BUSINESS DOCUMENT NOTES: RESEARCH REPORT
BUSINESS DOCUMENT NOTES: RESEARCH REPORT
DESCRIPTION – WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT USED?
MARGINS

All margins should be set to 1 inch
COMPONENTS (IN ORDER)
Title page
(optional)
Title
BUSINESS DOCUMENT NOTES: RESEARCH REPORT
Header
Body
Parenthetical
citations
Endnotes/
Footnotes
Works cited
Notes page
GUIDELINES FOR KEYING
Title page
(optional)

Center the title in the top third portion of the page

Double space the writer’s name and professor’s name in the and center
the two lines in the middle of the page

Center the date in the bottom third portion of the page

Include email address and phone number (optional)

Key the following at the top left margin of the first page in double space
mode
Title
Header


Writer’s name

Teacher/professor’s name

Course name
Formatted to include the writer’s last name followed by one space and
the page number in the .5 inch top right margin
BUSINESS DOCUMENT NOTES: RESEARCH REPORT
Body
Parenthetical
citations
Endnotes/
Footnotes
Works cited

Double-space all lines

Use a legible font size

Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks

Indent the first line of a paragraph .5” from the left margin

Use either italics or underlining for the titles of longer works and, only
when absolutely necessary, providing emphasis

Double space after the title line and center the title of the report

Key the title in Title Case, not in all capital letters

Double space between the title and the first line of the text

Keyed immediately following a quote or referenced source in the body
of a report

Includes the author’s name and page number as in this example:
(Lowery 45)

The complete reference is keyed in the works cited section of the report

Should be used only sparingly and for necessary clarifying commentary

Indicated by a superscript within the report body and keyed after any
punctuation in the reference to which it refers (with the exception of a
dash or hyphen)

Footnotes (notes that appear at the bottom of the page of the body of
the report) should be keyed in single space, first line indent format with
a double space separating each additional footnote

When endnotes/footnotes are used, they must be referenced
separately on a notes page

Used to accompany parenthetical citations

Keyed on separate page with the same margins as the report

Includes header (last name, page number)

Label the page Works Cited and center the title at the top 2” margin of
the page

Keyed in hanging indent format and double spaced

Listed in alpha order by author’s last name
BUSINESS DOCUMENT NOTES: RESEARCH REPORT
Notes page

List of resources and references when footnotes or endnotes are used

Keyed on separate page with the same margins as the report

Includes header (last name, page number)

Label the page Notes and center the title at the top 2” margin of the
page

Keyed in hanging indent format and double spaced

Listed in chronological order by superscript number
Report Vocabulary
Apply correct report format.
Term
Definition
Hanging indent
A temporary left margin that indents all lines but the first line of the text.
Reference list/
Works cited/
Bibliography
A list of all references used in a report. This allows the writer to give credit
to the author of the material used in the report.
Body
The main text of a personal letter, business letter, memo, email, or report.
Unbound report
Short reports that are prepared without binders or covers.
Double space
Pressing the enter key twice (2) leaving one blank line. This can also refer
to line spacing using the word processing feature to leave one blank line
between each line of text.
Side heading
Headings used to separate the report into sections.
Left bound
Longer reports prepared with binders. Left margin is wider (1.5”) to
accommodate binding along the left margin.
Top bound
Top margin is wider (1.5”) to accommodate binding along the top margin.
Title Page
The title page is the first page of a report. It gives the title of the report, the
name of the writer, the name of the school or class, and the date.