**Lesson Plan: Research and Citation Skills**
**Grade Level:** 8th Grade
**Subject:** Language Arts
**Duration:** 2 class periods (50 minutes each)
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**Objective:**
By the end of the lesson, students will:
1. Understand the importance of proper research and citation.
2. Identify credible sources.
3. Use MLA citation format to cite sources.
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### Day 1: Introduction to Research and Citation
**Materials:**
- Whiteboard and markers
- Computers/tablets with internet access
- Projector and screen
- Handouts on credible vs. non-credible sources
**Activity 1: Hook (10 minutes)**
- **Teacher:** Show a short video clip (3-5 minutes) that explains why citing sources is important (e.g., preventing plagiarism, giving credit to original authors, helping readers find additional information).
- **Discussion:** Briefly discuss the video and ask students why they think proper citation is necessary.
**Activity 2: Presentation (15 minutes)**
- **Teacher:** Present a mini-lecture on the following topics:
- Definition of a credible source.
- How to evaluate the credibility of a source (considering author qualifications, publication date, publisher, and the presence of citations).
- Brief introduction to different types of sources (books, journal articles, websites).
**Activity 3: Hands-On Practice (20 minutes)**
- **Group Work:** Divide students into small groups and provide them with handouts listing different sources. Some sources should be credible and others not.
- **Task:** Have each group evaluate the credibility of the sources using the criteria discussed.
- **Share:** Each group will share their findings with the class.
**Wrap-Up (5 minutes)**
- **Teacher:** Recap the key points about credible sources and why evaluating them is important. Provide a brief overview of what will be covered in the next lesson.
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### Day 2: MLA Citation Rules and Application
**Materials:**
- Computers/tablets with internet access
- Sample MLA citation handouts
- Example citation templates (digital or printed)
- Whiteboard and markers
**Activity 1: Review (5 minutes)**
- **Teacher:** Briefly review the importance of credible sources and ask students to recall some criteria for evaluating sources.
**Activity 2: Direct Instruction (15 minutes)**
- **Teacher:** Introduce MLA format.
- Explain the basic format for citing books, journal articles, and websites.
- Show examples of in-text citations and works cited entries.
- Provide students with a handout or digital file containing MLA guidelines.
**Activity 3: Guided Practice (20 minutes)**
- **Individual Work:** Ask students to choose a topic of interest and find at least three credible sources.
- **Task:** Using the MLA guidelines provided, have students create a 'Works Cited' page for the sources they found.
- **Teacher Support:** Move around the classroom to assist students and provide feedback as needed.
**Activity 4: Peer Review (5 minutes)**
- **Pair Work:** Students exchange their 'Works Cited' pages with a partner for review. They check each other's work for accuracy according to MLA guidelines.
**Wrap-Up and Homework (5 minutes)**
- **Teacher:** Recap the importance of proper citation and address any questions.
- **Homework:** Assign students to write a short paragraph on a chosen topic incorporating at least one in-text citation from their sources and include the 'Works Cited' page.
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**Assessment:**
- **Formative:** Participation in group and individual activities, peer reviews.
- **Summative:** Homework paragraph with in-text citation and 'Works Cited' page to be submitted next class.
**Extensions/Modifications:**
- For advanced students, introduce additional citation formats such as APA.
- For struggling students, provide more guided practice and one-on-one support.
**Reflection:**
- After the lesson, gather student feedback on the activities and their understanding of the topic to make adjustments for future lessons.