The samples of narrative writing by bank tellers in Unusual Incident Reports show frequent use of indirect quotation. While direct quotation is more appropriate in some types of narratives, such language seems to be considered inappropriate for these official reports in the bank setting. To see the complete samples, click here.
Sample
|
Indirect Quotation |
| 1 | While I was calling the branch, the man said the company moved yesterday and did not have a connection on thephone. |
| 1 | I had asked the customer to have a seat, and I would wait on him A.S.A.P. |
| 1 | He said he had to go see about his car. |
| 2 | She said she did write the check. |
| 2 | I told her that I called out of concern because the signature on the check did not match the signature on file.... |
| 2 | She gave me the number 555-3434 for her other stores and asked me to call in about an hour.... |
| 3 | Suspect approached me and asked for a counter deposit slip. |
| 3 | I gave suspect the deposit slip and told suspect that I needed to go in the back room... |
| 3 | Tom told me to take the deposit items from suspect,..... |
| 3 | When I told suspect that I was calling the police, he turned and left the branch. |
| 4 | While I was processing transaction, suspect said he wanted small bills in a brown paper bag and that his ID was covered in plastic explosives. |
| 4 | ...., and the suspect asked for a bag again. |
| 4 | I told him I did not have a bag. |
| 4 | Suspect then raised his arms up and told me not to worry he was robbing me. |
| 4 | Suspect laughed and told me I had a good sense of humor. |
| 4 | Suspect said he had something in this head that made him say things like that. |
| 5 | ..., so I gave check and ID back and told him I could not cash the check. |
| 6 | I told him that the only way to make this transaction it was deposit the whole amount of the check and also we have to put a hold. |
| NOTE: While the grammar in the writing is authentic text, the names and account numbers have been changed for security reasons. | |
Module on Teaching Narrative Writing for Use by Bank Tellers in Writing Unusual Incident Reports