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Business Communications >Unit 04 >Chapter 10 >Documenting Information

Documenting Information

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Author: Ryan Smith

Whether you are collecting data from secondary or primary sources, the data must be documented. To avoid plagiarism, always cite your sources even when you are paraphrasing.

You should in order to document data properly.

View Explanation

Instruct readers by citing references. This helps them pursue topics further and make use of the information.

Whenever you use  , you must give credit.

View Explanation

Avoid plagiarism by giving credit when using another person's words, ideas, opinions, examples, or theories.

Good research habits are critical to generating accurate, well-documented reports.

Which of the following is a purpose for documentation of report data? Check all that apply.

  • To convince readers of your credibility and the logic or your reasoning
  • To borrow ideas without giving credit
  • To include good data from reputable sources
  • To keep you honest

View Explanation

Documenting report data properly ensures that you convince readers of your credibility and the logic of your reasoning. It also keeps you honest by acknowledging and giving credit to your sources.

Read the scenario, and answer the question.

Crystal wants to use direct quotations in her report.

When is it appropriate for her to use them?

  • When she wants to summarize or paraphrase
  • When she needs to fill half a page with information
  • When she needs to use someone else's words to provide objective background data

View Explanation

It is appropriate to include quotations when a writer needs to provide objective background data and establish the severity of a problem as seen by experts. Use direct quotes wisely. A report that contains pages of spliced-together quotations will give your readers the impression that you have few ideas of your own.

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