diff --git a/lessons/python/4a_plots.ipynb b/lessons/python/4a_plots.ipynb
index a47b5f2..28f860c 100644
--- a/lessons/python/4a_plots.ipynb
+++ b/lessons/python/4a_plots.ipynb
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
    "source": [
     "## Read the data\n",
     "\n",
-    "Use the NumPy `loadtxt` function to read the digital elevation dataset. "
+    "First, use the NumPy `loadtxt` function to read the digital elevation dataset. "
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -126,9 +126,7 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
     "We can use the function `imshow` within `matplotlib.pyplot` to display an array as a 2D\n",
-    "image. \n",
-    "\n",
-    "Try to display the 2D `topo` array"
+    "image."
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -168,14 +166,12 @@
     "## Plotting, take two\n",
     " \n",
     "It's hard to get a sense of how the topography changes across the\n",
-    "landscape from these big tables of numbers. A simpler way to display\n",
+    "landscape from tables of numbers. A simpler way to display\n",
     "this information is with line plots.\n",
     "\n",
     "We are again going to use the `matplotlib` package for data\n",
     "visualization. Since we imported the `matplotlib.pyplot` library once\n",
-    "already, those tools are available and can be called within Python. As a\n",
-    "review, though, we are going to write every step needed to load and plot\n",
-    "the data.\n",
+    "already, those tools are available and can be called within Python.\n",
     "\n",
     "We use the function `plot` to create two basic line plots of the\n",
     "topography:"
@@ -245,10 +241,10 @@
    "cell_type": "markdown",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
-    " ## Practice your skills: Make your own plots \n",
+    "## Practice your skills: Make your own plots \n",
     "\n",
-    " Create a single plot showing how the maximum (`numpy.max()`),\n",
-    " minimum (`numpy.min()`), and mean (`numpy.mean()`) elevation changes with longitude. Label the axes and include a title for each of the  plots (Hint: use `axis=0`). Create a legend."
+    "Create a single plot showing how the maximum, minimum, and mean elevation changes with longitude.\n",
+    "Label the axes and include a title for each of the  plots (Hint: use `axis=0`). Create a legend."
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -302,11 +298,6 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
-    "import matplotlib.pyplot as plt\n",
-    "import numpy as np\n",
-    "\n",
-    "topo = np.loadtxt(\"data/topo.asc\", delimiter=\",\")\n",
-    "\n",
     "fig = plt.figure(figsize=(16.0, 3.0))\n",
     "\n",
     "axes1 = fig.add_subplot(1, 3, 1)\n",
@@ -336,9 +327,9 @@
    "cell_type": "markdown",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
-    "## Subplots of DEMs (Takehome) \n",
+    "## Subplots of DEMs (Take-home) \n",
     " \n",
-    "Make a 4x2 grid of subplots that use the function `imshow` to display each quarter of the dataset (ie. split down the middle in both x and y) in the left column. Plot corresponding profiles going from east to west in center of the image (cfr. Mid) in the right column.\n",
+    "Make a 4x2 grid of subplots that use the function `imshow` to display each quarter of the dataset (i.e., split down the middle in both x and y) in the left column. Plot corresponding profiles going from east to west in center of the image (cfr. Mid) in the right column.\n",
     "\n",
     "When plotting the DEMs (left column)\n",
     "* Don't label axes or add a colorbar. It can be tricky to do this with subplots.\n",
@@ -430,11 +421,19 @@
    ]
   },
   {
-   "cell_type": "code",
-   "execution_count": null,
+   "cell_type": "markdown",
    "metadata": {},
-   "outputs": [],
-   "source": []
+   "source": [
+    "Data visualization is key for understanding data and for communicating research results.\n",
+    "We intentionally do not focus on visualization in Ivy\n",
+    "because many others have done it already,\n",
+    "and have done it better.\n",
+    "A wonderful example is the [Matplotlib Examples](https://matplotlib.org/stable/gallery/index.html),\n",
+    "which holds a gallery of over 100 example visualizations.\n",
+    "A strategy for using it is to find a plot in the gallery similar to what you want,\n",
+    "then copying the code provided that generates the plot,\n",
+    "tailoring it to suit your needs."
+   ]
   }
  ],
  "metadata": {