MLA Format for In-Text Citations

MLA Format for In-Text Citations

Introduction

When conducting culturally relevant research or completing a culturally relevant 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

Lesson Directions

  1. Teach students a mini-lesson using the presentation linked above. Provide students with electronic access to the handout for quick access later.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Use the rubric below for assessment or peer assessment.

Rubric for Assessment



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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 error in the following: placed quotations marks (if needed), period or question mark and parenthesis in the correct place, title formatted correctly if necessary


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