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MLA Citation & Avoiding Plagiarism

Ninth graders learn to cite sources in MLA format and avoid plagiarism — quoting and paraphrasing responsibly, and giving credit for others’ words and ideas — essential skills for all research writing.

Grade 9Research55 minutes1 class periodReading WorkshopExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Cite sources in MLA format.
  • ✓Quote and paraphrase responsibly.
  • ✓Avoid plagiarism.
  • ✓Give credit for words and ideas.
Essential Question

When you use a source in an essay, how do you give credit — and avoid plagiarism? Whether you quote or paraphrase, the rules are clear. What are they?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive Model

Cite It Right

Project each item and have students choose the responsible, plagiarism-free choice. The tool explains MLA citation.

📚 Cite responsibly — avoid plagiarismTry it
Choose the responsible, correctly cited option.
The Lesson · Reading Workshop (Mini-Lesson · Practice · Share)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Connect — Giving Credit

5 min

When you use a source, how do you give credit — and avoid plagiarism?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a quote used in an essay.
  • Ask how to credit it.
  • Set the goal: MLA and plagiarism.

🎒 Student Actions

  • See the quote.
  • Wonder how to credit it.
  • Predict the idea.
2

Teach — Quote, Paraphrase, Cite

12 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Quote with quotation marks + citation.
  • Paraphrase and still cite.
  • Format an MLA citation.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn quoting.
  • Learn paraphrasing.
  • Learn the citation.
3

Active Engagement — Cite Together

13 min

Class uses Cite It Right.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Choose the responsible option.
  • Explain the citation.
  • Spot plagiarism.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Choose it.
  • Explain it.
  • Spot plagiarism.
4

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students cite sources.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Quote and cite a source.
  • Paraphrase and cite.
  • Format an MLA citation.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Quote it.
  • Paraphrase it.
  • Cite it.
5

Share — Share

5 min

Students share a citation.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Invite a cited source.
  • Check the format.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Share it.
  • Check it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (Grades 9–10).

CCSS
W.9-10.8

Gather information, assess sources, and cite following a standard format, avoiding plagiarism.

CCSS
W.9-10.9

Draw evidence from texts to support analysis.

CCSS
W.9-10.7

Conduct short research projects.

CCSS
L.9-10.3

Apply knowledge of language conventions.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • MLA citation templates.
  • Sentence frame: “According to ___ (page), ___.”
  • Model quote vs. paraphrase.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Provide citation templates.
  • Focus on quoting first.
  • Fill in the blanks.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Build a Works Cited page.
  • Cite multiple source types.
  • Integrate quotes smoothly.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📚Source texts
  • 💻Cite It Right
  • 📄MLA templates
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

citationa reference giving credit to a sourceMLAModern Language Association styleplagiarismusing others’ work without creditquoteto use exact wordsparaphraseto restate in your own wordsin-text citationa brief source note in the textWorks Citeda list of all sourcessourcewhere information comes from
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
If you paraphrase an author’s idea, do you need to cite it?
Yes — the idea belongs to the author even when reworded.
QUESTION 2
What two things does a basic MLA in-text citation include?
The author’s last name and the page number.
QUESTION 3
What is plagiarism?
Using someone else’s words or ideas without giving them credit.

Going deeper? The Works Cited page.

Have students build a proper MLA Works Cited entry for a book and a website. A printable MLA-citation sheet is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 MLA Citation & Avoiding PlagiarismFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 MLA Citation & Avoiding PlagiarismQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ MLA Citation & Avoiding PlagiarismPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: citation, in-text citation, MLA, paraphrase, plagiarism, quote, source, Works Cited
  1. where information comes from
  2. to restate in your own words
  3. to use exact words
  4. a list of all sources
  5. using others’ work without credit
  6. Modern Language Association style
  7. a reference giving credit to a source
  8. a brief source note in the text

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. If you paraphrase an author’s idea, do you need to cite it?
  2. What two things does a basic MLA in-text citation include?
  3. What is plagiarism?
Answer key — Part A: 1) source · 2) paraphrase · 3) quote · 4) Works Cited · 5) plagiarism · 6) MLA · 7) citation · 8) in-text citation
Part B: 1) Yes — the idea belongs to the author even when reworded. 2) The author’s last name and the page number. 3) Using someone else’s words or ideas without giving them credit.