Citation Skills Lesson Plan
Comprehensive lesson plan for teaching students to master citation formatting across APA, MLA, and Chicago styles with hands-on activities.
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Lesson Overview
Duration
60-90 minutes
Grade Level
7-12 / College
Focus
Citation Mastery
This lesson equips students with the skills to properly cite sources in academic writing. Students will learn why citations matter, how to format them correctly, and how to use digital tools to ensure accuracy—building confidence in their research writing abilities.
Before Class: Preparation Checklist
Materials to Prepare
- Print Source Information Cards (see handout below) - 1 set per pair
- Print "Find the Citation Errors" worksheet - 1 per student
- Print Citation Format Quick Reference cards
- Print Peer Review Checklist - 1 per student
Technology Setup
- Ensure student devices can access Citation Generator
- Bookmark heypaperhero.com/tools/citation-generator
- Test projector/screen for demonstrations
- Have backup printed examples if tech fails
Learning Objectives
Activity 1: Citation Scavenger Hunt
Opening Hook
5 min"Imagine you discover a cure for a disease, but someone else takes credit because you never documented your work. That's what happens in academia when we don't cite properly—except instead of a cure, it's ideas, research, and hard work that goes unrecognized. Today, we're going to master the art of giving credit where credit is due."
Start by asking students: "Has anyone ever had someone take credit for their work?" This personal connection makes the abstract concept of citation more concrete and emotionally relevant.
Main Activity Instructions
15 minDistribute Materials
Model the First Example
Display the first example on the board and think aloud:
"The Earth orbits the Sun.' Does this need a citation? No—this is common knowledge that anyone could verify in any basic science book. But what about 'The average distance from Earth to the Sun is 93 million miles'? This specific statistic should be cited because it's a precise measurement from scientific research."
Partner Work
Class Discussion
Students often think that paraphrasing means they don't need to cite. Explicitly address this: "Even when you put ideas in your own words, you must cite the original source. The citation acknowledges the idea came from someone else, even if the words are yours."
Activity 2: Format Transformation
Citation Tool Demo
10 min"Now we're going to learn how to use a powerful tool that takes the guesswork out of formatting. But here's the key—the tool is only as good as the information you give it. Garbage in, garbage out. So we need to know what information to look for."
Project the Citation Generator
Walk Through a Book Citation
Use this example: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, published 1960 by J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Show where each piece of information goes in the tool, then generate in APA format.
Show Style Differences
Have students predict what will be different BEFORE you switch styles. This engages active thinking rather than passive observation.
Hands-On Practice
15 min"Now it's your turn. You'll get 5 source cards. Your job is to create a correctly formatted citation for each one using the tool. But don't just click and copy—verify that each piece of information made it into the right place in the citation."
Circulating Questions to Ask:
- • "What source type did you select? How did you know?"
- • "Point to where the author's name appears in your citation."
- • "What would change if this was a website instead of a book?"
- • "How would you cite this if there were two authors?"
Students often select the wrong source type (e.g., choosing "website" for an online journal article). Remind them: "The format of where you found it (online vs. print) is less important than what type of publication it is (book, journal, newspaper, etc.)."
Activity 3: Peer Citation Review
Setting Up Peer Review
5 min"Professional editors catch errors that writers miss because they're too close to their own work. You're going to be citation editors for each other. This isn't about finding fault—it's about helping each other submit flawless work."
Pair Students Strategically
Distribute Review Checklist
Model Good Feedback
Show examples of helpful vs. unhelpful feedback:
"This is wrong."
"In APA, the year goes right after the author's name in parentheses. Check citation #3."
Allow 2-3 minutes for students to make corrections based on peer feedback before collecting work. This immediate revision reinforces learning and shows students that feedback is meant to improve, not punish.
Student Handouts
Source Information Cards
Cut apart and use for citation practice activities. Each card contains information students need to create a properly formatted citation.
Title: The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Publisher: Scribner
Year: 1925
City: New York
Title: Effects of Sleep on Memory
Authors: Sarah Chen, Michael Roberts
Journal: Journal of Cognitive Science
Year: 2023
Volume/Issue: 45(2)
Pages: 112-128
DOI: 10.1000/example
Title: Climate Change: Vital Signs
Author: NASA
Website: climate.nasa.gov
URL: climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs
Access Date: January 10, 2026
Title: New Study Links Exercise to Brain Health
Author: Jane Smith
Publication: The New York Times
Date: March 15, 2025
URL: nytimes.com/2025/03/15/health/exercise-brain.html
Print additional cards as needed. Include a variety of source types: books with multiple authors, edited collections, YouTube videos, podcasts, and government documents for advanced practice.
Common Knowledge or Citation Needed?
Decide whether each statement requires a citation. Write 'CK' for Common Knowledge or 'C' for Citation Needed.
Water freezes at 32°F (0°C).
Studies show that 68% of students experience test anxiety.
Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet.
The average American consumes 17 teaspoons of sugar daily.
The Civil War ended in 1865.
According to recent polls, 45% of voters support the new policy.
Exercise is beneficial for mental health.
A 2024 meta-analysis found that regular exercise reduces depression symptoms by 30%.
Discussion Questions:
Find the Citation Errors
Each citation below contains 1-3 errors. Circle the errors and write the corrected version.
Gladwell, Malcolm (2008). Outliers: The Story of Success. Little, Brown and Company.
