Paraphrasing, Research, and Citations

Mastering MLA Citations, Debate Research, and Paraphrasing

What is MLA Format?

Definition: MLA (Modern Language Association) format is a system for citing sources in essays and presentations.

Gives credit to authors, avoids plagiarism, and helps readers find sources.

Cheat Sheet is available on Side Table.

MLA Book Citation

• Format:

  • Last Name, First Name. Title of the Book. Publisher, Year.

• Example:

  • Creech, Sharon. Walk Two Moons. HarperTrophy, 1994.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a correctly formatted book citation in MLA?

• Creech, Sharon. Walk Two Moons. HarperTrophy, 1994.

• Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech, HarperTrophy, 1994.

• Sharon Creech, Walk Two Moons. HarperTrophy, 1994.

• HarperTrophy, 1994, Creech, Sharon.

MLA Website Citation

Format:

Last Name, First Name (if available). "Title of the Web Page." Website Name, Publisher, Publication Date, URL.

Example:

Brown, Jane. "How Planes Work." Aviation Today, Aviation Group, 5 May 2021, www.aviationtoday.com/how-planes-work.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following website citations is formatted correctly in MLA?

• John Smith. “How to Debate Better.” Debate World. 2023, www.debateworld.com.

• Smith, John. “How to Debate Better.” Debate World, www.debateworld.com, 2023.

• Smith, John. “How to Debate Better.” Debate World, 2023, www.debateworld.com.

• Smith, John. Debate World. “How to Debate Better.” 2023.

​Researching for a Debate

• Define the topic and key questions.

• Locate credible sources (library databases, educational websites).

• Take notes on key points, including evidence for both sides.

Website Domains

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sources is likely to be most credible?

• A blog written by a high school student.

• A .com website with no listed author.

• A .edu website from a university.

• A social media post with many likes.

Paraphrasing Basics

Definition: Restating information in your own words while maintaining the original meaning.

Steps:

• Read the original text carefully.

• Identify the main idea and key details.

• Rewrite without copying phrases.

Example:

Original: "MLA format is commonly used in academic writing."

Paraphrased: "Academic writers often rely on MLA formatting."

Why Paraphrase?

• Avoids plagiarism.

• Simplifies complex information for your audience.

• Helps you process and understand the material.

Multiple Choice

“Debates improve critical thinking skills by challenging participants to evaluate arguments.”

Which paraphrase is correct?

• Debates help people think critically and assess arguments.

• Critical thinking improves debates because they evaluate arguments.

• Debates are good for arguing and critical thinking.

Now it's your turn

Reasearch using credible sources.

Make sure to paraphrase to make it sound more like you would say it.

Do NOT forget to cite your sources.