Day 37: MLA In-Text Citations and Linking Verbs Lesson Plan
Demystify source attribution to protect academic integrity. In Day 37 of the Grade 9 English course, students dive into an MLA In-Text Citations Lesson Plan that targets parenthetical formatting. After a quick grammar refresher on linking verbs to improve sentence clarity, students learn how to properly format author-page style citations in their essays before utilizing the remaining class time to finalize and polish their rough drafts.
75 Minutes | Key Concepts: Parenthetical Citations, MLA Style, Linking Verbs, Academic Integrity, Rough Draft Editing
Learning Goals and Standards
Students will:
- Understand the purpose of MLA in-text citations in academic writing
- Learn how to correctly cite quotations, paraphrases, and borrowed ideas within a paper
- Recognize the connection between in-text citations and the Works Cited page
- Apply MLA citation rules to a variety of source types
- Incorporate evidence into their essays while maintaining academic honesty
- Add appropriate in-text citations to their opinion essay rough drafts
Ontario Curriculum Connections (ENL1W)
- C2.2 Text Patterns and Features — use appropriate citation conventions when incorporating evidence
- C3.1 Producing Drafts — integrate evidence and supporting details into written work
- C3.2 Revising and Editing — improve accuracy and correctness of written communication
- C3.3 Publishing, Presenting, and Reflecting — prepare writing according to accepted academic standards
- A3.2 Critical Thinking — evaluate and use information from sources responsibly
Common Core (Grades 9–10)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.8 — gather information from multiple sources and follow a standard citation format
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1 — support claims using evidence and reasoning
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.4 — produce clear and coherent writing appropriate to task and audience
IB Language & Literature (ATL Skills)
- Research skills through source documentation
- Communication skills through evidence-based writing
- Self-management through attention to academic conventions
Cambridge IGCSE English
- Use evidence responsibly and accurately
- Integrate quotations effectively into writing
- Demonstrate understanding of academic integrity
OECD Global Competence Framework
- Use information ethically and responsibly
- Communicate accurately using evidence
- Develop research and information-literacy skills
Resources
Bell Ringer for MLA In-Text Citations
Display the following sentence:
Social media can negatively affect sleep habits among teenagers.
Ask students:
If you found this information in an article and used it in your essay, how would your teacher know where it came from?
Follow with:
What is the difference between quoting someone directly and putting an idea into your own words?
This discussion naturally introduces the purpose of in-text citations and academic honesty.
Lesson Flow
1. Linking Verbs Lesson
Start class by revisiting linking verbs, which connect the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it. These verbs—like is, seem, become, appear—don’t show action but instead help define relationships between ideas. Students often underestimate how much power a well-placed linking verb has in making their writing sound more polished and logical.
Encourage students to identify linking verbs in sample sentences and rewrite awkward ones for smoother flow. This quick review primes them for precision and clarity—skills they’ll need for their upcoming essay work. Here is the full Linking Verbs Lesson.
2. MLA In-Text Citations
Now that students are deep into their essays, it’s time to make sure they know how to credit their sources properly. Today’s focus is MLA in-text citations—a crucial part of academic writing that ensures students avoid plagiarism and strengthen the credibility of their arguments.
Explain that in-text citations appear directly in the essay whenever a source is quoted, paraphrased, or referenced. For example:
(Smith 42)
Emphasize that the author’s last name and page number go inside the parentheses, without commas or abbreviations. If there’s no author, use the title instead. If there’s no page number, omit it.
Students can practice this skill using your provided worksheet or citation exercises. Encourage them to revisit their rough drafts and check every instance of borrowed information to confirm proper citation formatting.
3. Finish Rough Drafts
With the remaining class time, students should work on finalizing their rough drafts. Encourage them to review their essays for proper MLA formatting, ensure all sources are cited both in-text and on their Works Cited page, and check for smooth transitions between ideas.
You might circulate around the room, offering quick feedback on students’ in-text citations or helping them locate missing source details. Remind them: good writing isn’t just about ideas—it’s about giving credit where it’s due.
First-Hand Suggestions
Students usually understand the idea of giving credit, but they often struggle to remember when citations are actually required. I’ve found that focusing on a simple rule helps: if the idea came from somewhere else, cite it. Once students understand that citations protect both the original author and themselves as writers, the formatting rules become much easier to learn and apply.
Differentiation
Support Strategies
- Provide citation templates for common source types
- Use colour-coded examples showing quotations, signal phrases, and citations
- Model several examples before independent practice
- Provide a checklist students can follow when adding citations
- Allow students to work with a partner during practice activities
Support for English Language Learners
Pre-teach key vocabulary:
- citation
- quotation
- paraphrase
- source
- evidence
- plagiarism
Helpful sentence starters:
- “According to the author…”
- “The article states…”
- “The author explains that…”
- “This evidence suggests…”
Alternative Demonstration Options
Students may:
- verbally explain where a citation belongs
- highlight evidence and citations using different colours
- complete partially scaffolded citation activities
- work from templates before creating citations independently
Extension Opportunities
Students ready for enrichment can:
- practice citing multiple source types
- integrate quotations smoothly using signal phrases
- identify and correct citation errors in sample paragraphs
- evaluate when paraphrasing is more effective than direct quotation
- assist peers in reviewing citation accuracy
MLA In-Text Citations FAQ
What goes inside an MLA in-text citation? An MLA in-text citation typically includes the author’s last name and the specific page number where the information was found, enclosed in parentheses without any intervening punctuation, such as (Smith 42).
Where does the period go when using an in-text citation? The period that ends the sentence always goes outside the closing parenthesis of the in-text citation, not inside the quotation marks.
Why are linking verbs important for essay writing? Linking verbs connect a subject to a descriptive state or identity. Reviewing them helps students identify passive or awkward phrasing in their rough drafts, leading to cleaner structural balance and stronger analytical arguments.