1. Word Splash Warm-Up ! ! ! Directions: 8 out of these 9 words all belong in ONE category. WHAT is the category? Which word does NOT belong?
Title
Labels
Data X
Axis
Spacing
Hypothesis Y
Interval

2. Answers Category: Graphing (parts of a graph)
Which word doesn’t belong: Hypothesis

3. Ms. Twardowski Central Middle School 8 Green
Graphing Review
Ms. Twardowski
Central Middle School
8 Green

4. Graphing
It is important to know how to set up a graph correctly. This year in science, and throughout high school, you will be setting up and completing MANY graphs (that will be graded).

5. TAILS can help you remember!
T = Title
A = Axis
I = Intervals
L = Labels for Data
S = Spacing

6. “X” Axis: Independent Variable
The independent variable is the data that can “stand alone”.
The data that we already know.
Example: If we wanted to see how much we weigh on the moon, what do we know BEFORE we start the experiment? How much we weigh on Earth or how much we will weigh on the moon?

7. How much we weigh on Earth…
Correct!
This data goes on the X axis.
DON’T forget the units (ex. “lbs., inches, feet, F/C, etc.”)
Weight on Earth (lbs.)

8. “Y” Axis: Dependent Variable
The dependent variable is the data that “depends” on the X-axis.
The data that we are trying to find out.
So, from our last example, what were we trying to find out?...How much we weigh on Earth OR how much we would weigh on the moon?

9. How much we would weigh on the moon.
Correct!
This data goes on the Y-axis.
DON’T forget the units (ex. “lbs., inches, feet, etc.”)
Weight on Moon (lbs.)

10. Wait a minute! Summarize…
Green = Yes/True
Red = No/False
The X Axis is the Dependent Variable.
Weight on Moon (lbs.)

11. Wait another minute! Summarize…
Green = Yes/True
Red = No/False
The Y Axis is the data we are ‘trying to find out’.
Weight on Moon (lbs.)

12. Title
The easiest way to chose a title for a graph in science is to use the “Y” vs. “X”.
Example:
X is the independent variable
Y is the dependent variable

13. So, the title for our example would be…
“Y” vs “X”…OR…
Weight on the Moon vs. Weight on Earth.
DO NOT make your title say: Y vs. X
Weight on the Moon vs. Weight on Earth
Weight on Moon (lbs.)
Weight on Earth (lbs.)

14. NO, NO, NO ! ! !
Y vs. X
Weight on Moon (lbs.)
Weight on Earth (lbs.)

15. Intervals The interval is the space between the numbers on the Y-axis.
These numbers need to have equal intervals (ex. Are you going to count by ones, tens, twenties, etc.?).
You CANNOT start counting by a number and then switch halfway up the Y-axis.
You HAVE to start counting at zero UNLESS you make a mark on the Y-axis.

16. Range The range is the numbers that are included on the Y-axis.
For example, the “range” for our graph is going to be from 0 lbs. – 100 lbs.
You CANNOT start counting by a number and then switch halfway up the Y-axis.
You HAVE to start counting at zero UNLESS you make a mark on the Y-axis.

17. Intervals (examples)
On these examples of graphs, the first nine have an interval of “10”, the last two have an interval of “1”.

18. Oops! Another Summary… Green = Yes/True Red = No/False
It is OK if your graph is not spaced evenly (intervals) on the y-axis because no one is going to see it anyway.
Weight on Moon (lbs.)

19. And, another Summary… Green = Yes/True Red = No/False
If you need to, you can start counting by a number that is not zero.
Weight on Moon (lbs.)

20. Labels for Data ALL data needs to have a label.
In this example, what is the data on the Y-axis?
What do the numbers stand for? Temperature? Weight? Years?

21. Spacing All graphs need to be evenly spaced.
Do not have the graph so small I need a magnifying glass to grade it.
Do not have the graph “squished” toward the corner of the axis.
Space out the graph as much as possible.
Use as much of the paper as possible. MAKE THE GRAPH AS BIG AS YOU CAN!