Graphing using Excel 2003

							Graphing using Excel 2003

   1) Place the x-axis values in one column, the error in the x-axis values in the next column, the
       y-axis values in the next column, and the error in the y-axis values in the next column.
   2) Highlight the x-axis values and the y-axis values and click on the “Chart Wizard” button.
   3) Select chart type “X-Y (Scatter)” and the subtype that only plots points. Hit return.
   4) Click on the series tab and give names to each data set if there is more than one. Hit return.
   5) Make appropriate choices about title (don’t simply repeat the information on the axes), axis
       labels (include units), gridlines (none), legend (not necessary with one set of data), and data
       labels. Hit return.
   6) Click the option of saving the chart as a new worksheet and hit return. You should now have
       a plot in your spreadsheet.
   7) If you need to add a least squares trend line, right click on one of the data points and select
       “Add Trendline”. Choose linear as the type unless otherwise specified, and opt to show both
       the equation and the R-squared value. Do not use a trendline unless specifically instructed to
       do so.
   8) If you have a trend line and accompanying equation, you should change the default variables
       “x” and “y” in the equation to symbols that represent the variables on the x and y axes.
       Simply click on the equation and type new variables.
   9) To add error bars, right click on one of the data points and select “Format Data Series”.
       Click on the tabs for “X Error Bars” and “Y Error Bars” and choose a “custom” error.
   10) If you use the graph to reach a conclusion, then the trend line should go through most of
       the error bars in order for the experiment to support the theory.
   11) Use a clear background by right clicking on the graph and choosing “format plot area”. Do
       not use color when printing unless necessary.
   12) You may choose to zoom in on the data when you observe large areas of white space in your
       graph, though this is a matter of personal preference. To do so, right click on one of the
       axes, choose “Format Axis”, click on the “Scale” tab, then alter the minimum value. Repeat
       with the other axis if necessary.