Interpreting and Creating Graphic Aids

Why Graphic Aids?

• Provide visual explanations of concepts and relationships.

• Easier to understand than words alone.

• Enables students to grasp and recall information easily.

• Authors mention graphic aids at a point in which they think the graph will help the reader.

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1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

East

West

North

Steps in Creating a Graph1. Decide on the type of graph you will use.

Bar Graph

Line Graph

Pie Chart

Flow Chart

2. Include a title/topic. Title explains what is being clarified or illustrated.

Stages of sleepSTAGES OF SLEEP

What is the title/topic of this graph?

Steps in Creating a Graph

Steps in Creating a Graph

Dianne Hales, An Invitation to Health, 11th edition

3. Include a source to add credibility to the graph.

Source: Dianne Hales, An Invitation to Health, 11th edition

What is the source of this graph?

4. Decide on the units of measurement. Include captions at the top, the side, or underneath that tell exactly what each column, line, bar, number, or other item represents.

Bodyactivity

Time (hours)

Sta

ge o

f sl

eep

AwakePeriods of rapid eye movement

Captions

Steps in Creating a Graph

Bar Graph• Length of parallel

bars are used to make comparisons

• Bars in graphs can either be vertical or horizontal.

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Line Graphs

• Points are connected to show relationships between two or more items.

• There may be one or more lines depending on the items.

Pie Charts

• Circle graph in which the sizes of the slices presents part of a whole.

Flowcharts/Mapping

• Shows steps in procedures or processes

• Uses boxes or other shapes connected by lines or arrows.