Human/Nature

Race Excel Assignment

DUE: Tues. Nov 26
th



One of the goals of Freshman Inquiry is to acquaint you with various types of technologies and software
programs that you will find helpful in your college career. One of those software programs is Excel
which allows you to work with quantitative data in a number of ways. One of the most helpful things
that Excel does is allow you to convert numerical data into graph form. As a basic introduction, this
assignment is designed to get you started with Excel and also begin to develop your skills in interpreting
and representing numerical data competently.

Using the two links listed below, find the appropriate numerical data to produce three different graphs.

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP3
&prodType=table

http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/tab01.pdf

The first graph should demonstrate the racial makeup of this nation. From this graph you should be able
to determine what percentage of Americans classify themselves as Asian American, for example. The
second graph should compare the quantity of persons in this country classified by different races. I
should be able to tell from this graph whether there are more persons in this country who classify
themselves as Black or African American rather than Native American. The third graph should
demonstrate how the racial makeup of this country has changed over time. Because of the large
amount of data available, you only need to start at 1900 and graph up to 2000. Based on the kind of
data you are to represent, you will need to choose whether a pie, line or vertical bar graph is the most
appropriate way to represent the information. Before you can tackle these graphs you must be clear on
what race is and how the census data is defining. Is race a physical attribution? Is it a cultural
attribution? Be careful, this can get messy.

Although the information you choose off these sites is important, how you communicate your ideas
through your graphs is equally important. Make sure you label clearly your x and y axes. Make sure you
accurately title each graph. Pie graphs should have a clear table as well clearly marked percentages. If
you choose to use color in your graphs make sure that it comes out clear and distinct in grey scale unless
you plan to hand it in in color. I would caution you against using the 3D function as it often makes it
difficult to read. Excel cannot think for you..Your numbers converted to graphical form will not come
out magically clear. You must make sure you are clear in communicating the information.

Once you have constructed these three graphs. Attach a written component as well which addresses
the following questions.

A. Please explain each graph, your rationale as to why you represented the data in that particular
graph form, and the insights that emerge from each graph in terms of racial classification in this
country. What interesting information does each graph reveal?
B. What did you find problematic in dealing with the categories of race that are provided in the
census data? Since race is not a biological construct, how do the lines of racial classification as
Zerubavel would put it reveal the messiness of our mental compartments in terms of race?


Graded Components:

Graphs 6 points
Written component
Part A 2 points
Part B 2 points