Create a table. Draw the x- and y-axes on the page. On the top of the page, place a title that briefly describes the purpose of the chart.
Label each axis. If time is one of the factors, it should go along the horizontal (x) axis. The other numeric values measured should be placed along the vertical (y) axis. Each axis should be labeled with the name of the numeric system as well as the measurements being used. For example, you may label the x axis with "Time (Days)", indicating that each number written on the axis is a number of days. Divide each axis evenly into applicable increments.
Add data. Data for a line graph is usually contained in a two-column table corresponding to the x- and y-axes. With SmartDraw you can also import data from Excel. Once you've added your data, your line graph will automatically reflect its values. If you want to call attention to any particular value, you can add a label with an arrow pointing to it.
Create a key. If you are comparing multiple items, you'll want to create a key that identifies what each line is by its color.