Unbound Reports

There are 2 types of reports unbound and bound reports.  This web page will discuss the Unbound Report.

Unbound Reports
Unbound Reports are short reports often prepared without covers or binders.  If more than one page is in the report, it is fastened together with a staple or paperclip.

Standard Margins for Unbound Reports

Formatting & Spacing the Unbound Report
Report Title:  Should begin at the 2 inch top margin mark.  After the report title, one should QS (quad space or hit the return 4 times) to begin the body of the report.

Note: If the report title contains more than one line, then the lines in the title should be double spaced.

Side headings: If the report contains sub-headings or side headings within it, then a DS (double space) should be placed above and below the side heading.
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Example of Side Headings:
                                  The Internet  (a report title)

Benefits of the Internet    (a side heading)
There are many benefits to the internet.  One of the benefits is that it is a great research tool.
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Body of report:  The body of the report may be SS (single-spaced) or DS (double spaced), however DS is preferred. 

Between paragraphs: A DS (double space) should be left between the paragraphs.

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Citing References or Textual Citations
within an Unbound Report

Textual citations are references used to give credit for quoted or paraphrased material.  They are typed in parentheses in the report body.

Textual citations from a book or magazine include the the following:
a) Name of the author(s)
b) Year of publication
c) Page number(s) of the reference material
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Example of a textual citation within a report:
It has been said that the Internet is rapidly replacing the library (Ortiz, "Surf The Net," 2000) (a textual citation within a report)

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If the reference is an electronic reference from the Internet, it should include the following:
a)  The name(s) of the author(s)
b) Year of publication

Quotations from a book, magazine, or internet
** If the report uses up to 3 lines from a book, magazine, or internet, then it should be enclosed in quotation marks.

** If the report uses long quotations (four {4} lines or more, then the lines are left indented by .5 inches from the left margin.

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Reference List

A listing of all the references used within a report are listed under the heading(s): REFERENCES (or BIBLIOGRAPHY or WORKS CITED)

Formatting for the Reference List
** Typed on the last page of the report under the body of the report
a) A QS (quad space) is left between the body of the report and the Reference List.
b) The title (REFERENCES) should be in ALL CAPS
c) References should be listed alphabetically by authors' last names.
d) Each reference should be SS (single spaced) with DS (double space) in between.
e) The first line of the reference begins at the left margin, but all other lines below it indent at .5 inches. (Hanging indent)

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Example of a reference list

thus the Internet has served us well over the past few years. (last sentence of the report text)

REFERENCES

Adkins, Stephanie.  "Are You Surfin."  www.surfin.com
    (24 September 2000).

Beldon, Thomas.  "The Internet." (24 August 1999).

(Note: If the reference list appears on a separate page from the report text, then the same margins for the first page of a report should be used.)