Assignment: Expository Visualization

An expository article requires the author to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner.

In this assignment, you will design an expository visualization to clearly communicate an idea based on the city climate dataset. In addition, you must provide a rigorous rationale for your design choices. You should in theory be ready to explain the contribution of every pixel in the display towards your expository goals.

We expect most students will use Vega-Lite, but you are free to use a different web-based visualization library (for example, Observable Plot) if you prefer.

Assignment Description

Your task is to design a static (i.e., single image) visualization that you believe effectively communicates an idea about the data, and provide a short write-up (no more than 4 paragraphs) describing your design. Start by choosing a question you’d like your visualization to answer. Design your visualization to answer that question. The title of your graphic should either be your question or your answer to the question that the chart conveys.

While you must use the data set given, you are free to transform the data as you see fit. Such transforms may include (but are not limited to) log transformation, computing percentages or averages, grouping elements into new categories, or removing unnecessary variables or records. You are also free to incorporate additional external data. Your chart image should be interpretable without recourse to your write-up. Do not forget to include title, axis labels, or legends as needed!

As different visualizations can emphasize different aspects of a data set, your write-up should document what aspects of the data you are attempting to most effectively communicate. In short, what story are you trying to tell? Just as important, also note which aspects of the data might be obscured due to your visualization design.

Your write-up should provide a rigorous rationale for your design decisions. Document the visual encodings you used and why they are appropriate for the data and your specific question. These decisions include the choice of visualization type, size, color, scale, and other visual elements, as well as the use of sorting or other data transformations. How do these decisions facilitate effective communication?

Grading

We will determine scores by judging both the soundness of your design and the quality of the write-up. We will also look for consideration of audience, message, and intended task. Here are examples of aspects that may lead to point deductions:

• Use of misleading, unnecessary, or unmotivated graphic elements.
• Missing chart title, axis labels, or data transformation description.
• Missing or incomplete design rationale in write-up.
• Ineffective encodings for your stated goal (e.g., distracting colors, improper data transformation).

We will reward entries that go above and beyond the assignment requirements to produce effective graphics. Examples may include outstanding visual design, meaningful incorporation of external data to reveal important trends, demonstrating exceptional creativity, or effective annotations and other narrative devices.

Submission Details

This is an individual assignment. You may not work in groups. Submit your assignment by completing this page and publishing it to your GitLab repository. The rendered page should be viewable on your GitLab pages site.

Second, you must submit your write-up and a screenshot image of your visualization to Gradescope. The image must be in either PNG or JPG format, and properly sized to be comfortably viewable on a screen without scrolling or zooming.

Visualization

Replace this text and put your visualization here.

Write Up

Replace this text and put your write-up here.