How to properly cite sources in MLA format is an important skill that students in Grades 5 through 8, including Multilingual Learners of English (MLEs), need to learn, especially as they begin to do more complex research and writing assignments. Below are 5 reasons why teaching MLA format will benefit your students. Then I’ll link to a resource that teaches students how to write bibliographic citations in MLA format for a variety of genres
5 Reasons for Teaching MLA Format to Students
1) It’s the basis for academic writing
Knowing how to properly write citations is an essential piece of academic writing. MLA format is what’s most commonly used in middle and high school (in the U.S. anyway). Teaching how to write citations correctly gives students the foundation they need to be successful writers during the time they’re in school.
2) It Establishes Trust
Writing citations correctly is essential to establishing trust between a writer and their audience. When readers see sources cited, they know the writer respects intellectual property and isn’t plagiarizing. It’s particularly important for all students to understand the dangers and pitfalls of plagiarism and MLEs from different writing cultures need to be explicitly taught why plagiarism is unacceptable in the U.S.
3) It Develops Research Skills
Learning how to cite the sources they use helps students learn to assess the information they find. They learn how to locate resources appropriate for their writing task and how to integrate the material into their writing. In doing that, students also practice critical thinking skills.
4) It Fosters Attention to Detail
Every genre has a particular way of writing its citations. Teaching students how to write citations in MLA format can be tricky because although they all include the same basic information, how to write them correctly depends on the genres. Giving students exposure to a wide variety of citations helps prepare them for future writing assignments.
5) It Helps MLEs Improve their Writing
By following MLA format for correctly writing citations, MLEs as well as other student develop their writing skills in general. Properly citing their sources gives students practice in summarizing and paraphrasing, both of which are important skills for communicating ideas clearly.
Resource for Teaching MLA Format
This product uses task cards to teach students how to write bibliographies correctly in MLA format. Each task card includes the essential info for 1 resource but it’s out of order — the task for students is to put the info in the MLA format. Task cards for 11 different genres are included and all the resources are real; that is, the info on each task card is about an actual resource that is suitable for middle school students. Many of the resources I used when I was teaching writing to my students.
The task cards have color coded borders to make organizing them easier and include a code in a corner to help you quickly identify the genre. Pages that present how to write the citation for each type of genre are included for your reference. In addition, an answer sheet for students if provided. The task cards come in both print and digital versions for your teaching convenience.
Here’s what Safeera said about this resource, “This is a perfect resource for the students to learn citation skills and the students really enjoyed it and learned very much with this resource. Thanks for the resource.”
Writing citations in MLA format is something students will do many times while they are in school. This resource teaches them learn how to do it correctly and helps them become successful writers.
