1) Start by marking an appropriate scale. 

2) DO NOT copy numbers on the data table for the scale. 

3) Go up by the same interval (example - 2,4,6,8,10,12 etc)

4) Go up by an interval that is easy to count by. For example, 1.3 would not be a good interval to go up by but 2 would be. 

5) DO NOT draw extra lines.

6) You don't have to start at zero. Especially true when dealing with years. 

7) If you are having trouble marking an appropriate scale that will capture all your data, remember our trick below: