Creating a Venn Diagram

Utilize a Venn diagram to illustrate relationships. A Venn diagram displays the points where concepts or entities converge. Typically, they comprise two or three circles overlapping each other.

• Venn diagrams involve sets of items. In mathematical terms, a 'set' refers to a group or collection. In mathematics, sets are represented by curly brackets, as seen in the following example: 'birds: {parrots, parakeets, finches, doves, cardinals}'

Define your 'domain.' In Venn diagram terms, the domain refers to the specific context you're focusing on, not the entirety of existence. For example, you might choose 'Types of Foods' as your domain. Write this at the top of your page and consider outlining it with a rectangle around your Venn diagram labeled 'Types of Foods.'

Select two categories. Categories simply represent how you're categorizing items. For instance, you could opt for the categories 'Morning Foods' and 'Evening Foods.'

Fill in your categories with details. Create a circle for each category and populate them with specific items. For example, under 'Morning Foods,' you might list eggs, bacon, pancakes, strawberries, tomatoes, spinach, yogurt, leftover pizza, sausage, and waffles. Under 'Evening Foods,' you could include leftover pizza, ramen noodles, strawberries, tomatoes, spinach, ice cream, lasagna, chicken tenders, and sushi.

Determine intersections. You may observe that certain items appear in both categories. In our example, strawberries, tomatoes, spinach, and leftover pizza are common to both lists. This overlap is termed a 'union' in mathematical parlance, sometimes depicted as '∪.' Mathematically, you'd denote the union of sets like this: 'Morning Foods ∪ Evening Foods: {strawberries, tomatoes, spinach, and leftover pizza}'

Adjust your circles. Revisit your circles and modify them, overlapping the middle section of one side. Label one circle as 'Morning Foods' and the other as 'Evening Foods.'

Complete each circle. Avoid including overlapping words for now. Under 'Morning Foods,' list 'eggs, bacon, pancakes, yogurt, sausage, and waffles.' For 'Evening Foods,' include 'ramen noodles, ice cream, lasagna, chicken tenders, and sushi.' Reserve the overlapping words for the next step.

Fill in the overlapping area. In the overlap, jot down the words shared by both circles. For instance, write 'strawberries, tomatoes, spinach, and leftover pizza.' This demonstrates their shared elements.

Introduce a third category. If desired, introduce another category like 'Midday Foods.' This would result in all three circles overlapping, creating shared areas between each pair of circles and a central shared space among all three. Reserve the central area for elements common to all three categories.

Locate 'SmartArt.' You'll find 'SmartArt' under the Insert tab, within the Illustrations group.

Find the Venn diagram templates. Navigate to the Choose a SmartArt Graphic section. Locate the option labeled 'Relationships.' Within that section, you'll find various Venn diagram templates. For instance, you can opt for the 'Basic Venn' layout by clicking on it. Press 'OK' to confirm your selection and generate the diagram.

Access the 'Text' feature. Once you've chosen a Venn diagram template and clicked 'OK,' the diagram will appear in your document with placeholders labeled 'TEXT' within each circle. Click on these placeholders to input your items into the circles.

Include text in the intersecting areas. To add text to the overlapping sections, you'll need to insert text boxes, which is slightly more intricate than adding text to the main circles. Go to the 'Insert' tab, select 'Text Box,' and then choose 'Draw Text Box.'

Draw the text box. Use your mouse to sketch a text box within the overlapping region, ensuring it fits neatly without protruding beyond the overlapping boundaries. Enter your text.

• The text box will initially appear white. Click on it, then go to the 'Format' tab at the top. Under 'Shape Fill,' opt for 'No Fill,' and under 'Shape Outline,' select 'No Outline.' This ensures the text box matches the colors of the Venn diagram.
• Create text boxes for all overlapping areas.

Adjust colors from the toolbar. If the default colors don't suit your preferences, you can modify them by clicking on the Venn diagram and selecting 'Change Colors' from the Design tab. Choose a new color from the dropdown menu.

• Avoid overloading each category with too many items to prevent overcrowding.