[header] How to read graphs [title] Identify what the graph represents. [step] Most graphs will have a clearly labeled x-element, spaced along the graph's horizontal axis, and a clearly labeled y-element, spaced along the graph's vertical axis. [substeps] The graph's title should also tell you exactly what it's about. 
[title] Check the scale for each graph element. [step] This applies to both line graphs and bar graphs.