how to properly cite sources you put in a chart

3 Like the title of the paper itself, each legend should concisely convey as much information as possible about what the graph tells the reader, but it should not provide a summary or interpretation of the results or experimental details. Open and closed circles provide the best contrast and are more effective than the combination of open circles and open squares.

Plotting symbols need to be distinct, legible, and provide good contrast between the figure in the foreground and the background. 2 Graphs should always have at minimum a caption, axes and scales, symbols, and a data field. For most purposes, design a graph so that the vertical axis (ordinate, Y axis) represents the dependent variable and the horizontal axis (abscissa, X axis) represents the independent variable. Graphs may have several parts, depending on their format: (1) a figure number, (2) a caption (not a title), (3) a headnote, (4) a data field, (5) axes and scales, (6) symbols, (7) legends, and (8) a credit or source line. It is important to provide a clear and descriptive legend for each graph. This is determined not only by the font size and symbols but by the type of graph itself. A basic requirement for a graph is that it is clear and readable. 1Īlthough there are myriad computer programs that can generate a graph, the author must still heed some basic principles. If the data doesn't show any significant trend in the evidence, a graph is not the figure of choice. If the data shows pronounced trends or reveals relations between variables, a graph should be used. Likewise, do not reiterate the data in the text since it defeats the purpose of using a graph. Do not, however, use graphs for small amounts of data that could be conveyed succinctly in a sentence. The purpose of a graph is to present data that are too numerous or complicated to be described adequately in the text and in less space. Graphs are a common method to visually illustrate relationships in the data.

How to properly cite sources you put in a chart