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Use a Stepped Approach to Interpret Graphs & Charts

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Science Mathematics Study Skills & Tools All Ages Strategy

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Working Memory Abstract Reasoning Visual Discrimination Visual Motor Speed Spatial Perception

Use a Stepped Approach to Interpret Graphs & Charts

If your student has difficulty identifying the key information in graphs and charts

Instruction And Practice

  1. Objective: Students will use a systematic approach when interpreting graphs and charts. This will help them focus on the key information and avoid mistakenly choosing incorrect data points.
  2. Guide and model for students how to approach analyzing graphs and charts in a step-by-step manner. Students will begin to see how chunking the task this way can help them much more easily understand the data. See next slide for steps.

*print* Interpreting Graphs And Charts.

  1. Examine: Pause first to read the title, sub-headings, axes, labels, and key.
  2. Purpose: Ask what is the purpose of the graph or chart. What is the main idea? Charts and graphs are intended to be a visual way to show you how two or more variables are related. (Are the numbers growing in the same direction or is one variable increasing while the other is declining? Is it a linear relationship or an exponential relationship?)
  3. Read the question: Read the associated question and underline what you need to find.
  4. Key Words: Look for key words (or variations thereof) to identify which variable/line/column will have the answer you need.
  5. Identify what you need: Unless the question uses key words like "compare" or "find the relationship between" you likely need to only use one column/line/bar at a time. Your job is to identify that column/line/bar so that you can answer the question.
  6. Mark up the graph: Circle the point(s) in the graph or data in the chart that you will use. To help your eyes focus and avoid choosing the wrong point, use your finger, another paper, or a ruler as a straight edge to draw straight lines between data points and axes.
  7. Cross Out: If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of data, remember that graphs and charts often have extra information that you do not need. Lightly pencil out extraneous information.
  8. Eliminate: For multiple choice questions, first eliminate any answer choices you know are incorrect, so you can focus on the remaining answer choices. Do not be afraid to use logic to eliminate answers. i.e. If the graph axis does not go above 100, the answer is unlikely to exceed 100.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

When you are given charts and graphs to interpret it is easy to feel lost in all the information presented. Chunking the task can make it feel less overwhelming and enable you to focus on the big picture purpose as well as the specific data points.