Module 03 Activity

Scenario

Your charts are accurate and several of them mislead. This activity fixes the mechanics.

What you build

A corrected set of charts with honest axes, self-describing labels and one annotation each.

Steps

1. Find every bar or area chart in your set and set the floor to zero. Report the apparent ratio before and after for the worst one.
2. Rewrite every axis and title label to carry the measure, the unit, and the scope and period.
3. Identify any chart where the values span more than two orders of magnitude and try a log axis. Label it prominently, and say what a straight line now means.
4. Replace legends with direct labels wherever there is room. Count the lookups removed.
5. Add exactly one annotation per chart, carrying the takeaway sentence.
6. Screenshot one chart out of context and check it is still self-describing.

Evidence to hand in

• Before-and-after apparent ratios for the worst truncated chart.
• Rewritten labels with measure, unit, scope and period.
• Any log axis, with its label and your note on what a straight line means.
• The legend replacements with the lookup count.
• One annotation per chart.
• The out-of-context screenshot test.

Review checklist

• Every bar and area chart starts at zero.
• Every label carries measure, unit, scope and period.
• Any log axis is labelled prominently.
• Legends survive only where there was no room for direct labels.
• The screenshotted chart is still readable without its page.

Mark complete