Charts and Graphs

Our second exercise is to create a series of charts or graphs using data provided in the Excel spreadsheet.

The main types of charts/graphs you should be familiar with are:

Line graphs
Bar charts
Pie charts
Scatter Plots

Some other types include (but these are less used):

Area graphs
Bubble graphs
Stock Charts
Heat Maps
Histograms

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Here are some key points to remember.  A good graph is one that:

1. Tells a story.  It should be a clear message representing the underlying data.

2. Has a title in bold, large font.

3. Has clearly labeled axes (x and y), with bold type.

4. Has a legend to identify different data series.

5. Uses vibrant colors in a tasteful way to enhance the story being told. 

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I'd like to know when you would recommend one type of chart/graph over another, and give examples of each.  Summarize your findings under the first tab and submit to me via email at rwiegs@gmail.com

To access the Excel spreadsheet please click on this link.