Create a Data Report

1. Create a title page, a table of contents to precede the body of the data report. Remember to list the information sources you used as the last page of the data report.
2. To create the body of a data report, start by finding a document that has lots of tables but no charts:
   Here's an example full of tables that you can use:
   Targeted Summary of Minnesota Water Quality Assessment Report 2016
3. Study the document for key points that are buried in columns and rows of table data.
4. For the points you find, decide which of these chart formats works best:
bar or column chart
pie chart
line charts (graphs)
complex formats (not covered here)
5. Format a key point as a pie chart:
A pie chart shows the relationship of an item to the whole to which it belongs. For example, imagine a pie chart showing U.S. car sales with pie slices for domestic, European, Japanese, and so on.

To create a simple pie chart in Google Sheets:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click and then Sheets.
3. Click Blank spreadsheeet.
4. Move to column B row 3, and create a spreadsheet that looks something like this:
   
5. Select the spreadsheet data you have just entered—all of it.
6. Click Insert>Chart>Pie chart:
   
7. Click into the area to the right of the pie chart to explore how you can customize the look of this pie chart.
8. To use this pie chart in a document, click anywhere in the pie chart area, then click Edit>Copy.
9. Paste your pie chart into the document.
6. Format a key point as a bar or column chart

A bar chart (horizontal bars) or column chart (vertical bars) shows the relationship of items to each other to enable direct comparison. For example, imagine a bar chart showing domestic sales of U.S. cars next to domestic sales of Asian cars.

To create a bar chart in Google Sheets:

1. Once again, open Google Chrome.
2. Click and then Sheets.
3. Click Blank spreadsheeet.
4. Move to column B row 3, and create a spreadsheet that looks something like this:
   
5. Select the spreadsheet data you have just entered—all of it.
6. If you have just created a pie chart, Google Sheets will happily create and display another one for you. Just select and press Delete.
7. Click the down arrow next to Pie chart, and look at the bar chart options you have:
   
8. Click either the column chart or the bar to the right of the spreadsheet:
   
9. To use this column chart in a document, click anywhere in the column chart area, then click Edit>Copy.
10. Paste your column chart into the document.
7. Format a key point as a line chart

Google calls them "line charts," which brings the name in line with the other charts, but others call them "graphs."

To create a simple line graph in Google Sheets:

1. Once more, open Google Chrome.
2. Click and then Sheets.
3. Click Blank spreadsheeet.
4. Move to column B row 3, and create a spreadsheet that looks something like this:
   
5. If you have just created a pie chart, Google Sheets will happily create and display another one for you. Just select and press Delete.
6. Click the down arrow next to Pie chart, and look for the line chart option, which as multiple graph lines in it:
   
7. If your line chart lacks one or more graph lines, click Setup:

8. Click Add series and select the missing item:
   

Add Chart Titles and Axis Labels

1. To edit the title of, for example, the line chart, click Customize > Chart > axis titles, and enter a title under Title text:
   
2. To add a y-axis label, click Vertical axis title and type the in the Title text blank.

Maybe your line chart resembles this:



Add Explanatory Cross-References

For each of the charts in your data report, add an explanatory cross-reference, which looks something like this:

Note: Notice that the title of the entire chart could be instead the y-axis title. Notice too that "have stalled" should be "has stalled" to agree with "progress."

Information and programs provided by admin@mcmassociates.io.