Today’s Plan:
- Graphs
- Discussion Section
- Report Overview Redux
- Homework
Graphs
Today we are going to work with the data we produced in the last class to generate, label, and modify some graphs in Google Sheets. Learning outcomes:
- Inputting Data to the Template
- Generating a Graph
- Editing the Graph’s Axis/Labels/Title
- Modifying the Graph’s Appearance
- Inserting the Graph in a Google Doc
Inputting Data to the Template
For convenience, here is a link to the spreadsheet with our final tallies. Remember that for your report, you should be analyzing at least 50 different codes, so choose columns that make that work.
In order to make it easier to generate graphs in Google Sheets, you are going to make a copy of this template and populate it with numbers.
Unless significant (something you want to highlight in your discussion), delete any columns that contain a zero or a really low number.
Generating a Graph
Here is a link to Google’s documentation on creating a graph in Google Sheets. Insert > Chart. Easy Peasie.
Editing the Graph’s Axis/Labels/Title
This is also covered in the documentation. Let’s change the title first to Figure 1. Tools and Technologies
Editing the Graph’s Appearance
Fonts
Label angle?
Neat trick: series > data labels
Inserting a Graph in a Google Doc
Two ways:
- Right corner of graph: Three dots. Copy. Then paste in your document [benefit: graph is linked, if you change the spreadsheet, it will auto-update the graph]
- Convert the graph into an image [benefit: easier to email to technophobes]
Discussion Section
Now that we’ve got our data finalized and (hopefully) looking pretty sweet, it is time to generate some thoughts about it. Here’s what you can do in your discussion section:
- How does it compare to previous research (i.e., Brumberger and Lauer?). Put your top codes in direct comparison with theirs. Any surprising differences? Or does our research corroborate theirs?
- Anything jump out at you? Anything you are pretty sure will surprise our audience(s) (particularly high school seniors / incoming first-years but also faculty?)
- Let’s crowd source some “action points” for our audience. Since we know what the top skills are, we can try and think of courses at UNCo that are particularly good at transferring those skills. I’ve got something with which we can work.
Report Overview Redux
Here’s a link to the document I sent you and referred to on Tuesday.
Remember that the course requires extra labor in order to secure an “A” grade. This project presents two opportunities:
- You can bring a draft to the Writing Center before the due date
- You can revise the paper after I have commented on them
You can bring/upload the Job Advertisement Analysis document to your WC consultation (and remember to request a receipt).
Homework
A reminder that the paper will be due Tuesday at midnight. We will review previous papers in next Tuesday’s class.
Also, a reminder to read the Jim Corder essay “Argument as Emergence, Rhetoric as Love” in preparation for next Thursday’s class.
