial materials namely, limestone, and clay, after which they together combine, and at the end contents are placed in large bags. While the function of making cement uses several tools, the production of concrete requires only a concrete mixer.

At the first stage of this process, limestone and clay where were pressed by a crusher, and the resulting forcing form a powder, drawn into the mixer, during which prepared for the heat spinning step. Having been heated, the materials passed through the rotating heater, the resulting mixture is placed on the grinder machine. The output of this step is cement, which is packed in bags before being delivered to the market. Regarding the second diagram, at the same time as the device rotates clockwise, add ingredients to it. A concrete mixer is a specifically designed man-made contraction, which integrates primarily ingredients together, with 15% of cement, 10% of water, 25% of sand, and gravel which consist of the largest percentage of it therefore 50% of small stones, the resulting compounding is concrete.

The given diagrams describe the two processes necessary to produce concrete that is used for building. The first process being cement production, the second being the production of concrete using the cement produced in the former step.

The initial step in cement production, is crushing limestone and clay by means of a roller crusher that turns both raw materials into a powdery form. this powder is then passed to a mixer just right before it goes into the rotating heater, heated by a heatgun. to wrap up the process, the heated product goes through a grinder to produce the final shape of cement that is put in bags.

Secondly, 4 different raw materials are poured into the concrete mixer. However, in a rather specific and detailed proportions. Half of that mixture consists of gravel which is basically tiny stones. Sand comes after by quater of the whole mixture. Finally cement and water, 15% and 10% respectively. The mixer rotatry action does the rest to produce a homogenous and integral final product of concrete.

Your ideas are too much preferable for me. I enjoy your ideas and what you are trying to say in your Diagram.❤️

The diagram illustrates tools, ingredients and steps cement needs to go through in order to become concrete and be used as a construction material.

Overall, before becoming a ready to use material, concrete needs to go over two main phases, the cement production phase, where cement is made and packaged, and the concrete production phase, where concrete is made mixing cement with other rock.

With regards to cement production, a powder resulted from the crushing process of two rocks, Limestone and Clay, is conducted through a pipe to a rotating heater where heat is applied. Furthermore, A grinder is used to grind the mix transforming it to cement that get packaged after that in cement bags.

In concrete production phase, 15% cement, 10% water, 25% sand and 50% small stones of gravel are mixed together in a rotation motion by the concrete mixer, the outcome of this process is concrete that’s ready to be used for building purposes.

The diagram illustaters tools, ingredients and steps cement needs to go through in order to become concrete and be used as a constraction material.

Overall, before becoming a ready to use material, concrete needs to go over two main phases, the cement production phase and concrete production phase.

With regards to cement production, a powder resulted from the crushing proccess of two rocks, Limestone and Clay, is conducted through a pipe to a rotating heater where heat is applied. Furthermore, A grinder is used to grind the mix transforming it to cement that get packaged after that in cement bags.

In concrete production phase, 15% cement, 10% water, 25% sand and 50% small stones of gravel are mixed together in a rotation motion by the concrete mixer, the outcome of this proccess is a ready to use concrete.

Was going through the model answers so the overview and the introduction, are they combined in the first paragraph .

It is possible to combine them and I usually do so for diagrams which otherwise have a short introduction. However, the intro and the overview are separate statements even when put in the same paragraph.

Thank you 😊

Ocean of 😊 thanks

You’re welcome 🙂

hi liz. sometimes it happened that we are given small process in which it is difficult to complete word count then what should be done in such situation.

IELTS does not produce task 1 diagrams or maps etc which cannot be completed within 20mins. This test is designed by professionals, checked and double checked.

The figure illustrates the method for the manufacturing of cement in different steps with the instruments involved in the process. Furthermore, the application of the cement for the production of concrete to build architectural structures is demonstrated. Overall, cement production is a stepwise process that involves combination of different materials like limestone and clay with different machineries including crusher, mixer, heater and grinder. Then, in order to implement this cement in building mega structures, it has to be converted into concrete. Initially, cement synthesized by crushing limestone and clay into a powder that further pass through mixer into the rotating heater. Through external flame, heat was provided to the rotating heater to properly mix the powder under elevated temperature. Then heated powder pass through grinder to finally convert into cement. Then cement was packed into the bags. For the manufacturing of concrete, this synthesized cement was used that comprise of 15 % of all ingredients. Furthermore, half of the concrete constitute of small stones known as Gravel and sand cover the other quarter with 10 % water. All these ingredients collectively mix in concrete mixer to blend the final product.

The diagram here illustrates how cement is produced and how its is used for production of concrete. It includes a description of the processes and steps used in order to reach the end product, that is concrete.

