Language Arts Lesson -- "Parenthetical Citation"

Language Arts Lesson -- "Parenthetical Citation"

By Mary Pat Mahoney

Just Add Students

Research can and should be interesting and exciting, but students are often burdened by the technical aspects of citing sources. 

They often struggle with taking notes, using quotes, summarizing information, and citing sources. Add the issue of plagiarism into the mix, and you’re likely to have a confused group of students who can easily forget the joy of research!

This lesson is designed to give students practice creating parenthetical citations using the MLA format. 

In this lesson, students will:

• define plagiarism and determine how to identify and avoid it
• understand what parenthetical citation is
• understand when to use ellipsis and brackets when quoting materials
• practice citing sources with the correct parenthetical citations for direct quotes and 
summaries
• practice using parenthetical citation for a variety of reference sources – including web and print resources
• practice introducing quotes 
• assess samples for plagiarism and correct formatting
• determine important quotes from an article
• summarize two articles and check for plagiarism
• collaborate with peers in evaluating summaries
• create an original paragraph using summarized material
• create an original paragraph using quotes 
• self-assess competency in this unit of study

All “reference materials” used in this lesson are original fictional articles, quotes, and persons that I have invented. 

The skills in this unit are taught using the Seventh Edition of the MLA. 

Daily lesson plans, Answer key, and Rubric included

Please visit my Teachers Pay Teachers page:  Just Add Students and blog

Animal Research Project

Get it HERE

Watch this video link for a detailed explanation of this EXCELLENT resource

Link Text Description

Grades 1 or 2 Animal Research Resource Packet
Buy this 35 page document (including clickable links) detailing a new approach to animal research. The MISO method will help students discover a variety of ways to collect information about their animal. Students will use Media, Interviews, Surveys, and Observations to go beyond just regurgitating information they learned about their animal in a book. Included are tech integration ideas for the research phase and tech integration ideas for developing a finished project detailing their research.

This is all the 'leg work' on putting together a multi-dimensional research project that perfectly integrates technology

Writing Information Reports - ESL & Grades 4-6

Information Report Writing Pack. This unit is a collection of lesson materials to help support and deliver lessons to teach report writing to students who have possibly never encountered report writing before.

 

It includes:

- What is an information report? (activity & guide for class activities and discussion).
- The structure of an information report.
- Visual elements in an information report.
- Glossary / bibiliography writing.
- Sample information report from the National Geographic web.
- Formal language used in reports. (passive voice, limited use of pronouns etc.)
- Report writing tips poster.
- Whole class / pair research activity with information provided.
- Brain storming sheet.
- KWL chart.
- Drafting a report.
- Editing your draft of the report.
- Checklist / pair checklist for editing.
- Information report assessment with rubric. 

You can see this unit HERE.

 Check out TPT The Sea of Knowledge Store, TPT ESL World, or The Sea of Knowledge Blog for more.

Thank you for reading!
Yara

Writing Information Reports Grades 3-5 or ESL

This year, my students were having so much trouble grasping the concept of information reports. While it isn't the most exciting topic, I put together a pack which includes group work and step by step instructions on how to write information reports.

It includes:

- What is an information report? (activity & guide for class activities and discussion).
- The structure of an information report.
- Visual elements in an information report.
- Glossary / bibiliography writing.
- Sample information report from the National Geographic web.
- Formal language used in reports. (passive voice, limited use of pronouns etc.)
- Report writing tips poster.
- Whole class / pair research activity with information provided.
- Brain storming sheet.
- KWL chart.
- Drafting a report.
- Editing your draft of the report.
- Checklist / pair checklist for editing.
- Information report assessment with rubric.

 Check out TPT The Sea of Knowledge Store, TPT ESL World, or The Sea of Knowledge Blog for more.

Thank you for reading!
Yara