Ok I really should be doing my PR essay now instead, but as you can see, it's afternoon and I have really no inspiration and motivation to churn out my work. Last minute work always brings out the best in me. At least, that's what I'd like to believe.
But that's another story. Today I'd like to say why I like to take quotes from various sources such as books and magazine articles. I know that a lot of people think it's a hassle and hate to reference. But I beg to differ. There're so many good things about referencing that I don't even know where to start.
1. It makes your essay look more professional. If you say something like "I think PR is very important in today's society" compared to "Adah Slaniod, one of the founding fathers of PR, claimed that 'PR is essential in today's business world' (Slanoid, 1975)". Which one looks more credible to you? I would definitely say the latter. The more quotes and references you have, the more books you (seemed) to have read, and the more credible the essay will be.
2. Eliminates the need to think and analyse so much. Sometimes when I'm really brain dead from all that dry readings and material, I just throw in a block quote or two, and leave the lecturer to decide for himself what the block quote means. Just throw in a simple 'So what does this tell us? The author will leave the reader to decide for himself' after the quote. It makes you look unbiased and professional in letting the reader reach his own conclusions, but actually you're just lazy.
3. Saves your time and effort. It's legalized copying! Basically you're copying someone else's work (saves your time), and adding credibility to your essay at the same time!
4.More words! Adding in citations, references etc sometimes will add to that dreaded word limit that a lot of people have trouble getting to.
Yes the bibliographies are a bitch to fill in. But hey, that's a small price to pay for all that copying you're doing, no?
Labels: PR, quotes, referencing
edwardsam
10/10/2007 02:06:00 PM