First, to produce cement; limestone and clay are crushed and mixed together . Once that is done, the mixture is passed through a roller where eternal heat is provided which results in grainy cement. This grainy cement is then passed through a grinder again to get fine cement powder. This Cement is then ready to be packed in bags.

Now, to produce the concrete, this cement is used in a ratio of 15 % with 10 % of water, 25% sand and 50% gravel. All of this is together put in a concrete mixer, which mixes them all together and produces Concrete.

Overall, you can see that in order to produce concrete, cement is required and here it shows a complete process of how cement is produced and further used to produce concrete.

Geraldine says the diagram illustate the level of materials consumed in the manufacturing of cement, and the use of cement in producing concrete for building purposes.

How ever, in the cement making production the limestone and the clay are crushed together to form a powder, then transfered into the mixer before passing through the rotating heater to heat. Then down to the grinder for the grounding process for cement conversion then poured into the cement bag for use.

The second process shows that (15%) of cement (25%) sand (50%) gravel which is the small stone plus (10%) of water are all mixed together into the concrete mixer for the concrete production.

The diagram display the processes and tools involved in producing cement and how it is converted into concrete for the purpose of building.

Overall, the process of making cement involve the use of limestone and clay which undergoes four stages and equipment while concrete production requires only one process and tool.

In the first digram, limestone and clay are added into a crusher where they are crushed into a powder and then thoroughly mixed in a mixer. Subsequently, the mixed product enters into a rotating heater which has a source of heat at an extreme end. Furthermore, the heated product is grinded with a grinder into cement which is then poured into various bag.

In the second diagram, 15% of cement, 10% of water, 25% of sand and 50% gravel which is a type of small stone is added into a concrete mixer. At this point, the ingredient is thoroughly mixed to give rise to concrete which can be utilize for building.

The diagrams illustrate how to make concrete for buildings with the help of processing cement with its stages and equipments used. Overall, limestone and clay pass through four stages before being bagged ready for use as cement which is 15% ingredient of concrete. While the process of making cement uses a number of tools, the production of concrete requires only a concrete mixer. In the first stage of cement production, limestone and clay are crushed together to make the form of powder. Then the powder is collected in the mixer before passing into a rotating heater which has constant heat exposure at the end of the tube. The resulting mixture is ground in order to produce cement. After the final product is put into bags, then it is ready to be used as a component of making concrete. Regarding the second diagram, concrete consists of 50% of gravel which is small stones. The other materials used for concrete production are sand (25%), cement (15%) and water (10%). All these ingredients are poured into a concrete mixer which is constantly rotates to combine the materials to produce concrete.

Total 187 words.

The above diagram illustrates the stages and equipment used in the cement making process, and how cement is used in the production of concrete for building purpose. Cement is one of the four ingredients involved in production of concrete. Initially, ground limestone and clay are added to a crusher to break into smaller particles. This fine powder is next added to a mixer to create a perfect blend of the two. Later the mixed powder is sent into a rotating heater, to which heat is supplied from one end. After heating the mixture, the heated mixture is added to a grinder to make a fine powder. The obtained fine powder is cement. Cement is packed in bags and distributed accordingly. Regarding the second diagram, concrete consists of mainly gravel, which is broken stone and accounts to 50% of the ingredients. Other ingredients are cement (15%), water (10), sand (25%) and gravel (50%). All ingredients are added into a concrete mixer is said proportions and mixed thoroughly to produce concrete.

The Diagram above Illustrates all necessary steps and equipment that are followed and used while making cement, further how it is used to make concrete for different building projects. The process followed for making cement is first limestone and clay are crushed and are mixed in a mixer to properly combine them together, after that the mixture is then heated in a rotating heater once this process is completed the final step is grinding and then finally cement is ready to use. In concrete production, there are four things that are combined together with proper measurement, things combined together are as follows, Cement [15%], Water [10%], sand [25%], and gravel [50% gravel are small stones] these four materials are mixed in a mixer and concrete is ready to use

Please evaluate. The diagram illustrates the various stages employed in the production of cement and also the method used to make concrete. Overall, limestone and clay passes through four main stages in order to make the final product, which then further added with three more ingredients in a mixer to produce concrete. In the production of the cement several tools along with heating medium are used whereas concrete making process needed only a mixer.

Initially, limestone and clay passes through a crusher which crushes them into a powder. Now this powder passes through a mixer, which mix it well. Next stage is rotating heater, where continuous heat is applied after this the heated powder allowed to pass from a grinder which shapes it into the final product. From here the cement is poured and packed into bags in order to process it for commercial purposes.

For concrete making, mainly four ingredients Gravels, sand, cement and water in particular proportions are used (50%, 25%, 15% and 10% respectively). All four are fed into a mixer, which rotates constantly and mixes them to form the concrete.