"History of the Internet." Wikipedia. Accessed January 5, 2026.
Smith and Johnson. (2023). Effects of Social Media on Teen Mental Health. Psychology Today, 15, 45-62.
💡 Pro Tip: Use the Citation Generator to check your work!
Peer Citation Review Checklist
Use this checklist to review your partner's citations. Check each item that is correct.
Partner's Name:
Citation Style Used:
Format Accuracy
Completeness
Feedback for Partner
Write one thing they did well and one suggestion for improvement:
Citation Format Quick Reference
Keep this card handy when formatting citations. Shows the most common source types in APA, MLA, and Chicago.
| Source | APA (7th) | MLA (9th) |
|---|---|---|
| Book | Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Publisher. | Author. Title. Publisher, Year. |
| Journal | Author. (Year). Title. Journal, Vol(Issue), pp-pp. | Author. "Title." Journal, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. #-#. |
| Website | Author. (Year, Month Day). Title. Site. URL | Author. "Title." Website, Date, URL. |
APA Key Points
- • Year in parentheses after author
- • Only capitalize first word of titles
- • Use "&" for multiple authors
MLA Key Points
- • Year at end of citation
- • Capitalize major words in titles
- • Use "and" for multiple authors
Real Examples: Strong vs. Weak Citations
Book Citation Comparison
Michelle Obama wrote Becoming in 2018. Crown Publishing.
- ✗ Wrong name format
- ✗ Missing parentheses around year
- ✗ Title not italicized
- ✗ Sentence structure instead of citation format
Obama, M. (2018). Becoming. Crown Publishing.
- ✓ Last name, First initial format
- ✓ Year in parentheses
- ✓ Title italicized
- ✓ Proper punctuation throughout
In-Text Citation Comparison
According to an article I read, social media affects teen mental health.
✗ No author, date, or specific source
According to Chen and Roberts (2023), social media use correlates with increased anxiety in teenagers.
✓ Authors named, year included, specific claim
Common Student Mistakes & Interventions
Students write "JSTOR" or "Google Scholar" as the publisher. Remind them: "The database is just where you found it. What you're really citing is the journal, newspaper, or book you accessed through that database."
Students put full citations in their paragraphs. Show the difference: "In-text = short pointer (Author, Year). Reference list = full details. They work together—one points to the other."
When quoting directly, APA and MLA both require page numbers. Have students highlight every quote in their draft and verify each has a page number in the parenthetical.
For journal articles, DOI is preferred over URL because it's permanent. Teach students to look for the DOI on the article page—it often appears near the title or in the article details.
The reference list isn't in the order sources appear in the paper—it's alphabetical by author last name. Have students sort their lists before submitting.
Differentiation Strategies
Struggling Learners
For students who need additional support with citation concepts.
- •Provide pre-filled citation templates with blanks to complete
- •Focus on only ONE citation style (recommend MLA for simplicity)
- •Use color-coding to match source info to citation parts
- •Pair with a peer mentor during activities
- •Allow extra time and reduce number of required citations
Advanced Extension
For students ready to go beyond the basics.
- •Compare same sources across all three major styles
- •Research WHY each style has different requirements
- •Create a citation guide for classmates on unusual source types
- •Explore discipline-specific styles (IEEE, AMA, etc.)
- •Analyze how citation styles have evolved over time
English Language Learners
Accommodations for multilingual students.
- •Provide bilingual citation examples when possible
- •Pre-teach key vocabulary (periodical, volume, edition, etc.)
- •Use visual diagrams showing citation structure
- •Allow verbal explanations in addition to written work
- •Provide sentence frames for in-text citations
On-Level Learners
Core lesson as designed for typical learners.
- •Follow lesson sequence as written
- •Complete all three main activities
- •Work in mixed-ability groups during collaborative time
- •Self-select citation style based on future coursework
- •Use provided rubric for self-assessment
Time Adaptations
Quick Version
- • Skip Activity 1 (Scavenger Hunt)
- • Demo citation tool as a class instead of individual exploration
- • Assign peer review as homework
Standard
- • Complete all activities as written
- • Full class discussion between activities
- • In-class peer review
Extended
- • Add style comparison mini-lesson
- • Include annotated bibliography introduction
- • Extended peer review with revision time
- • Citation portfolio as in-class work
Materials & Tools
Digital Tools
Printable Materials
• Source Information Cards (included above)
• Common Knowledge vs. Citation Worksheet
• Find the Citation Errors activity
• Peer Citation Review Checklist
• Citation Format Quick Reference card
Assessment Rubric
| Criteria | Developing (1) | Proficient (2) | Mastery (3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format Accuracy | Multiple format errors per citation | 1-2 minor errors across all citations | All citations match style guide exactly |
| Source Recognition | Misses 3+ needed citations or cites common knowledge | Identifies most citation needs correctly | Perfect identification of citation needs |
| Source Type Identification | Cannot distinguish source types | Correctly identifies most source types | Correctly identifies all source types |
| Tool Proficiency | Cannot use tool without help | Uses tool with occasional guidance | Uses tool independently and verifies output |
Extension Activities
Homework: Citation Portfolio
Advanced: Style Comparison
Related Resources
APA Citation Guide →
Complete APA formatting reference
MLA Citation Guide →
Complete MLA formatting reference
Citation Style Comparison →
When to use each style
Source Integration Lesson →
Teaching quote and paraphrase skills