How can source citations be included in a narrative report?

Including source citations in a narrative report through footnotes is a well-established practice that helps maintain the flow of the text while providing necessary references for the reader. Footnotes allow the author to insert a citation at specific points throughout the report, which can offer additional information, context, or references without interrupting the main narrative. This method is particularly useful in academic and formal writing, where verification of sources is crucial for the credibility of the report.

The other methods of citing sources, such as citing in the margins, including citations in the appendix, or listing sources at the end of the report, may be useful in certain contexts but do not provide the same immediacy and accessibility as footnotes. Marginal citations can be distracting and may not be easily seen by all readers, appendices can separate data from the main narrative, and end-of-report listings require readers to navigate away from the text to verify sources. Thus, footnotes strike a balance between thorough citation and the readability of the narrative.