Hints to Scientific Writing: Figures

   1. Chart 1 should read as Figure 1. Only three types of graphics are found in a scientific paper:

           Tables--anything that looks like a table

           Figures--everything else including charts, graphs, photos, drawings, maps, etc.

           Appendices (sing. Appendix)--tables of raw data or methodology found at the end of the
                    paper following the literature cited.  Unusual but sometimes used when raw data such
                    as gene sequences, museum specimens, or sampling localities might be helpful but are
                    not necessary for the reader's comprehension of the paper.

   2. All figures must be summarized in the text and also should contain a self-explanatory title.
            I find it helpful to try to create a figure or table that can stand alone and be understood.
            After completing a figure/table, ask a friend if they can determine what the graphics
            meaning without reading the text of the paper.  See the figure below for the lawn deer.

   3. Additional common problems with figures submitted:
                a. Avoid color graphics
                b. Avoid gridlines in your figures
                c. Eliminate all borders except for the x and y axes
                d. Provide error bars (SE or SD are most common)
                e. Label axes with appropriate categories and units
                f. Be certain that the font size of labels is large enough to be clearly seen

  The figure for the lawndeer paper is:


Figure 1. Home ranges of radiocollared and control lawn deer (Odocoileus ornamentis) in western Oregon.


 
 

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