Day 36: MLA Works Cited and Simple Past Tense Quiz
Instill academic integrity through meticulous research formatting. In Day 36 of the Grade 9 English course, students dive into an MLA Works Cited Lesson Plan designed to simplify the citation process. Following a quick grammar checkpoint via a simple past tense quiz, students master the core elements of bibliography layout, including alphabetization, citation components, and the structural application of hanging indents.
75 Minutes | Key Concepts: Academic Integrity, MLA Works Cited, Hanging Indent, Source Attribution, Simple Past Tense
Learning Goals and Standards
Students will:
- Understand the purpose of a Works Cited page in academic writing
- Learn how to create MLA citations for common sources
- Recognize the connection between in-text citations and Works Cited entries
- Apply MLA formatting conventions to a Works Cited page
- Organize sources alphabetically and use proper hanging indents
- Create a Works Cited page for their opinion essay using the sources they have referenced
- Demonstrate academic honesty by properly crediting information and ideas from others
A Works Cited page should appear on a separate page at the end of a paper, include all cited sources, use double spacing, and organize entries alphabetically with hanging indents.
Ontario Curriculum Connections (ENL1W)
- C2.2 Text Patterns and Features — use appropriate formatting and citation conventions
- C3.1 Producing Drafts — apply writing strategies and academic conventions
- C3.2 Revising and Editing — improve the accuracy and presentation of written work
- C3.3 Publishing, Presenting, and Reflecting — prepare final drafts using accepted formatting standards
- A3.2 Critical Thinking — evaluate sources and incorporate evidence responsibly
Common Core (Grades 9–10)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.8 — gather relevant information from multiple sources and follow a standard citation format
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.4 — produce clear and coherent writing appropriate to task and audience
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.5 — strengthen writing through revision and editing
IB Language & Literature (ATL Skills)
- Research skills through source documentation
- Communication skills through academic writing
- Self-management through attention to detail and organization
Cambridge IGCSE English
- Use sources responsibly and accurately
- Present academic work using accepted conventions
- Demonstrate understanding of research practices
OECD Global Competence Framework
- Use information ethically and responsibly
- Communicate accurately in academic settings
- Develop research and information-literacy skills
Resources
- Simple Past Tense Quiz
- Simple Past Tense Answer Key
- MLA Citations Note
- MLA Handbook
- Works Cited Worksheet
- Creating a Works Cited in Google Docs Tutorial
Bell Ringer
Ask students:
Imagine you spend hours creating a video, story, or piece of artwork. How would you feel if someone copied it and claimed it was their own?
Then follow with:
Why do schools require students to cite their sources?
This discussion helps students understand that citations are about giving credit, building credibility, and showing where information came from.
Lesson Flow
1. Complete the Simple Past Tense Quiz
Have students complete the simple past tense quiz independently. Review common mistakes afterward and clarify any concepts students found challenging.
2. MLA Works Cited Lesson
Review the citations note with students and discuss the purpose of citing sources. Introduce MLA in-text citations and Works Cited pages, then distribute or share copies of the MLA Works Cited Handbook. Walk students through the formatting expectations and provide examples of both in-text citations and Works Cited entries.
3. Complete the MLA Works Cited Worksheet
Students practice creating MLA in-citations using sample sources. Encourage them to refer to the handbook as they work and discuss any questions that arise.
4. Complete the Works Cited Worksheet
Students create MLA Works Cited entries for a variety of sources. Remind them to pay attention to punctuation, capitalization, alphabetical order, and hanging indents.
5. Google Docs Citation Tutorial (Optional)
If students will be creating citations using Google Docs, show the YouTube tutorial or demonstrate the process yourself. Review how to insert citations and generate a Works Cited page using Google Docs tools.
6. Continue Essay Rough Drafts
If time permits, have students continue working on their essay rough drafts. Encourage them to begin gathering their sources at the end of their document following MLA guidelines. This preparation will make it much easier to add in-text citations and complete their Works Cited page in future lessons.
First-Hand Suggestions for the MLA Works Cited Lesson
Students often view the Works Cited page as something they add at the very end of an assignment, but I’ve found that keeping track of sources throughout the writing process makes everything much easier. When students build their citations as they research and write, they make fewer mistakes, save time, and develop stronger habits for future academic work. Understanding the purpose behind citations is often more important than memorizing the format itself.
Differentiation
Support Strategies
- Provide a Works Cited template students can follow
- Use colour-coded examples showing each part of a citation
- Model the creation of citations step-by-step
- Provide a checklist for formatting requirements:
- alphabetical order
- double spacing
- hanging indent
- correct source information
- Allow students to practice with one source type before moving to multiple sources
Support for English Language Learners
Pre-teach key vocabulary:
- citation
- source
- author
- publisher
- bibliography
- Works Cited
Helpful sentence starters:
- “The author of this source is…”
- “This information came from…”
- “The citation should include…”
Alternative Demonstration Options
Students may:
- complete partially scaffolded citations
- match citation components to their labels
- work with a partner to construct citations
- use citation generators before checking formatting manually
Extension Opportunities
Students ready for enrichment can:
- create citations for multiple source types (books, websites, articles, videos)
- identify and correct citation errors in sample Works Cited pages
- explore MLA in-text citations and how they connect to the Works Cited page
- create a reference guide for classmates
- practice citing less common source types using MLA guidelines
Proper MLA Works Cited pages require all cited sources to be listed alphabetically, double-spaced, and formatted with hanging indents on a separate page.
MLA Works Cited FAQ
What is an MLA Works Cited page? An MLA Works Cited page is a dedicated bibliography section at the very end of an academic paper that lists all secondary sources referenced, quoted, or paraphrased within the body of the essay.
How do you format a hanging indent in Google Docs? Highlight the citation text, navigate to Format -> Align & Indent -> Indentation options. Under Special Indent, select ‘Hanging’ from the dropdown menu, set it to 0.5 inches, and click Apply.
Why is the simple past tense quiz relevant to essay drafting? The simple past tense is required when providing contextual historical information about an author’s life or background environment, making it a critical grammatical skill to stabilize alongside text analysis.
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