Stock Price per Month
7
6.5
Stock Price
6
5.5
5
4.5
4
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Month

 The first step in creating a graph is collecting
the data. This data could vary depending on
what type of graph you are attempting to
create. Typically this data is collected in the
field through
surveys, measurements, counting, collecting
information, etc.

 Before putting your data together, you have
to find a computer with Microsoft Excel
loaded on it. Once you have found a
computer, turn it on and search for Excel.
Open the application, and you are prepared
to start your graph.

 Be sure to save your spreadsheet before you
begin. Ensure you remember the location to
which you are saving it, either your hard drive
or flash drive and the name of the file. It is
standard to name the file something relevant
to the data you researched.

 From here you can began entering your
data into rows or columns. It’s ideal to
create a table with the title of each row
or column before the information in
order to keep it well organized. As you
can see to the right the information
collected is placed below the title. To
place the data in Excel, simply click on
the cell (box) in which you want the
information to go and type the
information collected.

 Now you are prepared to insert your graph. Look at
the top of Excel for a tab labeled insert. Click this tab
and a menu of options appears as shown
below, choose the type of graph that will best
represent your information. This can either be a
line, column, pie, bar, area, scatter, or many other
graphs. The most common graph is a scatter plot.

 Have the data you want on the graph highlighted.
Then select the type of graph you want. The graph
should appear automatically. If the graph didn’t
automatically appear, you will need to take another
step to get the data on the graph.

 Right click on the empty chart and choose select data. Once
this new window opens, you will select add. Here you can do
a couple things. You can label the title of the graph by typing
under the series name. This image is pictured below. Then
you can add your data. Here you can click in the box for
Series X values and then click and scroll through the data
you would like on the x-axis (example here 1 through 12).
From here you can do the same for the data on the y-axis.

 To create labels on the x and y axis, you will first need to click
on an open area of the graph. Once you have done this, you
should see an option at the top of Excel labeled Chart Tools
and Layout. Select Layout and locate the item Axis Titles.
Here you can select the vertical and horizontal axis titles and
where you want them located on the graph. Once you select
the type you would like, type the title of the axis.

 From the same layout
tab you could create a
legend by selecting
the location you
would want your
legend. This will
allow the person
viewing your graph to
have a better
understanding of
what is going on.

 Looking under the chart tools tab at the top of
the screen, you can add many different features
to your graph. From the design tab you can
change the color, change the layout design, and
switch the column and rows. From the Layout
tab you can add pictures, shapes, text
box, titles, add gridlines and trendlines, change
chart name, and customize your axes. Then
from the format tab, you can change the colors
of various parts of the graph and add different
effects to emphasize different points of the
graph.

 It’s very simple to edit your
graph. You can do this by
double clicking or right
clicking and choosing format
on the item you want edited.
This can either be the
axis, chart
title, gridlines, legend, data
points, or the line. From here
you can choose to change the
colors, numbers, alignment, a
nd various options depending
on what you are trying to
edit.