Graphing Guidelines

PST 315: Methods of Policy Analysis and Presentation

Every graph in your report must follow these guidelines.

Graph type

• Default to a bar graph. Do not use another type of graph (for example, a pie chart) without talking to your UCA or Professor.
• If there are 5 or fewer bars, arrange the bars vertically.
• If there are 6 or more bars, arrange the bars horizontally.

Color

• Everything is black – no gray!
  • Be careful: Excel will sometimes default to a very dark gray.
• Bars are solid black.
• Axis lines are solid black.
• No borders on bars, and no extra shading on bars.
• No border on your graph.

Text

• ALL text is Times New Roman 12pt.
  • Double check your title is 12pt! When you update everything to TNR 12pt, sometimes the title will default back to a larger font. You may have to adjust the font size of your title a second time.
• Axis titles should be bold.
• The title should be bold.
• “n=sample size” should be under your title.

Axes and data labels

• The y-axis starts at 0.
• Use outside-end data labels. You will know this is done correctly if percentages display above your bars.
• Use major outside tick marks on your axis.

Important

Copy and paste your graph into the report. No screenshots!

Example of a graph that follows the guidelines

NoteAbout this example

This example uses sample data. Skills Win Coaching Organization is a real Syracuse University program, but the numbers shown are invented for teaching purposes and are not actual SWCO results.

Check it against the list above: bar graph, three bars so arranged vertically, solid black bars and axis lines, Times New Roman 12pt throughout, bold title and bold axis titles, y-axis starting at 0, outside-end data labels showing percentages, “n=” under the title, major outside tick marks, and no border.