How To Make A Bar Graph 


These are specific directions for Mrs. Alejandre's AVID mathematics students at Frisbie Middle School. Students were given a lesson on making graphs using a Claris Works spreadsheet file. They are to apply what they learned in that lesson as they work on a Team Project involving a survey, data collection and data display.
Enter Data
- In Column A type in labels for your data. In Column B type in the data.
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Make Bar Graph
- Select all of your entries in Column A and B.
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- Go to Options, select Make Chart.
- A window will appear with the different types of graphs.
- Select Bar and consider the different options at the bottom of the window.
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Try them and see which ones enhance your graph. Remember that you are displaying data to present information! Your graph should be clear.
- Go to Labels, type in your Title.
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- Go to Axes, notice that y-axis is selected. Type a name for the y-axis (That is the line going from top to bottom on your graph).
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- Select x-axis. Type a name for the x-axis (That is the line going from left to right along the bottom of the graph).
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- Now you are ready to make your graph. Select OK.
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Change Fonts and Colors in Bar Graph
- To change the font of the title or the legend, click on it once so that it is selected and then go to Format in the menu bar.
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- You may change the font, size, style and/or color of the text.
- Remember that your chart should have clearly displayed information.
- The colors displayed above are the default colors that Claris Works uses. They can be changed very easily to be colors of your choice.
- Go to View, select Show Tools.
- On your graph, select one of the small squares of color by clicking on it once. Use the paint palette. Select a different color and you will see that the original color will be replaced.
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