Title: Citing Sources and Determining Their Credibility

Grade: 9th/10th English

Overall Goal:

In groups of 2-4, students will practice properly citing online sources in both MLA and APA
format, as well as verifying the credibility of online material, by participating in the exCITEment
(trademark pending) board-game. After playing this board game, students will better understand
the templating of MLA and APA citations and how to create them.

The internet provides a countless number of various sources for students to use in research.
However, not all online resources are reliable, and it is vital to a students paper that the sources
used to construct it is credible, or else the paper would lose its validity. Even if a source is
credible, students must also know how to cite a source properly via a works cited page in order
to avoid any problems regarding plagiarism. The goal of this game is to help fix these problems.

Standards Learning Objective Assessment

10.4.4: Use clear research
questions and suitable research
methods, including texts,
electronic resources, and
personal interviews, to compile
and present evidence from
primary and secondary print or
Internet sources.
Students will analyze sources to Students will be
determine source validity and assessed on their
practice citing them correctly. achievement of this
skill by turning in
Students will learn to use different their attempts
sources to strengthen and support throughout the
their arguments in future game to the teacher,
assignments. though the attempts
will be scored on
how they improved,
not how many they
got right.

Key Terms & Definitions:

Credible: a source that does not offer personal opinion or consists of uncited research
MLA: Modern Language Association; a technique used to cite sources
APA: American Psychological Association; a technique used to cite sources
Lesson Introduction (Hook, Grabber):

Before this lesson, students will have gone over the correct way to cite their sources when
writing a paper. They will have been exposed to both APA and MLA citations, and will have an
understanding of how to create both.

The teacher will ask the students to identify ways in which APA and MLA citations are different,
paying particular attention to the structure of the citation. The teacher will also ask how to
determine whether a source is credible, drawing the attention towards the differences between
facts and opinions on websites. The teacher will then divide the students into groups of 5, with
four people playing the game and one acting as a moderator. This person will have access to the
answer key, and will determine whether the answer the person has come up with is correct.

Lesson Main:

This game is intended to help cement classroom knowledge of citation in both APA and MLA
formats. This relates to the standard mentioned because it discusses analyzing sources and
determining how to cite them correctly. It teaches students how to evaluate sources for
credibility, and how to cite various web pages. There are four players, and one moderator. The
moderator has the answer sheet, and will determine whether students answered their card
correctly, and get to progress when they roll the dice. To begin the game, students will each
start their piece in the center of the board. Each player rolls a die, and the student with the
highest number will choose which path they want their piece to follow. Each path is the same
amount of spaces, so the only difference will be the placement on the board.

The goal of the game is to be the first person to return to the center. The students will each take
turns rolling the dice, moving their token however many spots ahead. If they roll a six, they move
six spaces. Each space on the board is has a colored letter. The color that the student lands on
will correspond to the card they must pick up (APA Citations, MLA Citations, Correct Citations,
and Is it Credible?). There are four colors. The student will scan the QR code with their iPad,
which will take them to an assigned website. The student will then record their answer on their
own sheet of paper, or using a computer, but without using sources like Purdue OWL to help
them, which will be turned in later (they must write the number and color of the card down along
with their answer). They will show the answer to the moderator. If they get the answer correct,
they are allowed to keep their token on the number that corresponds with it. If they do not, their
token must be moved back. This continues until a player makes it all the way around the board,
and returns to the center.
Lesson Ending:

The teacher will remind the students that using sources like Purdue OWL to help them cite
sources when writing a paper is completely fine. When the class period is over, the students will
turn in their attempts to achieve the right answer. The teacher will look over these attempts and
determine if/how their success in accurately citing improved. Papers will be returned and
corrected, then re submitted for grading. Outside sources are to be used for corrections.

Assessment Rubric:
Excellent Great Poor

Answer The student has The student has turned in The student has turned in
Sheet clearly attempted to assignment completed little or no work, or work
Responses answer the questions with few errors. in mostly incorrect.
correctly and has full
citations written out.
The work does not
necessarily need to
be correct, but work
must be shown to
receive credit.

Participation Students actively Students is engaged in Student does not engage

participates, is the game and gives in game, is inattentive.
engaging in the game almost all attention.
the entire time.

Corrections Students corrects all, Students attempts to No corrections were

to answer if any, incorrect correct all responses, made or paper was not
sheet. responses, turns in a most answers are now submitted.
perfect paper. correct.

Resources / Artifacts:
 exCITEment board game
Dice
APA Citation cards
MLA Citation cards
Correct Citation Cards
Is it Credible? Cards
Tutorial- https://youtu.be/2YRTfF8EfRk
Answer sheet and website citations -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tjabtD8rIPc9izR3Pn43WadL4YChRrDdCncpJFWUY
Rw/edit?usp=sharing
All QR codes and questions-
https://docs.google.com/a/umail.iu.edu/document/d/1gGqJDmEniDspbBSKwABlFAHQNrnj
J8oMoL5_obwL1iI/edit?usp=sharing

Differentiation:

1. Differentiation for ability levels

High ability learners can use this game as a way to practice their abilities and can help
mediate the game with the answer sheet. They could also be put into groups with low
ability learners to help aid them in the process, offering guidance when necessary.

2. Differentiation for demographics

For differences in demographics, websites and sources of different genders, sexual
orientation, and race can be found. This will help make the students all feel included in
this activity.

3. Differentiation for languages

ESL, EFL, and ENL students can be accommodated for by finding websites in those
students languages. This would also provide a challenge for other students and could
count as a bonus round for the students who do not speak the language.

4. Differentiation for access & resources

If the students do not have access to QR code readers, the students could use books
available in the classroom to create the citations. The Is it Credible? cards would simply
be omitted from the game.
Anticipated Difficulties:

Students who do not have iPhones or access to iPads will have to share with someone who does.
Those who do have iPhones and/or iPads may have to download the QR Code Reader app,
which will take some time away from the class. The wifi potentially being slow that day is also a
possibility.