Charts and Graphs

A WebQuest for 9th Grade Technology for the 21st Century

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation |

Introduction

Graphs are used every day by the media to help get the point of their story to the reader. Click here to go to USA Today to see what kind of a chart they are featuring on their home page today. Graphs often make a point much clearer, easier then text can. In this web based lesson, you will learn about reading, interpreting, and creating computerized charts and graphs. You will be using this site as a guide to your assignment. After learning the basics about business graphics from several sites I have selected for you, you will surf some destinations that will provide you with data you can then use to create your own graphs.

The Task

After reading about graphs on some web pages, two distinct tasks are required. First, you will look at existing graphs and determine what they say about the data they represent. In other words, interpret the data into your own words to draw conclusions. Second, you will be creating several graphs of different types using data gathered from the internet. These graphs will include:

1. Line Graphs
2. Bar Graphs
3. Pie Charts

The Process

Part 1

First, visit the following three world wide web pages to learn some of the basics about graphs. Answer the first ten questions on the corresponding worksheet as you read these pages. Click here to bring up a copy of the worksheet in Netscape. Use the BACK key to return to this page when finished with each section.

• Advantages, Disadvantages, and Purposes to Using Charts and Graphs.
• Types of Charts and Graphs.
• Choosing the Right Graph.
• Gallary of Chart Example
• Adding Images to Excel Charts
• Learn To Create Charts Using The Chart Wizard

Part 2:

You will need to have Netscape® and Excel ® open at the same time to effectively work on this part of the assignment. You will go between the two programs frequently. For this part, you will choose from the following set of links to gather numeric data to use to create graphs of your own. After finding a site that has the kind of data you believe will make a good graph, enter the information into the Excel spreadsheet. Next create a graph. Make one each of the following types of graphs. Be sure to label your graphs and include the site you used to find the information.

· Bar Graph

· Line Graph

· Pie Chart

· Stacked Column Graph

	NYSE Most Actively Traded Stocks
	National League Team Batting Statistics
	The Week's Most Watched Television Shows
	United States Census Bureau
	Voting Statistics
	National ACT Scores
	CIA Factbook
	Vote Totals From Presidential Elections.
	State Population Figures

Sample

Grading Rubric (Excel Document)

Download Worksheet