Insert charts, images, and data into writing

A VISUAL is a chart, graph, table, or photo that you add to your writing. A good visual can show data faster than a paragraph of words. But a visual on its own is not enough — every visual needs a CAPTION that names it and tells the reader what to notice. The visual and the writing work together as a team.

Five Common Visual Types

1. BAR CHART — compares amounts. Use it when you want to show which category has more (favorite sports, favorite snacks, book genres).
2. PIE CHART — shows parts of a whole. Use it when every slice adds up to 100% (how a family spends an hour, where weekly screen time goes).
3. LINE GRAPH — shows change over time. Use it when the x-axis is days, weeks, or years (plant height each week, temperature each month).
4. TABLE — organizes facts in rows and columns. Use it when readers need exact numbers or quick lookup (planet sizes, animal lifespans).
5. PHOTO — shows real-world detail no words can capture. Use it when readers need to SEE the thing (pollinator garden, science experiment setup).

Captions: The Visual’s Voice

• Every visual gets a CAPTION underneath. A caption is a short label that names the visual and points out the takeaway.
• Start with a NUMBER and TYPE so the text can refer to it: "Figure 1. Bar chart of..." or "Table 2. Animal lifespans..."
• Add ONE short sentence with the takeaway — what the reader should notice. "Most kids read 20-30 minutes a day."
• If you did NOT make the visual yourself, end with a source: "(Source: NASA, 2024)." Borrowed visuals always need credit.

Where to Place the Visual

• Place each visual NEAR the paragraph that talks about it — same page if you can, never more than one page away.
• In the text, REFER to the visual by its number: "As Figure 1 shows..." or "See Table 2 for the full list."
• A visual stuck at the end of the report with no text reference is a wasted visual. The reader will skip it.
• Do not crowd. One or two visuals per page is plenty; more than that and the reader stops reading and just scans pictures.

Honest Visuals

• A visual must MATCH the data behind it. If your bar chart shows 12 kids prefer soccer, the caption cannot say "everyone prefers soccer."
• Label every axis and every column. An unlabelled chart is impossible to trust.
• Use whole-number scales that start at zero whenever possible. A scale that starts at 50 can make tiny differences look huge.
• If you cropped a photo or changed a color, say so in the caption. Honesty matters more than a pretty picture.