6 Referring to visual information

In essay and report writing, it may be necessary to include visuals such as a picture or a diagram. To help the reader see the relevance of these visuals, it is important to refer to them in the text.

To achieve this, it is necessary to give the visual a number (Figure 1, Table 1, etc.) and a title indicating its theme. This allows the writer to refer to the visual using one of these phrases:

• As can be seen in Figure 1 ...
• According to Figure 1, ...
• Figure 1 shows …
• Figure 1 indicates that …
• As shown in Figure 1 ...

In the example text used in Activity 10, the figure has been given a number and a title, and the writer refers to it in the central part of their text by using the phrase ‘as can be seen in Figure 1’.

Activity 10

Timing: Allow approximately 5 minutes

Look at the structure of the paragraph below and decide which of these functions each sentence performs:

• Introduction to the topic of the paragraph.
• Specific evidence contained in the table, which helps to develop the topic of the paragraph.
• Additional comments on the same topic.

• [1] In the last 15 years, employers have had to respond to an increased demand on the part of the employees for a better work/life balance. [2] As can be seen in Figure 1, this demand has generated a significant increase in flexible working practices offered by employers. [3] In particular, the provision of home-working and compressed work weeks has more than doubled over a period of fifteen years (CIPD, 2012). [4] This strategy tends to reduce absenteeism and lead to a more motivated and productive workforce (Bentley, 2014).

Figure 6 The provision of flexible working arrangements (% employers). Source: Adapted from CIPD (2012)

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A table with the years 2012, 2004, 1998 appearing across the top of the columns and the following data appearing:

Flexitime – 50 (2012) 35 (2004) 27 (1998)

Job-sharing – 49 (2012) 31 (2004) 28 (1998)

Homeworking – 54 (2012) 26 (2004) 13 (1998)

Term-time working – 33 (2012) 20 (2004) 16 (1998)

Compressed work weeks – 44 (2012) 16 (2004) – (1998)

Figure 6 The provision of flexible working arrangements (% employers). Source: Adapted from CIPD (2012)

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Answer

Introduction to the topic of the paragraph: sentence 1

Specific evidence contained in the table, which helps to develop the topic of the paragraph: sentences 2 and 3

Additional comments on the same topic: sentence 4

Images and diagrams can be used to illustrate the points made in the text. However, readers will understand the relevance of these visuals if the text clearly refers to them.