A-manual-for-writers-of-research-papers-theses-and-dissertations

Although reading and math scores initially declined by almost 100 points following redistricting, that trend wassubstantially reversed by the introduction of supplemental math and reading programs.4. Highlight the part of the table or figure that you want readers to focus on, particularlyany number or relationship mentioned in the sentence introducing the table or figure. Forexample, we have to study table 8.3 closely to see how it supports the introductorysentence:Most predictions about gasoline consumption have proved wrong.We need another sentence explaining how the numbers relate to the claim, a more informativetitle, and visual help that focuses us on what to see (table 8.4):Gasoline consumption did not grow as many had predicted. Even though Americans drove 23 percent more milesin 2000 than in 1970, they used 32 percent less fuel.The added sentence tells us how to interpret the key data in table 8.4, and the highlight tells uswhere to find it.8.3.2 Keep the Image as Simple as Its Content AllowsSome guides encourage you to put as much data as you can in every graphic, but readers wantto see only the data relevant to your point, presented in an image free of distractions: