Visuals: graphs, charts, and diagrams

Many of the same guidelines apply to graphs, charts, and diagrams as for lists and tables. However, there are some considerations that are peculiar to these audiovisuals. For example, what kind of graph will make your point the best? You can make a bar graph vertical or a bar graph horizontal. Line graphs are popular and often used in population graphs. This is usually determined by the kind of information you are graphing. Also, where will the numbers be and how wide the scope? This, too, is determined by the information. The scope of the numbers, for example, may be 1 to 100, especially if you are portraying percentages. However, they may be in the millions also. If the scope is too large, you will need a scheme for scaling the numbers. For example, a line can represent a million or 5 million, whatever the case may be. If the scope of time is too large, the same principle can apply.

Charts follow many of the same rules. However, the pie chart is often used to show percentages and compositions. For example, the US Senate composition could be charted as a pie very effectively. These can play a very significant role in making a point. Diagrams are often more complex. They are two-dimensional geometric symbolic representation of the information. Colors are often used to help with the understanding of the information being portrayed or the point being made. The software program you are using may have ready-made graphs, charts, and diagrams to help you create some of these.