1. McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Objectives This section will provide specific strategies for understanding graphs and charts. Part Four, Reading Comprehension Skills Skill Eight, Understanding Graphs and Tables

2. McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Being a skillful reader means more than just the ability to read words. It can also mean being able to read the visual information presented in graphs and tables. Visual information can help you understand important ideas and details as you read.

3. McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Graphs and tables present information by using lines, images or numbers as well as words. They often compare quantities or show how things change over a period of time.

4. McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading a graph or table involves four steps: 1. Read the title and any subtitles This gives you a concise summary of all the information in the graph or table. 2. Read any information at the top, at the bottom, and along the sides. This may include an explanation key to the material presented.

5. McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 3. Ask yourself the purpose of the graph or table. Usually, the title can be turned into a question beginning with What, How much or How many, or How. The purpose of the graph is to answer that question. 4. Read the graph or table. As you read, keep in mind the purpose of the material.