One embodiment of the present application sets forth a method for playback of a sense-making operation. The method includes receiving first session data that includes a set of timeline steps. Each timeline step included in the set of timeline steps corresponds to a user action performed on a data set. The method further includes receiving a playback command to display a first sequence of timeline steps included in the set of timeline steps. The method further includes rendering a first graph for display based on at least one timeline step included in the first sequence of timeline steps.