Technical Communications, Class 9:

Graphics and Tables

Professor Chuck Mathews
chuckmathews@fdu.edu
“Nontextual” Material

• Tables
• Graphs
• Charts
• Graphics or illustrations
Tables

• Use word-processing software to convert text to a

table.
• Turn off grid lines to look like columns or rows
accordingly.
• Use color fill or text formatting to define row and
column category headings.
• Import spreadsheet data to create a table.
Formatting Tables

• Heading at top of each column.

• Can include “row heading” in farthest left column.
• Text is typically left-aligned.
• Numbers are typically right-aligned.
• Measurement value goes in column or row heading
(or in note below).
• Table title goes above the table.
Charts and Graphs

• Visual representations of tables.

• Shows the significance of the data.
• Line graphs – change in data occurring over time.
• Pie charts – depict the relative portion of a total
amount.
• Bar charts – compares sets of data.
• In Excel, under Insert, click on chart and follow the
Chart Wizard.
Illustrations or Graphics

• Photographs
• Drawings
• Diagrams
• Schematics
Sources of Illustrations

• Internet
• Hardcopy scans
• Professional clipart
• Graphics professional
Guidelines for Graphics and Tables

• Crop, size, label, clean up

• Add descriptive figure and table titles
• Below figures
• Above tables
• Add labels.
• Indicate sources of borrowed graphics or tables (Google
Images is not a sufficient indication of source because
Google itself is not a source when used as a search engine).
• Place graphics and tables at point of first reference.
Guidelines for Graphics and Tables

• Align and position graphics carefully.

• Adequate spacing
• Can “flow” text around
• Intersperse graphics and tables with text.
• Include a legend – symbols, colors, shadings,
patterns, etc.
• Provide a cross-reference to tables and graphics.
References

Examples of tables and graphs from chapter 7,

“Constructing Engineering Tables and Graphics”, D.
Beer & D. McMurrey, A Guide to Writing as an
Engineer, 5th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2019.