{
let full_width = plot_size+topics_size+margin.left+margin.right
let full_height = plot_size+topics_size+margin.top+margin.bottom
let svg_elem = d3.create('svg')
.attr('width', full_width)
.attr('height', full_height)
let main_group = svg_elem.append('g').attr('transform', 'translate('+margin.left+','+margin.top+')')
let scatterplot_group = main_group.append('g').attr('transform', 'translate('+(0)+','+(topics_size)+')')
let top_axis_group = main_group.append('g').attr('transform', 'translate('+(0)+','+(topics_size-bar_size)+')')
let right_axis_group = main_group.append('g').attr('transform', 'translate('+(plot_size)+','+(topics_size)+')')
return svg_elem.node()
}