Graphing in Science

D-TAILS

D-TAILS

D-TAILS is an acronym used to help you remember everything you need to create a

successful graph.

D-TAILS

Data covers 50% of the graph area and is

accurately placed.

YES!!!NO!!!

D-TAILS

Title

Includes what the

graph is about and

both the

manipulated and

responding

variables.

Hours of Sleep vs. Quiz Scores

D-TAILSAxis Labels –

DRY: Dependent

Responding

Y- axis

MIX: Manipulated

Independent

X - axis

Hours of Sleep vs. Quiz Scores

MIXD

RY

D-TAILSAxis Labels –

manipulated

variable is

always on the x-

axis and

responding

variable is

always on the y-

axis

Hours of Sleep vs. Quiz Scores

Sleep

Qu

iz S

co

res

D-TAILS

Interval Marks

Consistent

spacing and

always start at

zero!

Hours of Sleep vs. Quiz Scores

Sleep

Qu

iz S

co

res

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

100

75

50

25

0

D-TAILS

Label Units

In ( ) after the axis

label, include the

proper units (if

there are units)

Hours of Sleep vs. Quiz Scores

Sleep (hrs)

Qu

iz S

co

res (

%)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

100

75

50

25

0

D-TAILS

Scale

Always go by an

even scale.

Ex: 1,2,3,4

NOT

1,2,4,8

Hours of Sleep vs. Quiz Scores

Sleep (hrs)

Qu

iz S

co

res (

%)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

100

75

50

25

0

Always draw a trend line (do NOT connect

the dots) to show the mv/rv relationship.

Always draw a trend line (do NOT connect

the dots) to show the mv/rv relationship.