paul mundy tables and illustrations
TRANSCRIPT
Paul Mundy www.mamud.com
Tables and illustrations
Tables
Good way to present numbers Good way to organize text
Eg to compare 2–3 alternatives Refer to them in the text
But Tables can be hard to
understand Keep them to a minimum Keep them simple
Questions on tables
What is the purpose of this table? Is this the best way to present data?
How about a graphic? Numbers in the text? Is the table complete in itself? How does it relate to the rest of the text?
Data in tables
Put columns and rows in logical order Put data to compare close to each other Highlight important numbers Cut out unnecessary figures
Give round numbers (3.5 tons, not 3.457 tons) No significance levels or statistical tests Reduce the number of rows and columns
Tables
Make the title talk Put detail in a footnote if needed
Say where the information comes from Date, place, project
Graphics
Important design element Break up the text Readers look at them before reading the text
Keep them simple Make them clear
How about this graphic?
How about this one?
How about this one?
How about this one?
Photos or illustrations?
Photos
Show reality Show colour Expensive to
reproduce Hard to find good
photos If you can’t find a
good photo, don’t use a bad one What do you see
in this photo?
Photographs
Use digital camera Taking photos
Take photos yourself Colleagues take photos Use professional photographer
Build up a photo library Label photos with place, date, names, subject
Photographs
Photo quality In focus, correct exposure
Not too light or dark People doing things
Not just looking at camera Get up close to subject Check photo composition
Subject not right in centre Use framing by trees, objects
Exposing for the sky
Photos
Choose photos carefully
Crop them to highlight area of interest
Give a caption if needed
Olivia Njemba (right) shows her tree nursery to visiting extension agents
Illustrations
Attract the eye Use them to carry
a message Not just for
decoration Provide labels
and a caption if needed
Illustrations
Can be clearer than photo Less distracting detail
Can show things that are not real
Illustrations
Easy to label Cheap to reproduce Need to find artist