Master the Art of Graph-Making

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of using graphs in research papers?

Graphs are used to present numerical results and demonstrate trends in research papers.

What should be avoided when presenting statistics in graphical form?

Flooding the paper with statistics, even in graphical form, should be avoided. Focus on presenting interesting new information.

What should be the characteristics of a simple graph?

Graphs should be simple, with a minimum of clutter and no more than a few plotted lines.

How can plotted lines of discrete data be distinguished from each other?

Plotted lines of discrete data should have distinctive marks, such as circles or triangles, and consider using greys or colors to distinguish between lines. Signup and view all the answers

What is the preferable option for filled-in areas in a figure?

Greys are preferable to cross-hatching for filled-in areas in a figure. Signup and view all the answers

What should be minimized and removed from a graph?

Minimize unnecessary elements and remove all decoration, such as secondary ticks on the axes, legends, and large captions. Signup and view all the answers

What should be the characteristics of the axes in a graph?

Axes should be inconspicuous, and ink should be used for data, not dressing. Signup and view all the answers

What features should graph-drawing tools have to be valuable?

Graph-drawing tools should have valuable features such as placing several lines on one graph, a range of symbols for marking points, and the ability to create custom symbols of custom size. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using graphs in research papers?

To present numerical results and demonstrate trends Signup and view all the answers

What should be avoided when presenting graphs in research papers?

Flooding the paper with statistics Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended number of plotted lines in a graph?

No more than a few Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using distinctive marks on plotted lines of discrete data?

To distinguish between lines Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended type of shading for filled-in areas in a figure?

Greys Signup and view all the answers

What should be removed from a graph to minimize unnecessary elements?

Secondary ticks on the axes, legends, and large captions Signup and view all the answers

What should be inconspicuous in a graph?

Axes Signup and view all the answers

What are some valuable features that graph-drawing tools should have?

Placing several lines on one graph, a range of symbols for marking points, and the ability to create custom symbols of custom size Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of diagrams in computing papers?

To illustrate processes, explain data structures and algorithms, present relationships, visualize data, and demonstrate interfaces Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of creating manual diagrams in computing papers?

Manual diagrams are still essential in many papers Signup and view all the answers

What should be the first step in designing a manual diagram?

Doing initial sketches by hand on paper Signup and view all the answers

What should be the characteristics of a well-designed diagram?

Sparse, with no clutter and not too dark Signup and view all the answers

What should be the characteristics of labels in diagrams?

Meaningful, displayed horizontally, and use no more than two or three fonts and font sizes Signup and view all the answers

What should be the characteristics of lines in diagrams?

Not too heavy, with shades of grey used to distinguish between solids, and pictorial elements used consistently Signup and view all the answers

When is color effective in diagrams?

When used sparingly Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Tips for Effective Graphs in Research Papers

Graphs are a great way to present numerical results and demonstrate trends in research papers.
Avoid flooding the paper with statistics, even in graphical form, and focus on presenting interesting new information.
Graphs should be simple, with a minimum of clutter and no more than a few plotted lines.
Plotted lines of discrete data should have distinctive marks, such as circles or triangles, and consider using greys or colours to distinguish between lines.
Greys are preferable to cross-hatching for filled-in areas in a figure, as the latter can create the optical illusion of shimmering and does not always print or photocopy well.
Minimize unnecessary elements and remove all decoration, such as secondary ticks on the axes, legends, and large captions.
Axes should be inconspicuous, and ink should be used for data, not dressing.
Care is needed to ensure that graphs are effective at communicating results and supporting hypotheses.
Graph-drawing tools should have valuable features such as placing several lines on one graph, a range of symbols for marking points, and the ability to create custom symbols of custom size.
Optional connection of points with solid, dotted, or dashed lines, and optional omission of the point marks should also be available.
The ability to place text at specified places in the graph, multiple font sizes and line thicknesses, and availability of greys and colours are also important features.
Optional logarithmic or exponential scaling on both axes, axis editing, and the ability to apply simple functions or external programs to (x, y) values are also useful.

Tips for Effective Graphs in Research Papers

Graphs are a great way to present numerical results and demonstrate trends in research papers.
Avoid flooding the paper with statistics, even in graphical form, and focus on presenting interesting new information.
Graphs should be simple, with a minimum of clutter and no more than a few plotted lines.
Plotted lines of discrete data should have distinctive marks, such as circles or triangles, and consider using greys or colours to distinguish between lines.
Greys are preferable to cross-hatching for filled-in areas in a figure, as the latter can create the optical illusion of shimmering and does not always print or photocopy well.
Minimize unnecessary elements and remove all decoration, such as secondary ticks on the axes, legends, and large captions.
Axes should be inconspicuous, and ink should be used for data, not dressing.
Care is needed to ensure that graphs are effective at communicating results and supporting hypotheses.
Graph-drawing tools should have valuable features such as placing several lines on one graph, a range of symbols for marking points, and the ability to create custom symbols of custom size.
Optional connection of points with solid, dotted, or dashed lines, and optional omission of the point marks should also be available.
The ability to place text at specified places in the graph, multiple font sizes and line thicknesses, and availability of greys and colours are also important features.
Optional logarithmic or exponential scaling on both axes, axis editing, and the ability to apply simple functions or external programs to (x, y) values are also useful.

Tips for Designing Effective Diagrams in Computing Papers

Diagrams serve various purposes in computing papers, such as illustrating processes, explaining data structures and algorithms, presenting relationships, visualizing data, and demonstrating interfaces.
Some areas of computer science have well-defined conventions and standards for diagrams, such as entity-relationship models and automata.
Diagrams should be created with a clear purpose in mind, either to show a structure, a process, a relationship, or a state, and should not attempt to combine these purposes inappropriately.
Automatic tools for generating diagrams from data can produce a wide variety of representations, but manually created diagrams are still essential in many papers.
The first step in designing a manual diagram is often to do initial sketches by hand on paper, but the final version should always be created with professional tools.
A diagram should be well-proportioned, use space efficiently, be laid out well, and have elements arranged to look reasonable.
A diagram should be sparse, with no clutter, and not too dark, and fine details can be clarified in the supporting text.
Labels in diagrams should be meaningful, displayed horizontally, and have similar point size and font to the other text, with no more than two or three fonts and font sizes.
Lines in diagrams should not be too heavy, with shades of grey used to distinguish between solids, and pictorial elements used consistently.
Colour can be effective in diagrams if used sparingly, but should not be used if the paper will ultimately be printed in black-and-white.
Arrows in diagrams should be used consistently, with dashed lines used to show arcs and solid lines used to point at features, and lines should not touch each other unless necessary.
A well-designed diagram is a powerful tool that can help readers understand complex concepts and should be used effectively in computing papers.

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Description

Are you struggling with presenting your research data effectively in graphs? Take this quiz to learn about the tips and tricks to create simple yet impactful graphs in your research papers. Test your knowledge on features such as distinctive marks, greys, and effective use of axes. Improve your graph-making skills and enhance the visual appeal of your research paper.