Phil Druker/ Department of English/ UI

Graphic Aids

 

In the world of graphic aides there are only two categories:

           1. Figures (titles placed at the bottom)

charts, graphs, pictures,   …. any graphic that is not a table

           2. Tables (titles placed at the top)

              Note:   Tables are numbered separately from figures.

  Basic criteria for graphic aids:

1.      Make graphics appropriate to the situation

	For the audience
	For the purpose: reader and writer
	Use figures to emphasize what is important

2.      Label the graphic 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 the graphic in an appropriate location

format:  don't wrap text around the figure         place the figure with the text

4.   Integrate the graphic with the text

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

5.  Report accurately