Drawing 3-D graphs

[JinXi]

So here lies my problem. I can't draw 3-D graphs for my life. I can visualize them well enough, and describe the graph in words, but when I have to draw them, the graph looks horrendous.... I can't even draw ellipsoids, cones and other simple shapes properly

I've tried using using contours/level curves before attempting a 3-D graph but it doesn't help. I should go and take up an arts class.... luckily the lecturer said we won't be required to draw too many 3-D graphs (MATLAB FTW)

Anyone experiencing this situation? Maybe I should start drawing random 3-D stuff more 

[Mao]

So here lies my problem. I can't draw 3-D graphs for my life. I can visualize them well enough, and describe the graph in words, but when I have to draw them, the graph looks horrendous.... I can't even draw ellipsoids, cones and other simple shapes properly

I've tried using using contours/level curves before attempting a 3-D graph but it doesn't help. I should go and take up an arts class.... luckily the lecturer said we won't be required to draw too many 3-D graphs (MATLAB FTW)

Anyone experiencing this situation? Maybe I should start drawing random 3-D stuff more 

This is for MTH2010 right? You don't need to know how to draw 3D objects (much.)

The trivial ones include planes (i.e. the triangular area formed between your plane and the coordinate planes), boxes, maybe spheres.

Spheres/ellipsoids: http://hippie.nu/~unicorn/tut/img/basics/sketching/spheres-1.jpeg (i.e. you need an outline, one longitudinal line and one latitudinal line to give it perspective)
Cone: http://www.abcteach.com/free/c/conebnw.jpg

Beyond this, you don't need it. Us non-Da Vinci part of the population can do scientific work using software. It's great. You don't need to worry about having to manually illustrate saddle points/hyperboloids/paraboloids/3D waves/etc.

[TrueTears]

If it is for MTH2010, then just a tip, for the exam I remember I had to sketch at least three 3-D graphs (well i think for one of them you didnt have to sketch the graph, but the question would be very hard to do without...)

[Gloamglozer]

Looking at the Monash handbook, MTH2010 is pretty much the equivalent of MAST20009 Vector Calculus at UoM.

Basically, we just needed to know how to draw spheres, paraboloids and cones.  And of course their translations and stuff like that.  That was pretty much it.