Unit 03.04: Annotation as the shortest path to the point

One annotation carries the takeaway. Twelve carry none.

Annotation as the shortest path to the point

The same chart with no annotation, with one, with a shaded band, and with twelve.

The code compares the effect of each.

CHART = "weekly defect rate, 26 weeks, with a target line at 2.0%"
ANNOTATIONS = [
    ("none", "the reader finds the exception themselves, or does not"),
    ("an arrow at week 14 reading 'supplier change'",
     "the reader sees the cause with the effect"),
    ("a shaded band over weeks 14-15 reading 'above target'",
     "the reader sees the scope of the problem"),
    ("twelve labels, one per notable point",
     "the reader sees nothing -- annotation became noise"),
]
print(f"chart: {CHART}\n")
print(f"{'annotation':52} effect")
for annotation, effect in ANNOTATIONS:
    print(f"{annotation:52} {effect}")

print("\nOne annotation carries the takeaway sentence. Twelve carry none.")

The single arrow reading "supplier change" puts the cause next to the effect, which is the entire analysis in four words. The shaded band does something slightly different - it shows the *scope* of the problem rather than its cause.

Twelve annotations is the failure mode. Annotation works by contrast: it marks the exception, and when everything is marked nothing is.

The mistake this prevents

The mistake is annotating everything notable. Notability is not the criterion - the takeaway sentence is. Annotate what the sentence claims, and leave the rest for the reader to find if they care.

Takeaway

Use annotation to carry the takeaway sentence onto the chart. One is usually right; a dozen destroys the contrast that makes annotation work.

Mark complete