how much of your paper should be taken up by quotes from outside sources?\na. less than 10 percent\nb…

Brief Explanations:

In academic writing, the focus should be on the writer's own analysis and synthesis. Quotes from outside sources are used to support the writer's ideas, not to dominate the paper. A general guideline is that quotes should be a small part of the paper. Options B (almost 90 percent) and C (at least 50 percent) have too high percentages as they would make the paper more of a compilation of others' words rather than the writer's work. Option D (close to zero percent) is too extreme as quotes do add value when used appropriately. Option A (less than 10 percent) is a reasonable guideline as it allows for some support from external sources while keeping the paper primarily the writer's own content.

Answer:

A. Less than 10 percent