Lesson Summarizing Findings of a

8 Report through Narratives and

Visual Forms

What’s In
In the previous lesson, you have learned how to gather information
from surveys, experiments or observations and eventually understood its uses. You
also need to know how to summarize the information gathered both in narrative and
visual forms in in order to provide a clearer picture of the results and come up with
a sound conclusion. As a researcher, it is important that you present the results of
your report clearly and comprehensively based on the information gathered.

What I Need to Know

After going through this lesson, you are expected to present a
summary of the findings of a report in narrative and visual forms.

What is It

Presentation of Data through Visuals and Narratives

The presentation of your data requires organization so as not to confuse
readers. Therefore, presenting data from survey, interviews, observations or
experiments, non -prose texts or visuals such as tables, figures, or charts may be
used.

VISUALS can be classified into six groups: graphs, tables, diagrams, charts, visual
images and maps.

General Guidelines for Adding Visuals to your Text

The following are some of the basic rules in adding diagrams to your text.
1. Determine the purpose of the visual.
2. Evaluate the accuracy and validity of the data.
3. Visuals should be accompanied by clear references within your text.
4. Visuals should be placed on the same page as the text reference. Complex
visuals should be placed on the page opposite the text reference.
5. Preferably, position the visual vertically.
6. Make your visual as simple and self- explanatory as possible by adding data
labels.
7. If the visuals are colored, go for basic contrasting colors which are easy on the
eyes; as much as possible avoid adding patterns and textures, as well as neon
colors.

CHARTS

A chart is a graphical representation of data using symbols that are usually boxes,
lines, and arrows. Its general purpose is to show ranks, levels, procedures, and
classifications.
The two common charts are the organizational chart and the flow chart.

An organizational chart presents rankings, classification and levels of idea.

Strategies in Preparing an Organizational Chart

1. Use varied shapes carefully. Rectangles are usually used for all positions.
2. Connect the boxes with solid lines to show direct reporting relationships and
dotted lines to show indirect or staff relationship.
3. You may design the chart creatively but avoid making it too distracting or complicated.

A flow chart illustrated a process or direction of steps.

Strategies in Preparing a Flow Chart

1. Present only the capsule version of the whole process.

2. Limit the number of shapes to avoid confusion. Note that each shape has a
corresponding meaning.
Some of the most basic shapes include:
a. Rectangle which is used to refer to an event which is part of the process; it is
usually used for steps or actions taken.
b. Diamond which is used to show a decision point in the process; generally, the
text inside the diamond requires a yes or no response. From here, the flowchart will
then branch to different parts of a yes and a no response.
c. Rounded Box which is used to represent an event which occurs automatically; it
is usually used to denote the start and the end of the whole process.
3. Provide a legend when necessary.
4. Sequence the data from left to right or top to bottom.
5. You can be creative in designing the flowchart but do not make it too complicated
and distracting.

TABLES

A table is useful in displaying numbers in columns. It condenses and classifies

information to make comparisons between and among data and helps the readers
grasp relationships that might be invisible in prose.
It contains at least two columns with headings on the sides and at the top of the
columns to indicate what the table represents. The heading on the top is called a
box head while the heading on the far left column is called a stub.

Strategies in Preparing a Table

1. Informal or simple tables need not have table numbers and titles since they
function as an extension of the text. They should not be included also in the list of
illustrations. However, they require column heading.
2. Formal tables, which contain complex data, should contain titles, table numbers
and detailed headings. They are separated from the text and are included in the list
of illustrations.
3. Use plenty of white space within and around the texts.
4. Use concise and clear headings for all the columns and rows.
5. Assign a title and number to each formal table.
6. Use abbreviations and symbols when necessary. However, special symbols and
abbreviations must be clarified in a legend or footnote.
7. Write the source of the table when necessary.
8. Use uppercase and lowercase instead of cull caps.

GRAPHS
A graph is a graphical representation of data using bars for bar graphs, lines for line
graphs, circles for pie graphs, and pictures for pictographs. Each type of graph has
a specific function and purpose.

Bar Graph
A bar graph uses vertical and horizontal bars that compare amounts and quantities.

Strategies in Preparing a Bar Graph

1. Limit the number of bars. Too many bars may create confusion and complicate
the data.
2. Show the comparisons clearly.
3. Keep the bar widths.
4. It is ideal to use spaces between bars. However, if comparisons are too close or
too many, spaces between bars may be deleted.
5. Arrange the bars based on sequence (by year to show trends) or by
ascending/descending order (to show direct comparison).
6. Use legends as much as possible.

LINE GRAPH
A line graph shows trends and changes in data. Usually, the bottom grid scale
represents time.

Strategies in Preparing a Line Graph

1. Plot the data very carefully.
2. Use different line colors for line graphs using multiple lines.
3. Make the chart lines thicker that the axis lines.
4. Do not put the numbers on the line graph itself.

CIRCLE GRAPH
A circle graph or pie graph, which uses our- shaped sections, shows the relationship
of the parts to the whole in percentages and proportions.

