Use of Graphics in Thesis Writing
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1 “At their best, graphics are instruments for reasoning” The creation of graphs should “correspond with the mental tasks they are meant to support . . . the purpose of analytic displays of evidence is to assist thinking . . . -- Edward Tufte
description
Guide on the use of graphics
Transcript of Use of Graphics in Thesis Writing
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“At their best, graphics are instruments for reasoning”
The creation of graphs should “correspond with the mental tasks they are meant to support . . . the purpose of analytic displays of evidence is to assist thinking . . . -- Edward Tufte
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What is the purpose of a technical graphic?
• Provide information – CONTENT is key
• Condense large amounts of information• Give the audience a way to get interested in
the material• Focus attention on a particular area• Simplify complex information for the
audience• Promote analysis and understanding
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We can make mistakes with graphics.
• Omit information within graphic (data points, axes, units of measurement)
• Make it unreadable or cluttered or illegible.
• Fail to label or to cite source of graphic.
• Use color randomly and decoratively.
Guidelines for successful graphics• Begin with content.• Choose the appropriate graphic.
– Appropriate for the content; appropriate for the reader’s purpose
• Label all graphics.– Figures on the bottom; tables on the top. Cite when necessary.
• Provide context for the graphic.– Introduce with some text.
• Interpret or explain– How does the graphic support, clarify or summarize your key point?
• Always edit and update the graphic.
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Jennifer Craig
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Your audience needs different graphics for different cognitive tasks.
Present exact values or data that don’t fit simple pattern; illustrate choices
Table, list, test matrix
Summarize trends, show interactions between two or more variables Line graph
Dramatize differences or compare values Bar graph
Illustrate complex relationships Diagram, flow chart
Compare/contrast Pie chart, pictograph, bar chart.
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More choices for appropriate graphics
Show reality but not necessarily details
Photographs
Show details Some photos; drawings: cutaway, exploded
Show how to create something Dimensioned engineering drawings; CAD
Show hierarchy, make decisions Flowchart, decision tree, block diagram,
Distribution of resources Schedule, budget table
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What does this graphic show? What does it NOT show?
Courtesy of Nayden Kambouchev, Robin Riedel: 16.621, Fall 2002 www.boeing.com
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[Pratt&Whitney, 2000]
What would make this graphic more useful to the audience?
Courtesy of M. Alley, Virginia Tech
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What does the drawing show best? How does color function in this graphic ?
Rotors
Body
Motor Slip Ring
Sho Sato, Ruije He
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10/8/02 CDIO3 Class Project 5
EMFFORCEEMFFORCE
Structures DesignOverview
Reaction wheel
Superconductingmagnet coils
LN2 Storage
CO2 tank attachpoint
Subsystempacking space
Tripod aircarriage
Courtesy of 16.685 team, October, 2002
What is the function of this graphic?
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LinearBearings
RotarySensor
Linear Actuator Accelerometer
stationary with respect to sting
can be moved along the longitudinal axis
component with moving parts
(not to scale)
longitudinalaxis
DisplacementSensor
Linear Slide
Courtesy of Phil Springman, Glenn Tournier:
16.621 Fall 2002
What observations can you make about the use of color?
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Sketch of experimental set up
AirCannon
Silencer
Sound Barrier
Ball Trajectory
Vertical Microphone Array
Sound Absorbing Chamber
Club Head Specimen
Clamp
~5ft
~5ft
Brad Holschuh, Tom Gray
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Test matrices show experimental categories.
Club I Club II Club III70 mph
120 mph
ball velocity
Club
Brad Holschuh, Tom Gray
Table 1. Test Matrix
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Small multiples help with a comparison/contrast task.
Ostrich DBF team, 2006
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Tables help compare and analyze specific data.
Table 1: Pros and cons of the four configurations
Configuration 1 Wine Rack, 2 motors, low wing, spar
through
Configuration 2 Side-by-side, 2
motors, low wing, spar
through
Configuration 3 Side-by-side, 1
motor, high wing, spar
through
Configuration 4
Side-by-side, 1 motor, high
wing, spar bolt
Overall Score (mission
multiplier) 2.19 2.5 2.87 2.81
Ver tical Cg Position
10 in 11 in 9.6 in 9.6 in
Aircraft Weight
14 lbs 12.7 lbs 11.5 lbs 11.7 lbs
Loading Difficulty
(time)
16 (tennis balls) 10 (bottles)
16 (tennis balls) 10 (bottles)
16 (tennis balls) 15 (bottles)
16 (tennis balls)
15 (bottles) Wing Loading 1.055 lbs/ft2 0.957 lbs/ft2 0.867 lbs/ft2 0.882 lbs/ft2
Maximum Thrust
16.32 lbf 16.32 lbf 13.63 lbf 13.63 lbf
System Efficiency
54% 54% 77% 77%
Stability Margin
12.50% 11.70% 16.00% 16.60%
Ostrich DBF team, 2006
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What is the effect of the combined graphic and text?
Thrust vs. P_elec
0
2
4
6
8
10
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0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Power (mW)
Thrust (g)
Max thrust measured:9.45grams-force
(0.0945N)~ 1.35W
Power consumption at 10 grams of thrust:
~1.4W Extrapolated from
data
Error bar; 90% confidence
Fluctuation due to vibration
Sho Sato, Ruije He
Figure x.______
Summary
• Choose your graphic for your audience.
• Label it and title it. Cite when you must.
• Introduce the graphic in the text.
• Explain or interpret it.
• Edit your graphic as carefully as you would edit text.
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