Effective Graphs

1.  Consider when would you use the following types of graphs:

    Pie Chart - Pie charts can only be used when you start with a complete group that can be divided into defined pieces.  For example, you can make a pie chart of the population of Illinois by race (as long as you include all races).  However, you could not make a pie chart of randomly selected DePaul majors.

    X Y Scatter (Line Graph) - This type is used when you have a significant amount of data and the x-axis is numerical.  A good example is graphing the population of Chicago per decade since the 1800s.

    Bar Chart - This type of graph is the best choice if you can't use a pie or XY scatter graph.  It is also good for comparing making comparisons.  For example, comparing the enrollment in specific majors in 1990 and 2000.

Open the file IL_Pop_By_Race.xls.

2.  Add a column which contains the percentage of total population for each racial category.

3.  Make an effective graph.  When making an effective graph, consider the following:

            a.  What is the purpose of making a graph from this data?

            b.  What type of graph should you make?          pie             bar                x-y scatter (line)   

            c.  Decide on a title and consider the the W's (who, what, where and when)

            d.  Legend:        yes        no

            e.  Descriptive x-axis label (if applicable) -

            f.  Descriptive y-axis label (if applicable) -

            g.  Scale (if applicable) -

            h.   Source -

Open the file DePaulMajors04.xls.

4.  Make an effective graph

            a.  What is the purpose of making a graph from this data?

            b.  What type of graph should you make?          pie             bar                x-y scatter (line)   

            c.  Decide on a title and consider the the W's (who, what, where and when)

            d.  Legend:        yes        no

            e.  Descriptive x-axis label (if applicable) -

            f.  Descriptive y-axis label (if applicable) -

            g.  Scale (if applicable) -

            h.   Source -

Open the file ChicagoPopulation1830-2000.xls.

5.  Make an effective graph

            a.  What is the purpose of making a graph from this data?

            b.  What type of graph should you make?          pie             bar                x-y scatter (line)   

            c.  Decide on a title and consider the the W's (who, what, where and when)

            d.  Legend:        yes        no

            e.  Descriptive x-axis label (if applicable) -

            f.  Descriptive y-axis label (if applicable) -

            g.  Scale (if applicable) -

            h.   Source -