Today’s Plan:
- Principles for Graphs
- Data Sets
- Google Sheets
Principles for Graphs
Adapted from Markel and Selber, Technical Communication 12th edition.
Ethical Concerns
- If you did not create the graphic or generate the data, cite your source.
- Include all relevant data. Do not delete or ignore data points that you cannot explain.
- Begin the axes in your graphs at zero–or mark them clearly.
To these, let me add:
- Unless absolutely necessary, do not change axes values between similar looking graphs
- Use color to highlight, not distract
- In every situation, self-consciously reflect on how your choices have potentially manipulated data
- In every situation, ask if there’s a way to make this data more clear
Placing a Graphic in Your Text
- Introduce the graphic in the body text BEFORE readers encounter it
- Provide context for the graphic in the text. Explain where the data for the graphic originated.
- Do not leave it to readers to decipher graphics. Dedicate a paragraph to explaining the graph and highlighting key findings. Write this paragraph as if a blind person is reading the report. The graph is there to augment comprehension, but should not be the sole medium communicating information
- Sample description from Markel and Selber: As Figure 2 shows, a high-sulfur bituminous coal gasification plant is more expensive than either a low-sulfur bituminous or an anthracite plant, but more than half of its cost is for cleanup equipment. If these expenses could be eliminated, high-sulfur bituminous would be the least expensive of the three types of plants
- Makes sure graphics have adequate captions and keys. Graphs should communicate meaning even if removed from a document
Data Sets
I’ve got two data sets for us to work with in class. We are going to create some simple graphs using Google Sheet’s internal engine.
- Texas Generation and Democratic Presidential Primary Vote Intention
- Championship and Highest Win Percentages By Major Professional Sport
