Read the words printed with the graphic. A graphic has a main idea and supporting details, just as a paragraph does. Read the title or caption. Note the source. (Who published the ideas in the graphic? Are they a trusted authority?) Read any footnotes. (Do they explain what any numbers or headings mean?) Read the labels. (Do they tell what the columns and rows represent?) 2. Analyze the graphic. The way it is organized and any trends or patterns are important information you need to be aware of.