How to use bar charts in technical writing; what kind of data they are used to display; guidelines for making bar charts and how to describe them.

1. Bar
Charts
Bar
Chartsin technical writing

2. OUTCOMES

3. OUTCOMES
Define bar chart

4. OUTCOMES
Explain what bar
charts are used for

5. OUTCOMES
Recognize different
kinds of charts and
their functions

6. OUTCOMES
Produce effective
bar charts

7. OUTCOMES
Analyze and describe
the contents of a bar
chart

8. graphs and
charts
why do we use them?

9. Graphs and charts display
numbers using shapes,
colors and patterns.

10. They’re especially useful
for showing comparisons,
patterns and trends.

11. bar charts
what kind of data do they show?

13. Bar charts (or bar graphs)are
used to show and compare
discrete categories of data.

14. each bar shows a
specific quantity

15. types
different types of bar chart

16. Basic

17. used to display one trend or theme
Basic

18. Horizontal

19. when there are a lot of categories
Horizontal

20. or when the categories have long titles
Horizontal

21. Grouped

22. a separate bar represents each
subgroup
Grouped

23. Stacked

24. this shows how much each subgroup
contributed to the total
Stacked

25. parts
of a bar chart

27. measurements title
axis labels
category
names
key

28. guidelines
for using bar charts

29. only use bar charts to
compare values that are
noticeably different

30. only use bar charts to
compare values that are
noticeably different
small differences won’t show

31. Keep the chart simple
and easy to read

32. Keep the chart simple
and easy to read
don’t include too much
information

33. number your scales in units
familiar to your audience

34. label both scales to show
what is being measured

35. use colors and patterns to
make the graph easy to read

36. writing
about bar charts

37. You don’t need discuss
the information

38. You should write a
report about the
information

39. state the trend

40. explain the main idea
shown by the chart

41. Top Speeds of Five Fastest Cars in the World (2015)
Speed(mph)
0
100
200
300
Barabus TKR 1 Bugatti Veyron Koenigsegg CCX McLaren F1 Bristol Fighter T
As shown, the five fastest cars in the world can all reach speeds way over 200
miles per hour.

42. give examples

43. give some specific data
that supports main idea

44. Top Speeds of Five Fastest Cars in the World (2015)
Speed(mph)
0
100
200
300
Barabus TKR 1 Bugatti Veyron Koenigsegg CCX McLaren F1 Bristol Fighter T
As shown, the five fastest cars in the world can all reach speeds way over 200
miles per hour.
With a top speed of 273 mph, the Barabus TKR is 20 mph faster than the second
fastest car, the Bugatti Veyron. Meanwhile, the Veyron’s top speed of 253 mph is
only marginally higher than the 250 mph of the Koenigsegg CCX. Although it’s
the slowest car on the list, at 225 mph, the Bristol Fighter is still very fast.

45. repeat the
main idea

46. remind the audience of
the main idea

47. but use different
language

48. Top Speeds of Five Fastest Cars in the World (2015)
Speed(mph)
0
100
200
300
Barabus TKR 1 Bugatti Veyron Koenigsegg CCX McLaren F1 Bristol Fighter T
As shown, the five fastest cars in the world can all reach speeds way over 200
miles per hour.
With a top speed of 273 mph, the Barabus TKR is 20 mph faster than the second
fastest car, the Bugatti Veyron. Meanwhile, the Veyron’s top speed of 253 mph is
only marginally higher than the 250 mph of the Koenigsegg CCX. Although it’s
the slowest car on the list, at 225 mph, the Bristol Fighter is still very fast.
While none are as fast as the Barabus, 200 mph is easy for the modern sports
car.

50. the topic and concluding
sentences are like the bun
on a burger

51. Top Speeds of Five Fastest Cars in the World (2015)
Speed(mph)
0
100
200
300
Barabus TKR 1 Bugatti Veyron Koenigsegg CCX McLaren F1 Bristol Fighter T
As shown, the five fastest cars in the world can all reach speeds way over 200
miles per hour.
With a top speed of 273 mph, the Barabus TKR is 20 mph faster than the second
fastest car, the Bugatti Veyron. Meanwhile, the Veyron’s top speed of 253 mph is
only marginally higher than the 250 mph of the Koenigsegg CCX. Although it’s
the slowest car on the list, at 225 mph, the Bristol Fighter is still very fast.
While none are as fast as the Barabus, 200 mph is easy for the modern sports
car.

52. DON’T

53. DON’T
mention everything

54. DON’T
describe the bars

55. DON’T
start sentences
with numbers

56. comparison
comparing and contrasting data

57. we use bar charts to
compare sets of data

58. implicit comparison

59. implicit comparison
John is a man. Susan is a
woman.

60. explicit comparison

61. explicit comparison
John is from London but
Susan is from New York.

62. use appropriate language
to help make your
comparisons more explicit

67. review