Labelled diagram of heart

Diagrams and charts are important because they present information visually.

Labelled diagram example

The adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” applies when it comes diagrams and charts. This handout provide a few hints on understanding information visually.

 Overview

• Don’t skip over diagrams and graphs when reading!
• These visual aids provide summaries or can illustrate a complex process; understanding how to read them is a very efficient way to learn material.
• When tackling diagrams or graphs, pay attention to:
  • Captions: What clues about the illustration can you gain from the general description?
  • Labels: Can you define or describe the items labeled?

    If not, reread the text.

  • Directionality: Are there arrows, numbers or letters that orient the illustration?
• The Big Picture: Do you notice any trends in data? Can you draw conclusions about relationships among items on a diagram?

Practice

Review the two examples provided.

By answering the questions for each, you’ll see how much information can be gleaned from diagrams and graphs.

Graph 1 Questions:

• What information does this diagram
  what is stomata draw a labelled diagram of stomata
  what is the labelled diagram of neuron