Research & Citation Skills

Overview

In this lesson, students will learn how to create citations and bibliographies using MLA format in a fun, interactive way. The lesson involves individual work, partner collaboration, and a group activity, and aligns with US curriculum standards for 9th-grade technology and literacy skills.

Curriculum Standards

• ISTE Standards for Students: 3d - Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions.

• Common Core State Standards - ELA-Literacy: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.8 - Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation (e.g., MLA or APA).

Lesson Objectives

• Understand the importance of citations in academic work.
• Learn how to format citations and bibliographies using MLA style.
• Collaborate with peers to enhance learning and problem-solving skills.

Materials Needed

• A sample document (provided by the teacher) for citation practice.
• Computers or tablets with internet access.
• Access to citation tools such as Citation Machine or EasyBib (no hyperlinks to be included).
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Printed handouts of MLA citation guidelines.

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Teacher-Led Discussion

• Begin with a brief discussion on the significance of citations in academic work. Ask students questions like, "Why do we need to give credit to authors?" and "What might happen if we don't?"
• Explain the basic elements of an MLA citation and the difference between in-text citations and a bibliography.

2. Individual Activity (10 minutes)

Creating Individual Citations

• Distribute the sample document to each student.
• Ask students to individually identify and write down at least three pieces of information from the document they think need to be cited.
• Provide guiding questions to help them differentiate what constitutes common knowledge versus unique ideas or direct quotes.

3. Partner Activity (15 minutes)

Citation Formatting Exercise

• Pair up the students and provide each pair with access to computers or tablets.
• Instruct pairs to use citation tools to format the citations they identified individually.
• Encourage them to compare their citations with MLA guidelines from the provided handouts, discussing any discrepancies with their partner.
• Ask each pair to create a mini-bibliography with their citations.

4. Group Activity (10 minutes)

Citation Culmination

• Divide the class into two larger groups.
• Have each group combine the bibliographies created by their pairs, ensuring no duplicate entries and that all entries adhere to MLA format.
• Encourage students to discuss challenges and discoveries they made during the citation process.

5. Conclusion (5 minutes)

Reflection and Sharing

• Invite each group to present their bibliography on the whiteboard.
• Facilitate a class discussion on key takeaways about creating citations, the challenges faced, and the importance of digital tools in simplifying the process.
• End with a reflective question: "How might these skills assist you in real-life scenarios outside of school?"

Assessment

• Observation of students' ability to identify appropriate citation information.
• Evaluation of pair bibliographies for correct MLA formatting.
• Participation in group discussions and activities.

Homework

• Assign students a short research task where they must find three sources on a given topic and create a properly formatted MLA bibliography.

This innovative and structured lesson plan aims to engage students with hands-on learning while developing essential skills in research and citation that are critical for academic success.