In this activity, you will be comparing graphs that have data displayed in an appropriate way and data displayed in an inappropriate way. Students should use newspapers, magazines, almanacs or the internet to find one example of an appropriate graph and one example of an inappropriate graph. Cut out or copy the graph. Record reasons why the graphs are appropriate or inappropriate. Next, find a set of data. Draw a graph that inappropriately displays the data. Then explain why it inappropriately displays the data. Draw a graph that appropriately displays the data. Then explain why it appropriately displays the data.

Finally, each group will create 2 posters. One poster will show appropriate graphs and one poster will show inappropriate graphs. Share the posters with the rest of the class. Discuss the appropriateness or inappropriateness of each graph.