MLA Format for In-Text Citations
MLA Format for In-Text Citations
Introduction
When conducting research or completing a research assignment, students need to understand the basics of attributing resources. This mini-lesson will help teach students the basics of creating in-text citations in MLA format.
Lesson Goals
- Students will be able to create an in-text citation with the author's last name if not in the signal phrase and include the page # if it is a print source.
- Students will be able to correctly punctuate the citation with quotations, parenthesis, and period
Teaching Resources
- MLA Format In-Text Citations (presentation)
- MLA Format for In-Text Citations (handout)
Lesson Directions
- Teach students a mini-lesson using the presentation linked above. Provide students with electronic access to the handout for quick access later.
- Together as a class, or working in small groups, project for students a variety of websites and database articles, one at a time, and have them decide what they would put in the in-text citation. Lead them through these discussions.
- Pull one quotation from at least one of these sources and together or in groups quote the sentence and write a correct in-text citation.
- Finally, for independent practice, have students use a resource from their own research and write a sentence that quotes the information and provides a correct citation.
- Use the rubric below for assessment or peer assessment.
Rubric for Assessment
😁 | 😐 | 😞 | |
In-text Citation and Punctuation | Correctly and accurately creates an in-text citations following all rules: if the author’s name is in the sentence, it is not in the citation, uses a title if no author available, uses page numbers for a book source; placed quotations marks (if needed), period or question mark and parenthesis in the correct place, title formatted correctly if necessary | Has 1 error in the following: Correctly creates an in-text citations following the rules: if the author’s name is in the sentence, it is not in the citation, uses a title if no author available, uses page numbers for a book source; 1 error in the following: placed quotations marks (if needed), period or question mark and parenthesis in the correct place, title formatted correctly if necessary | Has 2 or more errors in the following: Creates an in-text citations following the rules: if the author’s name is in the sentence, it is not in the citation, uses a title if no author available, uses page numbers for a book source; 2 or more errors in the following: placed quotations marks (if needed), period or question mark and parenthesis in the correct place, title formatted correctly if necessary |