Bar Charts in Technical Writing.pdf
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The document provides a comprehensive guide on how to analyze and describe bar charts, emphasizing their role in displaying discrete data for comparison, patterns, and trends. It outlines different types of bar charts, including basic, grouped, stacked, and horizontal, and offers guidelines for effective chart usage and interpretation. The document also details the process of writing reports based on bar charts, including how to structure information clearly and support trends with specific examples.
Bar Charts in Technical Writing.pdf
- 2. 2 Learning Outcomes Analyze and describe a bar chart 5 1 Understand the role and importance of charts and graphs. 2 Identify the types of data bar charts are used for 3 Di ff erentiate between di ff erent types of bar charts and their functions 4 Identify ways of using bar charts professionally
- 3. Why We Use Charts and Graphs 1
- 4. Graphs and charts display numbers using shapes, colors and patterns. 4
- 5. They’re especially useful for showing comparisons, patterns and trends. 5
- 6. Bar Charts Types of Data 2
- 8. Bar charts (or bar graphs) are used to show and compare discrete categories of data. 8
- 10. Each bar shows a specific quantity that is not directly a ff ected but the other quantities in the chart. Discrete Data 10
- 12. Used to display one theme or trend. Basic Bar Charts 12
- 13. Used to show categories and subcategories 13 Grouped Bar Charts
- 14. Used to show subcategories with totals Stacked Bar Charts 14
- 17. Used when there are a lot of categories. Horizontal Bar Charts 17
- 18. Or when the category titles are long Horizontal Bar Charts 18
- 20. Parts of a Bar Chart Title Source Legend Measurements Labels Categories 20
- 21. Only use bar charts to compare values that are noticeably di ff erent small di ff erences won’t show Guidelines 21
- 22. Keep the chart simple and easy to read don’t include too much information Guidelines 22
- 23. Keep the chart simple and easy to read Use colors and patterns to make the graph easy to read Guidelines 23
- 24. Label both scales to show what is being measured and how Guidelines 24
- 27. We use bar charts to make the information easy to process. 27
- 28. So when we write about the information, we don’t have to men ti on everything. 28
- 29. Don’t discuss the information. Write a report about it. Analyzing and Describing 29
- 30. Start with a sentence stating what the chart is about. Introduction 30
- 31. 31 Figure 1. Percentage of Students Pro fi cient in a Foreign Language 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 China Romania Thailand India Russia Vietnam Male Female Figure 1 shows the percentage of students proficient in a foreign language in six different countries
- 32. Explain the main idea shown in the data. Topic Sentence - State the Trend 32
- 33. 33 As shown, overall more female students are proficient in foreign language than males. Figure 1. Percentage of Students Pro fi cient in a Foreign Language 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 China Romania Thailand India Russia Vietnam Male Female
- 34. Follow the topic sentence with supporting sentences that prove the trend. Supporting Sentences 34
- 35. 35 For example, in India, around 67 percent of female students are proficient in a foreign language compared to just 55 percent of men. Figure 1. Percentage of Students Pro fi cient in a Foreign Language 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 China Romania Thailand India Russia Vietnam Male Female
- 36. Give 2-3 examples, including specific information (numbers). Supporting Sentences 36
- 37. 37 Similarly, almost 65 percent of female students in Romania are proficient in another language while less than 45 percent of men are. Figure 1. Percentage of Students Pro fi cient in a Foreign Language 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 China Romania Thailand India Russia Vietnam Male Female
- 38. 38 Likewise, in China, Russia, and Vietnam the percentage of female students who can speak a foreign language is higher than the percentage of males. Figure 1. Percentage of Students Pro fi cient in a Foreign Language 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 China Romania Thailand India Russia Vietnam Male Female
- 39. Exceptions You can also mention exceptions to the trend. 39
- 40. But make it clear they are an exception Exceptions 40
- 41. 41 In fact, Thailand is the only country in the chart where more male students are proficient in another language. Figure 1. Percentage of Students Pro fi cient in a Foreign Language 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 China Romania Thailand India Russia Vietnam Male Female
- 42. Finish with a concluding sentence that restates the main point Concluding Sentences 42
- 43. Making sure to use di ff erent language. Concluding Sentences 43
- 44. 44 Figure 1. Percentage of Students Pro fi cient in a Foreign Language 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 China Romania Thailand India Russia Vietnam Male Female As shown, overall more female students are proficient in foreign language than males.
- 45. 45 Figure 1. Percentage of Students Pro fi cient in a Foreign Language 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 China Romania Thailand India Russia Vietnam Male Female To conclude, proficiency in a foreign language is far more common amongst female students than it is amongst males.
- 47. The topic and concluding sentence are like the bun on a burger. Topic Details Reminder
- 49. We use bar charts to compare sets of data Explicit Comparison 49
- 50. 50 Approximately 65 percent of women speak a foreign language. Around 45 percent of men speak a foreign language. Implicit Comparison
- 51. 51 Explicit Comparison Approximately 65 percent of women speak a foreign language but only around 45 percent of men speak one.
- 52. use appropriate language to help make your comparisons more explicit Explicit Comparison 52