Three Sentence Frames for Chart Evidence

You ask, "What does the chart show?" and a few students answer with a shrug, a guess, or a sentence so broad that it could fit almost any graph.

That does not mean they are not thinking. Often, students need language before they can show the reasoning they are beginning to do. A sentence frame gives them a starting place. It lowers the blank-page pressure while still requiring them to stay close to the evidence.

Here are three frames that work across subjects when students need to make a claim from a chart.

Frame 1: This Chart Shows

Use this when students need to begin with a neutral observation.

This chart shows ____ over/for ____.

Example: "This chart shows the number of library visits for each grade level."

This frame is intentionally simple. It keeps students from rushing into explanation before they have named what is visible. It is especially useful with younger students, multilingual learners, or any group encountering a new chart type.

Frame 2: Compared To

Use this when students need to describe a relationship.

Compared to ____, the data for ____ is ____.

Example: "Compared to Monday, the data for Friday is higher."

This frame pushes students beyond naming one bar or point. They have to identify a comparison and describe the direction or size of the difference. From there, you can ask, "Where do you see that?" or "How large is the difference?"

Frame 3: The Evidence Suggests

Use this when students are ready to make a cautious claim.

The evidence suggests ____ because ____.

Example: "The evidence suggests attendance improved because the line rises for three weeks after the schedule changed."

The word "suggests" matters. It reminds students that a chart can support a claim without proving every possible explanation. This is a small language move, but it helps students avoid overclaiming.

How To Use Them Tomorrow

Pick one chart you already planned to use. Model one frame aloud, then ask students to try the same frame with a partner.

You do not need all three frames at once. Start with the frame that matches the kind of thinking you want:

• Use "This chart shows" for observation.
• Use "Compared to" for comparison.
• Use "The evidence suggests" for cautious interpretation.

After students write, ask one follow-up question: What in the chart supports that sentence?

That question turns the frame from a writing scaffold into an evidence habit.

Sentence frames are not meant to make student thinking mechanical. They are meant to give students enough structure to say something precise. Over time, the goal is for students to outgrow the frame while keeping the habit: make a claim, locate the evidence, and avoid saying more than the chart can support.

For more chart discussion routines, connect this move to Chart-Ed's Data Forensics resources and teacher guides. A single frame can be the beginning of a much stronger classroom conversation about evidence.