Homework 2: Table and Graph Design

Assigned: Sep 8, 2011
Due: Sep 15, 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with practice and experience designing the appearance of data tables and graphs.

Data Sets

1. Performance of sales representatives (xls)
2. Performance of different company departments over year (xls)

Source: Stasko, Ga Tech

Description

For data set 1, create a table that presents its information as clearly and informatively as possible.

For data set 2, design a graph that does the same.

Think about the data in each spreadsheet and what an analyst looking at that data would care about. You are allowed to derive new variables (attributes) that are combinations of the given ones, but you cannot make up totally new variables and values.

Submission

Turn-in a hard-copy of your table and graph at the beginning of class on the due date.

Grading

I will evaluate the effectiveness and design aspects of your creations. Of course this is subjective, but I will look for tables and graphs that apply the design recommendations discussed in class and in our readings.

Based on homework from John Stasko, Georgia Tech