Steph3310,
Or get a data logger shield that records the data you gather from the accelerometer to an sd card. Then you can just download the data to a spread sheet and analyze it, plot it etc...
Here is such a shield Adafruit Assembled Data Logging shield for Arduino : ID 1141 : $13.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits
Good Luck!