Strategies in Preparing a Circle Graph

1. Use no more than seven divisions.
2. Move clockwise from 12:00. Start with the largest wedge going to the smallest.
However, “others” or miscellaneous items must be placed last no matter how large
they cover.
3. Use circle graph for percentages and money esp. when the items they represent
are divisible by 100.
4. Make the circle graph as simple as possible.
5. Label each component.
6. If you want to show a subdivision of a particular wedge in a circle graph, use a
“pie within a pie” technique.

Non-prose texts give supporting details for your text and need to be
explained or interpreted.
Example:
Table 1. Cases of reported lost items at school

Type of Item July 2015 August 2015

Electronics 12 11
Clothing 20 15
Money 10 8
 Table 1 shows cases of reported lost items for the months of July and August 2015.
For the month of July, there were twelve cases of lost electronic devices, twenty of
clothing and ten of money. In August, there were eleven cases of electronic devices,
fifteen of clothing and eight of money. Data shows that there is a decrease of cases
of lost items on campus.

Non-prose texts need to be labelled. Labels for diagram/figures/graphs are placed

below while labels for tables are placed.

Let’s Answer This!

Activity 1
TRUE OR FALSE
Directions: Write T if the statement is correct and F if it is wrong. Write your
answer in a separate sheet of paper.
1. Diagrams are text representations of information.
2. A bar graph is used to see patterns and trends in data.
3. A legend is used in some diagrams to show different but related data.
4. A circle graph is also known as pie graph.
5. The heading on top of a table is called a box heart.
6. Informal tables do not need to have a title anymore.
7. The bottom grid scale in a line graph usually denotes the amount of money.
8. A chart is a graphical representation of data using symbols which are usually
boxes, lines, bows and arrows.
9. Visuals do not contribute new knowledge to the material, and can therefore be
skipped.
10. A visual has to be self- explanatory, so paragraph discussions after the visual
are optional.

Activity 2.Visuals to Narratives

Directions: Look at the visuals below. Provide three to five-sentence
analysis based on the title and the data given. Each interpretation of the visuals
corresponds to 10 points. Write your answers on your paper.
1. Usage of Social Media by Age

Senior Citizens 18.3

Adolescents 42.1

Adults 39.6

Interpretation of the Data

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

2. Pinoy Desserts Café Monthly Sales Report (December 2015)

 ITEM SELLING PRICE NUMBER OF TOTAL PROFIT
ITEMS SOLD

Turon P 15 8,541 P 128,115

Halo-halo P 50 1,212 P 60,600

Mais con Yelo P 25 1,334 P 33,350

Saba con Yelo P 25 784 P 19, 600

Sorbetes P25 968 P 24, 200

GRAND TOTAL 12,839 P 265, 865

Interpretation of the Data

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3.Narratives to Visuals

Directions: Determine the best visual which would best present the data in
each box. Write a title and legend of your visual to present the data. Write it on your
paper. (6 points/item)

1. Students in Hiraya School were surveyed about the social networking sites they
use. The following data were generated:

Out of 500 students surveyed, 96% has Facebook accounts, 87% has Twitter
accounts and 95.7% uses Instagram.

Your Diagram:

2. According to literary reports in the country of Oz, youth literacy went up to 7%

since 2000. Here are the data:

In 2000, only 43% of the youth population was literate. In the next census at 2005,
it went up by 2%. After five years, the literacy rate was at 47%. During the most
recent survey on 2015, the rate is already at 50%.

Your diagram:
3. The recruitment agency adapted a new process in terms of receiving applicants:
a. Once an applicant comes in, the receptionist has to ask if he/ she has an
appointment or is a walk- in applicant. If the application has an appointment, his/her
resume should be taken. The receptionist must then check the list of appointments
to verify, call and inform the interviewers that the applicant has arrived, and then
give them the copy of the resume. When given the go signal by the interviewers,
the receptionist must then inform the applicant on how to proceed next.

b. If the applicant plans on a walk-in application, the receptionist has to take his/her
resume, have him/her fill out the basic information form, and ask him/her to wait
while the form and the resume are reviewed by the interviewers, the receptionist
must then inform the applicant on how to proceed.

Your diagram:

4. Oz has a complex form of government. It is governed overall by a King and

Queen. Directly reporting to these monarchs is the Chief Minister, who supervises
the lay of the land, and the Crown Prince and Princess, who are training in politics
and economics. The Chief Minister primarily convenes the different ministers of
various agencies: the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Housing, Minister of
Rights, Minister of Laws, Minister of Health, Minister of Education and Minister of
Budget.

Your diagram:

5. Psychologists in Oz conducted an experiment which aimed to measure and

compare the learning rate of children when taught using different teaching styles.
They have three groups of students who were taught the same subject of creative
writing, but with different teaching styles, and their grades were measured from
week 1 to week 4. The first group, which was taught using an activity style, had the
following average scores: 78,84,86,92, from the first week to the fourth,
respectively. The second group, which was taught via lecture style, average
79,80,84,86 from the first to the last week, respectively. The last group was taught
using a group style and got the following weekly scores:80,85,89,and 93.

Your diagram: