This theme issue is an attempt to improve graphical production by evaluators. The graphs that are described are solutions to problems in communicating evaluation findings. Eleven chapters and a conclusion discuss common and recurring problems for graphs for discovery or presentation, and for evaluators or evaluation audiences. (SLD)

Tests the effects on student performance when using graphs as part of a University of South Carolina (Columbia) principles of economics lecture. Finds in 1995 that students in the lecture with graphs had significantly lower gain scores than those in the no-graphs lecture. Finds no significant difference in 1997. (RLH)

Presents an activity, "Lisa's Lemonade Stand," that actively engages students in algebraic thinking as they analyze change by investigating relationships between variables and gain experience describing and representing these relationships graphically. (YDS)

Uses a Calculator-Based Ranger and a graphing calculator in problem-solving mode to introduce an exploration of graphing-related concepts including intercepts, slopes, and rate of change. (YDS)

Describes the implementation of a real-world context focused on teaching proportional reasoning. (YDS)

Describes a series of lessons in which 6th grade students explore notions of rates of change and their effect on the shapes of graphs. Addresses aspects of the algebra content standard for the middle grades. (YDS)

Reviews evaluation standards that are used to assess the quality of projected graphical displays, and discusses their use in evaluating graphs created with computer graphing programs. Design standards for projected graphs are explained, and examples of three types of graphs are shown. (four references) (LRW)

Discusses the meanings of the terms "table,""graph, "chart" and "diagram" in relation to four types of technical graphics. Describes the appropriate use of each graphics type in relation to the uses of other graphic types, and illustrates the kind of information each type most effectively represents. (KEH)

A diagrammatic approach to invariants of knots is the focus. Connections with graph theory, physics, and other topics are included, along with an explanation of how proofs of some old conjectures about alternating knots emerge from this work. (MNS)

Highlights semantic links and shows how the semantic content of hypertext links can be used for information retrieval. Discussion includes indexing and retrieval algorithms that exploit link content and node content; retrieval strategies exploiting semantic links, including conventional retrieval and constrained spreading activation techniques;…

A statistical model for citation processes is presented as a particular version of a nonhomogenous birth process. The mean value function and special transition probabilities, which can readily be calculated on the basis of known and estimated parameters, give essential information on the change of citation impact in time. (10 references) (KRN)

Explores strategies in the situation of a runner trying to evade a tackler on a football field. Enables the student to test intuitive strategies in a familiar situation using simple graphical and numerical methods or direct experimentation. (JRH)

Illustrates exploration of composition of functions, translations, and inverse functions on a graphing calculator. Includes reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

Presents an activity to help students overcome mathematics anxiety by collecting and organizing data through summarization and graphic representation. (MKR)

Presents a strategy for graphing conic sections on the polar plane without using a table of values by beginning with information gained from the graphs of circular functions. (MKR)