Writing a prompt to generate a data visualisation

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which prompt is better for an AI tool?

A Create a column chart of Maths marks by student from columns A and B, titled 'Maths Marks', for Year 11 students

B Make a chart of my data

2. Which part of a prompt names the chart type?

A Show daily Max temperature in a nice way

B Draw a line chart of daily Max temperature

3. Which prompt names the data fields clearly?

A Use the Day column for the x-axis and the Rain column for the y-axis

B Use the numbers from my spreadsheet

4. Which prompt includes the audience?

A Make the chart as detailed as possible

B Make the chart simple and easy to read for a Year 7 class

5. Which prompt includes style details such as colours and labels?

A Use blue bars, label the x-axis 'Subject' and the y-axis 'Mark'

B Use whatever colours and labels you like

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1Use the Month and Sales columns		AThe chart type does not suit the data. A pie chart shows parts of a whole, not change over days.
2Audience: Year 9 students		BCreate a line chart of Sales by Month
3A prompt should state a chart type that suits the data, such as a line chart for change over time		CTitle it 'Monthly Sales', label the y-axis 'Sales ($)' and use blue bars
4Style details such as title, axis labels and colours make the chart clear and consistent		DNames the data fields the chart must use
5Make a chart of my data		EToo vague: it does not name the data fields, chart type, title, labels, colours or audience.
6Make a pie chart of Temperature by Day		FStates who will read the chart so the AI can pitch it at the right level

Definitions

visualisation prompt

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

Use the weather sheet columns Day and Max. Draw a __________ to show the trend.

Data: weather sheet, columns Day and ____. Chart: column chart of daily rainfall. Title: Rainfall by Day

Chart: pie chart of Qty by Category. ________: Year 7 students, keep it simple.

Chart: bar chart of Maths and English marks. Style: use two _______, blue and orange.

Data: Day and Max from the weather sheet. Chart: line chart of Max temperature by Day. Add axis ______ and a title to the chart.

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A Data: marks.csv (Name, Maths)

B Chart: bar chart

C Title: Chart

D Audience: Year 11 class

Question 2

A Data: weather.csv (Day, Max)

B Chart: line chart

C X-axis: Max, Y-axis: Day

D Colours: blue line

Question 3

A Data: shop.csv (Item, Qty)

B Chart: line chart

C Title: Stock by item

D Audience: Shop manager

Question 4

A Data: study.csv (Hours, Mark)

B Chart: pie chart

C X-axis: Hours studied

D Y-axis: Mark

Question 5

A Data: marks.csv (Name, Mark)

B Chart: bar chart

C Title: Marks by student

D Style: tiny text, 12 colours

E Audience: Year 7 students

Answer Key

Writing a prompt to generate a data visualisation

Section A: Quick Questions

A — Create a column chart of Maths marks by student from columns A and B, titled 'Maths Marks', for Year 11 students

B — Draw a line chart of daily Max temperature

A — Use the Day column for the x-axis and the Rain column for the y-axis

B — Make the chart simple and easy to read for a Year 7 class

A — Use blue bars, label the x-axis 'Subject' and the y-axis 'Mark'

Section B: Match the Pairs

Use the Month and Sales columns → Names the data fields the chart must use

Audience: Year 9 students → States who will read the chart so the AI can pitch it at the right level

A prompt should state a chart type that suits the data, such as a line chart for change over time → Create a line chart of Sales by Month

Style details such as title, axis labels and colours make the chart clear and consistent → Title it 'Monthly Sales', label the y-axis 'Sales ($)' and use blue bars

Make a chart of my data → Too vague: it does not name the data fields, chart type, title, labels, colours or audience.

Make a pie chart of Temperature by Day → The chart type does not suit the data. A pie chart shows parts of a whole, not change over days.

Section C: Definitions

visualisation prompt — An instruction to an AI tool that names the data fields, chart type, title, axis labels, colours and audience so it can build a clear, suitable chart.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

Use the weather sheet columns Day and Max.
Draw a line chart to show the trend.

Data: weather sheet, columns Day and Rain.
Chart: column chart of daily rainfall.
Title: Rainfall by Day

Chart: pie chart of Qty by Category.
Audience: Year 7 students, keep it simple.

Chart: bar chart of Maths and English marks.
Style: use two colours, blue and orange.

Data: Day and Max from the weather sheet.
Chart: line chart of Max temperature by Day.
Add axis labels and a title to the chart.

Section E: Spot the Error

C — A good prompt gives a meaningful title that says what the chart shows. 'Chart' tells the AI and the viewer nothing. It should be something like 'Title: Maths marks by student'.

C — The axes are swapped. Time (Day) belongs on the x-axis and the measured value (Max temp) on the y-axis. It should be 'X-axis: Day, Y-axis: Max temp'.

B — Line charts show change over time. Comparing stock across separate items is a job for a column or bar chart, so the prompt should say 'Chart: column chart'.

B — A pie chart shows parts of a whole. To show the relationship between two numeric fields (Hours and Mark), the prompt should ask for a scatter graph.

D — The style must suit the audience. Tiny text and 12 colours would be hard for Year 7 students to read. It should ask for large text and a few clear colours.