Subject: Please explain Rate Law and how to determine the order of achemical reactio

     In my Chem 2 class we are studying chemical kinetics and 
Rate Laws and the order of chemical reactions confuse me.  What 
exactly is an "order", does it have an actual value? And by 
looking at a series of data ( concentration vs. time) is there 
and easy way to determine if the rate of the reaction is zero, 
first, second or other?  Whithout actually plotting the figures, 
that is.  Thank you in advance for your time and thorough 
explanation. 

Re: Please explain Rate Law and how to determine the order of achemical reactio