Genealogical

• 1). Draw a circle; this is called a node. Label it with the name of the oldest known relative.
  
  
• 2). Draw a square to the right of the circle and label it with the name of the first relative's husband, wife or life partner.
  
  
• 3). Connect the two nodes with a solid line if the pair is still together or a dotted line if they are separated.
  
  
• 4). Draw a solid, vertical line running down from the center of this connecting line.
  
  
• 5). Sketch a circle for a daughter or a square for the son of this first couple. If the couple had multiple children draw a horizontal line at the base of the vertical to so that additional vertical lines can be drawn. For example, a couple with three children would have a line resembling an "M" beneath their nodes. Omit this step if the couple had no children.
  
  
• 6). Repeat Steps 1 through 5 for each of the siblings, until all of the dependents have been added. Remain consistent with specific node shapes for each gender: circles for females and squares for males.
  
  
• 7). Review the chart for gaps and missing relatives. Add additional family members as necessary, such as in-laws and adopted children. Start reading the chart from the youngest descendant and move upward to the oldest relatives to catch gaps; the tree-like, branching nature of this chart will make it necessary to repeat this step several times.
  
  
• 8). Post birthdates, ages, addresses, careers, photographs and other information to enhance the relational chart.
  
  
• 9). Modify this style of chart for use as an organizational flow chart, emergency phone tree and more.
  
  

Scatter Plot

• 1). Draw an L-shaped chart.
  
  
• 2). Label the X and Y axises with one item each such as age, gender, height or activity level.
  
  
• 3). Attribute a specific value to the points on the X and Y axises. For example, if the quality is age, place a point every half-inch to indicate 10 years -- i.e., 0, 10, 20, 30 years. If there are only two choices, such as male/female, label the extremes of the axis.
  
  
• 4). Plot a point on the chart that has a definite value on the X and Y axises -- e.g., a girl who is ten.
  
  
• 5). Indicate the placement of additional entities in the same manner.
  
  
• 6). Use a scatter plot to show the relationship between a group of things pertaining to a set of quantifiable features.
  
  
• 7). Add additional dimensions to form a larger, and more specific, relational matrix.
  
  

Venn Diagrams

• 1). Draw a circle. Sketch a second circle next to the first, overlapping in the middle so that there is an elliptical space in the middle of the chart.
  
  
• 2). Label the first circle with item #1, the second circle with item #2 and the center with "Both."
  
  
• 3). List the properties particular to item #1 in the first circle -- e.g., chocolate ice cream is brown, contains cocoa and cannot be used for a sundae.
  
  
• 4). Repeat for the second item -- e.g., vanilla is white, contains vanilla bean and can be used for sundaes.
  
  
• 5). Write down the features common to both items in the middle.
  
  
• 6). Use Venn diagrams to compare and contrast, showing the variety in the relationship between two items.