1. Make them appropriate to the situation

   	audience
   	purpose  reader writer

2. Label completely

   	Title: Figure 1. Title (source) or Table 1. Title (source)
   	Label each part you deal with.  Use key terms consistently.
   	Cite your source (author, date, page) If you use a figure from a source but change it for your own purposes, cite the figure as “adapted” (adapted from author, date, page) .

3. Place in an appropriate location

   format

4.  Integrate with the text

   	Introduce. (See Fig. 1.)
   	Give the figure, table.
   	Explain it.

5. Report accurately

 
Different types of graphic aids emphasize data in different ways.
 

Tables: Table 1. Average starting salaries   Department Year of Employment   1998 1999 2000 2002 R & D 33,000 39,000 42,000 41,000 Accounting 28,000 29,000 29,000 29,000 Sales 22,100 28,000 27,500 27,000 Note: a table like this emphasizes the data. This is great for presenting data without comparing it.   Graphs: Figure 1. Comparison of starting salaries from 1998 – 2001 for the R&D, Accounting, and Sales Departments. Note: A line graph like this makes it easy to show comparisons over time.   Figure 1. Comparison of starting salaries from 1998 – 2001 for the R&D, Accounting, and Sales Departments. Note: A bar graph like this emphasizes a comparison of the data.   Figure 3. Amount each department spent on Phase 1 of the project. Note: A pie chart works to compare items to the whole (percentages).   Diagrams: Check out these links for ideas: Block diagram sample to emphasize main parts Block diagram sample Diagram sample Schematic sample Flow chart sample   Maps work like figures with the title below. Check out these great maps.  (If you have a slow connection, don't click here!)