Directions
The form and shape of the graph depends on the type of data and what story it can tell.
- Pie graphs are designed to show percent or part of a whole. For example: The percentage of days in the year that are rainy, cloudy, or sunny
- Bar graphs are good for comparing amounts. For example: Total amount of rainfall in New York City vs. that in Denver or in New Orleans
- Line graphs are best for showing change over time to reveal trends. For example: Tracking the weather pattern by plotting monthly rainfall
There are many more graph templates. Different types of graphs illustrate different types of stories.