This lesson begins with a brief introduction of MLA citation style and a hands-on exercise to help students build familiarity with the format. Then, students compete in small groups in a game of "MLA Jeopardy" - and win a prize!
Time Required
- Total time: 50 minutes
- 20 minutes to introduce the MLA handout and test students' initial grasp.
- 25 minutes to play MLA Jeopardy
- 5 minutes to wrap up and cover any Instructor Talking points missed in the presentation
Required Equipment
- One computer or pen and paper for each group.
- One demonstration computer (connected to a projection system).
- Enough handouts so each student gets a copy.
MLA Sources To Explore
- MLA brochure - this handout will help students become familiar with MLA rules for citation.
- Purdue OWL MLA - this source will provide additional information for students looking to understand MLA citation style.
Brochure
- Using the brochures provided, students will identify citations for a range of resources and demonstrate that they can correctly cite in-text and in their works citeds 2-3 sources. They will then compete against each other in MLA Jeopardy with the brochures as a backup resource to help them answer the questions.
- The brochure is a PDF and the Instructor Talking Points is an editable Word document. Feel free to make additional notes or bring specific examples of citations directly related to the discipline area the students are studying (e.g. certain databases or journals).
Session Details
- Introduction
- Indicate what students will be doing and why you are asking them to do it.
- Break students into groups of no more than 4 students.
- Give each student a brochure and walk through the in-text citation.
- Group Activity
- Each group gets 2-3 sources from different formats (a book, magazine, web page, journal article, etc.)
- It's very important to select these sources in advance and be familiar with the correct citations for them.
- Ask your Subject Librarian to help you confirm the sample citations are correct before class day.
- Every group should be writing down the citations for their sources as if they were putting them on a works cited.
- Choose one of the sources as an in-text citation and cite it below the list.
- Display the "answer sheet" (correct citations) on the demo computer and ask students to self-check their work.
- Students remain in their groups for the Jeopardy Game
- MLA Jeopardy
- Each group will compete to answer questions on the board and earn "jeopardy money."
- Use the Instructor Talking Points to guide students through the game and remind them of important tips when citing MLA style.
- If there is time at the end, proceed to Final Jeopardy.
Instructor Talking Points
- See the MLA Jeopardy Talking Points document at right.