The diagram illustrates the production of a cement which is then used to from the concrete. overall, the limestone and clay are used to form cement after passing through several steps like crushing, mixing, heating and grinding. this cement is then used to form the concrete by mixing with other ingredients in a concrete mixer. Firstly the limestone and clay are crushed to form a powder this powder is then mixed together in a mixer for passing through a rotatory heater where constant heat is applied. Furthermore this heated powder is then grinded to form cement which is stored in bags for delivery regarding second diagram the concrete is made by adding cement and other two ingredients like water and sand into a main ingredient which is gravel(50%) that are fine stones . All these ingredients are mixed together in a concrete mixer to form concrete which is used as a building material.

The diagram shows the ways in which bricks are made for the building industries. Overall, there are eight stages in the whole producing process, beginning with the digging up the clay and culminating in delivery. In the initial stage of the process, the clay used to make the bricks is dug up from the ground by a large digger before placing onto a metal grid which is used to turn the bricks into smaller pieces. A roller assists in this process. Following this, sand and water are added to the clay in order to turn into bricks by either placing it into a mould or using a wire cut. Next, these bricks is placed in a drying oven to dry for 24-48 hours. Once the bricks have gone through heating and cooling process, they are then heated in a kiln at a moderate and then a high temperature ranging from 200 C – 1300 C, followed by cooling process in a cooling chamber. Having been left in the chamber for 48-72 hours, the bricks are then packed and delivered to their destinations. Hey Liz, I am Shukhrat from Uzbekistan. Can you have a look at this? Does this process deserve to get high band score in IELTS?

Mam Liz, is it true that that process diagrams and flow charts have a very very small chance to actually be asked in the exam?

They can appear at any time. If your results are important to you, do not presume that diagrams or maps are unimportant.

I know this is an old comment but incase someone else passes by this-

I didn’t study maps thoroughly because someone I was studying said “I’ve never seen that, they’re never going to ask that.”

Behold- it was the task I got on exam. Hahahaha.

Prepare for all types of tasks unless you’re willing to schedule multiple exams in a week to counteract the odds. 😉

Sorry to hear you got caught out. Yes, any type of task can appear in task 1. It is essential to prepare for all of them.

hello liz, regarding this essay, shouldn’t “ground” in the second paragraph and at the end of the third line be grounded?

No. The past tense of “to grind” is “ground” or “grinded”.

Hello Liz I am an ardent fan of your tutorials..i just want to ask one thing about task 1..shall we write it in present tense or past tense if nothing is mentioned about time like in process tyoe questions

If no date is given, use the present tense.

Hi liz …. u r commendable.. very precise way of teaching … luv u so much

Thanks a lot for this wonderful website Ieltsliz😍😍😍

Hi Liz, Instead of ‘overall’, can we use ‘To outline’ Thanks

Why change the signpost “overall”? It is the best signpost to indicate an overview. This is formal, report writing. It will not improve your score to change that signpost.

I have a question … do we need to write process in passive voice or active only ?

You will use a combination of both.

The diagrams explains the steps and equipments utilize in the production of cement and the way in which concrete are formed for housing reasons. Overall, it can be deduced that the process of cement making used four equipments and two materials. In contrast, concrete was produced from four materials that was mixed together in one machine which rotates in a gradual motion.

First of all, the production of cement was made with limestone and clay which was crushed to powder and then passed through the mixer. Then, the materials was heated at the end of the rotating heater tube before it was grounded. Later on, the cement produced was packed into bags.

However, in the production of concrete, four materials were used compared to cement production that utilized two resources. 15% of cement which was made from limestone and clay was added to 25 percent of sand. Two times the size of sand represents the size of gravel which is small stones. Moreover, 10% of water was also added. All this material were mixed in a concrete mixer which rotates in a gradual movement.

Dear Liz, I noticed a difference between what you said on one tutorial and this example here. Should overall be separated into a single paragraph or not?

There are no fixed rules. Diagrams generally have a very very short introduction. Sometimes it is no more than 10 words. For that reason I put the overview in the same paragraph. It’s fine to do that. For all other task 1, I keep it as a separate paragraph. The most important thing is using the word “overall” to indicate to the examiner that it is the overview and making sure all key features are highlighted.

The flow chart illustrates the process of making cement, while the other diagram shows how different materials are combined with the product to produce concrete.

Overall, cement manufacturing takes four steps, beginning with crushing and ending with cement in bags. Regarding concrete production, different materials in constituencies are added/mixed to under rotation to make concrete.

Cement making steps are as follows: First and foremost, inputs namely; limestone and clay are put in a crusher where they are grinded to produce powder. Then, the material is channeled into a mixer where it is mixed thoroughly. The next stage involves passing the powder into rotating heater where heat is applied, the resource is rotated consequently, as heater rotates. The final stage focuses on the by-product which is crushed under grinder to produce cement which is put in bags.

