Describe how quotations from witnesses should be incorporated into the narrative, and what formatting considerations apply?

• A. Paraphrase all quotes; no attribution.
• B. Use exact wording for quotes, attribute to speaker, provide context, use quotation marks, and indicate edits with brackets.
• C. Use quotes but without attribution; edit freely.
• D. Only summarize quotes without direct quotes.

Answer: (B)

Incorporating witness quotations in a narrative hinges on preserving accuracy, clarity, and credibility. The best approach is to use exact wording for quotes, attribute them to the speaker, provide enough context to show when and why the statement was made, use quotation marks to set off the direct speech, and indicate any edits with brackets. This combination ensures the quotation reflects the witness’s actual words while making the passage understandable and transparent to the reader.

Exact wording protects the meaning and nuance of what the witness said, preventing misinterpretation that can arise from paraphrase. Attribution identifies who spoke, which matters for credibility and relevance to the case. Providing context situates the quote within the timeline of events and helps readers grasp its significance. Quotation marks clearly distinguish the spoken words from the narrative, reducing confusion. Bracketed edits show where you inserted words for grammar or clarity, without altering the witness’s substance, maintaining transparency about any changes made.

Other approaches—paraphrasing all quotes, or quoting without attribution, or quoting without context—undermine accuracy, credibility, and usefulness of the report, which is why they are not appropriate.