Bellingham School District

RESOURCES: Online tutorial

Chart Design Basics

ASSESSMENT:

Rubric for spreadsheet Revised 12-4-06

3. Create a bar graph that compares employees' wage amounts, using information from the Suncoast Assignment spreadsheet.
   1. Open the Assignment worksheet in your Suncoast workbook. 
   2. Select the EMPLOYEE column heading and list of names, then hold down the Control key while you select the HOURLY WAGE heading and column information.
   3. Click the Chart Wizard and complete the steps, clicking the Next button after each.
      • Step 1: Choose a bar graph (but not one of the "stacked" types)

      Notice the wide button below the various chart illustrations:

      

      If you click it, you can preview the graph--this is important, because occasionally you will need to cancel the Wizard and re-select the areas of your spreadsheet that you want to graph.  See the Tip box at the end of this section.

      • Step 2: Data Range view--does the sample chart look okay? If not, switch to Series view. Use Collapse Dialog button to go to the spreadsheet. Re-select data  range if necessary.
      • Step 3: Titles tab, Chart title--type SUNCOAST EMPLOYEE WAGE COMPARISON
      • Step 4: Chart Location--select As new sheet--a separate sheet in the workbook

    

   4. Format the bar graph appearance:
   • Change the order of the names to alphabetical, ascending from top down:
     • Right click in the Y axis (names), choose Format Axis, and Scale
     • Check the box -- Categories in reverse order
   • Page Setup -- Portrait orientation, 1" margins all around
   • Format chart features (a right click in each area brings up a formatting menu):
     • Plot area -- white background with thicker border in color of your choice
     • Data Series (bars) -- choose a color that works with the plot area border color
     • Value axis Scale (wage dollars) -- Maximum - 25, Major units - 5
     • Legend -- remove the legend (remove check from Show Legend box)
     • Font -- Choose different font (readable); make title larger
   5. Add your name and class period in a Header or Footer, according to teacher preference.
   6. Double click the new sheet tab (Chart 1) and name it Bar Graph:

   

   Tip: What if the chart doesn't appear in the preview during Step 1 of the Wizard?  Try this: Cancel the Wizard and select from your spreadsheet again. Select each section with a continuous sweep while holding the Control key.  If the chart remains blank, select only the values from your spreadsheet, complete the steps in the Wizard, and add labels later: Right click in the chart and select Source Data, Series tab.  Find Category Labels at the bottom of the dialog box. Click the icon at the right end of the data entry slot to move to your spreadsheet, where you can select the label data.  Again click the end icon of the data slot to return to your chart.    For more help, see section III of Chart Design Basics in the Student Resources for this module If you prefer, you can add labels while in Step 2 of the Wizard.

4. Create pie charts comparing wages/deductions for lowest/highest paid employees (in total wages).
   1. Select the headings HEALTH CARE, FICA, and NET PAY, then hold down the Control key while you select the dollar amounts for the lowest paid employee. 
   2. Follow the steps in the Chart Wizard:
      • Select a simple pie chart
      • If the chart doesn't show up properly, see the Tip box, above
      • In Step 3:
        • Titles--Type in Employee's name
        • Legend--Place at the bottom
        • Data Labels--check the options indicated:

      

      • In Step 4--Chart Location:
        • Place the chart As object in: Sheet 2, or any blank sheet in your workbook.
   3. Repeat these steps to create a pie chart for the highest paid employee, and also place it As object in: Sheet 2--it will probably hide the first chart until you move it, in step 5.
   4. Rename the sheet tab:

   

   5. Format the 2 pie charts on the spreadsheet:
      • Use your mouse to grab and move the 2nd chart--place it below the first one
      • Page Setup and Margins: Portrait and 1" all around
      • Title: merge row 1 cells, center--SUNCOAST EMPLOYEE WAGE & DEDUCTION COMPARISON
        • Use same title font as Bar Graph, in a size proportional to the charts 
        • Wrap text (Format> Cells> Alignment) and expand row 1 as needed to fit
      • Enlarge and move the two charts until they:
        • Are the same size and proportion
        • Line up above and below each other, separated by one row
        • Fill the spreadsheet almost to the margins
      • Format the charts:
        • Size 12 Font for Data Labels and Legend
        • Click in the invisible corners to make the square around the pie circle visible; drag it until it fills the plot area but doesn't push the data labels off the chart:

        

        • Make the size of the pies in the two charts the same--judge "by eye"
        • Click to select the title (employee name) and move it left or right, out of the way of the data labels. 
        • For the Beckey F. chart, click to select the legend and change placement to right, so there is room for data labels.
   6. Add your name and class period in a Header or Footer, according to teacher preference.

    

   Save your Suncoast workbook to your H: drive. Place a copy in your class drop folder on the S: drive, or print/show pages as your teacher requests.