1. Reading/Making Tables and Graphs
Lesson 4

2. Learning Target
I can collect, organize, and analyze data.

3. Making a Table Tables help us organize information
When you draw up a table of your results, the independent variable generally goes in the first column.
Remember: the Independent Variable is what the experimenter changes, and the dependent is what they measure

4. General Tips about Tables
Use the correct units
Make sure your units are consistent for each variable
Keep everything neat!

5. Making Graphs
When collecting data in an experiment or when given data to graph, it’s usually in a table.
Remember that the IV is usually in the first column of the table.
Essential parts of a graph:
Title-Descriptive, but not “cutesy”
Key/way to differentiate between multiple sets of data (if needed)
Rainfall over time
Labeled y-axis with units
Dependent Variable
Labelled x-axis with units
Independent Variable
Evenly spaced scales
Month

6. How do I know what kind of graph to make?
It depends on the kind of information you are looking for.
If you want to
Compare values: Bar Graph
Example-Population sizes of different tree species in a forest
Compare values and see the rate of change (slope) between individual data points: Line Graph
Example: Average monthly rainfall in an area (you could also do this as a bar graph, but a line graph clearly shows you the change month-to- month)
If you’re looking for an overall trend in the data: Scatter Plot
Example: Hours of Study vs. Test Scores (we don’t care about each individual point, because they’re not reliable on their own. We want to know overall, with many data points, do scores increase as studying increases?)
There are other types of graphs, but these are the ones you will use most often and see the most on the ACT and in future science classes

7. Practice, Practice, Practice!
The only way to be comfortable making graphs and tables is to do it. A lot!