Looking at concrete production diagram, initials stage: water (10%), cement (15%), sand (25%) and gravel (50%) are added together in concrete mixer, then, the mixer is put under rotation and the inputs are mixed to produce concrete.

Word count: 180 words

It’s really helpful

The diagram provides information about the different levels and tools required in the production of cement, and how cement contributes to the making of concrete for construction purposes.

Overall, the manufacturing of cement requires a dry process, while concrete production on the other hand is a wet method. Also, the mixer Isa necessary equipment in both cement and concrete making.

The first stage in the production of cement is crushing ofboth limestone and clay to give a fine powdered mixture,after which it is transported into the mixer for thorough mixing. Next the mixture enters the rotating heater were heat is directly acted upon it. Then the heated mixture is poured into the grinder for more grinding of the particulars. The result is cement and then they are packed into bags for distribution and use

The making of concrete requires the combination of cement (15%), water(10%), sand (25%) and small stones called gravel also by 50%). The composition is poured into the concrete mixer for proper mixing of every ingredients.

This example is helpful for me and i learnt lot of things related to way we can use connectors include then and afterwards . I want next example about flow chart and pie chart. Thanks if you read it then comment also.

You can find model answers and tips for writing task 1, in the writing section of the website. Just click on the RED MENU BAR at the top of the website 🙂

Hi Liz, thanks for your painstaking efforts to produce these materials. I wish to ask, could the overviews for the two diagrams be given separately. Can it be done in different paragraphsis. Thank you

Yes, definitely. You can write the overview separately. I usually do for my task 1 but I occasionally like to offer alternatives.

Hi liz, Thanks for your up-to-date informations. I want to ask a question that is it okay to write a overveiw in 2nd paragraph and again in the end add a conclusion paragraph in another way, I mean by another prospective in writing task 1?

You are being marked on your ability to group information together – not to repeat it and scatter it in different paragraphs.

Hi Liz, Can the overview come last?

Sure. But don’t miss it. It is the most important paragraph in task 1. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/

Hi Liz, I cannot upload answer to first IELTS Bar Chart Practice Sample question ( men ,women and children eating five portions of fruits and vegetables). Please share a link for the answer. Thank you.

Try the main writing task 1 page. Click on the RED BAR at the top of the website.

Thanks madam Liz, the work on your web is quite blissful

Hello Liz First of all, thank you for your videos, tips and all you do for us. I want to know one thing. Do we have to write writing tasks in IELTS with handwriting?

If you are taking normal IELTS, it will all be hand written. However, there are some countries and some test centers that offer computer delivered IELTS.

Thanks for a big support, your website is too useful.

The diagrams depict the process of cement production and its usage in making concrete.

In cement production there are 4 stages involved. In the first stage limestone and clay are crushed to powder form. This then passes through a mixer into a rotating heater, which is supplied with constant heat at one end. Afterwhich, the mixture is ground to develop cement. This final product is bagged thereafter.

The process of concrete making involves 4 items, cement(15%), sand(25%),gravel(50%) and water(10%). All these ingredients are mixed in a concrete mixer which rotates clock-wise.This process results in the formation of concrete.

Overall, the making of cement is of 4 stages, in which a number of equipments are used. As far as concrete production is concerned, all the substances are mixed in a single machine.

Hi, Liz. Firstly, I’d like to thank you for these great lessons which are very helpful for me in preparing my upcoming academic IELTS test. Secondly, I’d like to ask you if we are allowed to use/draw an arrow in the writing tasks? You know, to add some words that we’ve forgot to mention earlier. And when we use pen in writing tasks, is it okay to cross out some words, even a long sentence?

The examiner only sees the answer sheets. So you can draw, underline, , make notes, plan etc all over your question paper for listening, reading and writing. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-help-faq/ and this page: https://ieltsliz.com/deleting-words-in-ielts-writing/ . You can find all my tips on the main pages of this site which you access through the RED BAR at the top of the website.

You are astonishing. thanks a lot for your help, time and on top of that patience.

can all diagrams be written in a passive voice? such as the tense used in the diagram above?

As seen in the model above, the tense will vary to show a range.

Hi Liz, first of all, thank you for your great advice. I was wondering about the format of writing. Are we allowed to leave space in the first sentence of every paragraph? (just to indicate that there is a new paragraph starting ?

https://ieltsliz.com/should-i-indent-my-paragraphs-in-ielts-writing/

Hi, Liz.How can we write overviews for PROCCES and Map.What data shoul we mention?

A process is another name for a diagram. All writing task 1, including diagrams and maps, MUST have an overview. It is the most important statement/paragraph in your task 1 writing. For diagrams, state the key stages. For maps, state the key changes (if it is time related) and/or the main features.

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