The chart below illustrates the percentages of sales of one bookseller in 1970, 1997 and 2012. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. You should write at least 150 words.
Sample Essay with Corrections
Expert Feedback
The essay effectively summarizes the main features of the sales data and makes relevant comparisons over the specified years, which is a key strength. However, it could improve by providing more specific figures, such as the percentage for 'Other categories', to enhance the completeness of the analysis. The organization is generally good, but transitions between points could be improved with the use of cohesive devices. The vocabulary is appropriate, but there is some repetition that could be varied for better lexical range. Grammatical accuracy needs attention, as there were several errors that detracted from clarity. Structural changes made include correcting grammatical errors, adding specific figures for clarity, and improving transitions between paragraphs. Further improvements could include varying vocabulary more extensively and ensuring all grammatical structures are accurate. The tone used is appropriate for an academic report, maintaining a formal and objective style throughout.
Detailed Scores
What this means:
The essay is generally well-organized, with a clear progression of ideas. However, some sentences could be better linked to improve flow. For instance, using more cohesive devices such as 'In addition' or 'Conversely' could enhance the transitions between points. The use of paragraphs could also be more distinct to separate different time periods.
How to improve:
- Use a clear paragraph structure
- Connect ideas with appropriate linking words
- Maintain logical progression
- Use referencing effectively
What this means:
The writing demonstrates a reasonable range of grammatical structures, but there are several grammatical errors, such as 'amounted for' (should be 'amounted to') and 'Historys' (should be 'Histories'). These errors detract from the overall clarity. Improving grammatical accuracy and varying sentence structures would enhance the score.
How to improve:
- Use complex sentence structures
- Maintain grammatical accuracy
- Use a variety of sentence patterns
- Check for common grammar errors
What this means:
The vocabulary used is appropriate for the task, with terms like 'significant increase' and 'stable' effectively conveying the changes in sales. However, there are some repetitive phrases, such as 'sales of fiction' and 'biographies', which could be varied. Incorporating synonyms or alternative expressions would enhance the lexical range.
How to improve:
- Use a wider range of vocabulary
- Demonstrate awareness of collocations
- Avoid word repetition
- Use more sophisticated vocabulary accurately
What this means:
The response effectively summarizes the main features of the sales data and makes relevant comparisons over the specified years. However, it could improve by providing more specific figures and clearer distinctions between the categories. For example, mentioning the exact percentage of 'Other categories' would enhance the completeness of the analysis.
How to improve:
- Address all parts of the task fully
- Support ideas with specific examples
- Develop each point thoroughly
- Stay relevant to the topic
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