### Lesson Plan: Research and Citation Skills
#### Year Group: Year 9
#### Subject: English
#### Topic: Research and Citation Skills
#### Duration: 60 minutes
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**Learning Objectives:**
1. Understand the importance of research in academic writing.
2. Learn how to find credible sources.
3. Learn the basics of citing sources in MLA format.
4. Practice integrating citations into writing.
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**Materials Needed:**
- Whiteboard and markers
- Laptops/tablets with internet access
- Printed handouts on MLA citation format
- Example research articles
- Notebooks and pens
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**Lesson Outline:**
**1. Introduction to Research (10 minutes)**
- **Activity: Quick Brainstorming**
- Ask students to discuss in small groups what they think research is and why it is important.
- Share ideas with the class, summarizing key points on the whiteboard.
- **Mini-Lecture**
- Explain the significance of research in academic writing and real-world applications.
- Discuss the difference between primary and secondary sources.
**2. Finding Credible Sources (15 minutes)**
- **Activity: Source Evaluation Exercise**
- Provide students with different types of sources (e.g., news articles, academic papers, blogs).
- In small groups, ask them to evaluate the credibility of each source using a checklist (author's credentials, publication date, source bias, etc.).
- **Discussion**
- Review the group's evaluations and discuss what makes a source credible.
- Introduce them to reliable databases and websites for academic research.
**3. Introduction to MLA Citation (10 minutes)**
- **Mini-Lecture**
- Explain the basics of MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited entries.
- Highlight the importance of giving credit to original authors to avoid plagiarism.
- **Handout Review**
- Distribute handouts on MLA citation format.
- Walk through the handout, pointing out key components such as author names, titles, publication dates, etc.
**4. Practicing Citation Skills (20 minutes)**
- **Activity: Citation Practice**
- Provide students with a short article or excerpt.
- Ask students to practice writing in-text citations and creating a Works Cited entry for the article.
- **Integrating Citations into Writing**
- Discuss how to smoothly incorporate citations into their own writing.
- Have students write a short paragraph using the provided article, integrating at least one in-text citation.
**5. Conclusion and Review (5 minutes)**
- **Q&A Session**
- Allow time for students to ask questions and clarify any doubts about research and citation.
- **Summary**
- Recap the key points of the lesson.
- Encourage students to practice these skills in their upcoming assignments.
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**Assessment:**
- Observe students’ participation in group discussions and activities.
- Collect and review students’ citation practice work to check for understanding.
- Provide feedback on their integrated citations and suggest improvements if necessary.
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**Homework:**
- Assign students to choose a topic of interest and find three credible sources.
- Ask them to create MLA citations for each source and write a short summary that includes at least one in-text citation for each source.
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**Notes:**
- Adapt the pace of the lesson based on students’ prior knowledge and comfort with the topic.
- Be prepared with additional examples of sources and citations for varied practice.