Citing Sources: MLA Basics — Practice · Grade 9 English

Chapter: Research & Source-Based Writing

What this practice covers

By the end of Citing Sources: MLA Basics you should be able to:

11 questions, multiple choice and written answer, each with a worked explanation.

Vocabulary used: MLA format, in-text citation, Works Cited, plagiarism, paraphrase.

Problem 1

Which is a correctly formatted MLA in-text citation for an idea found on page 23 of a book by author Marcus Lee?
  1. (Lee, page 23)
  2. (Marcus 23)
  3. (Lee 23)
  4. [Lee, 23]
Answer and explanation

(Lee 23)

MLA in-text citations use the author's last name followed by the page number, with no comma and no 'page' label: (Lee 23).

Problem 2

Explain the difference between a direct quotation and a paraphrase, and name one thing both still require.
Answer and explanation

A direct quotation copies the source's exact words inside quotation marks, while a paraphrase restates the idea in your own words. Both still require a citation crediting the original source.

Problem 3

In an MLA Works Cited page, entries are organized…
  1. by the order they appear in the essay
  2. alphabetically by the author's last name
  3. from shortest to longest
  4. by publication date, newest first
Answer and explanation

alphabetically by the author's last name

MLA Works Cited entries are alphabetized by the author's last name.

Problem 4

A student copies a sentence directly from a website but changes two or three words, without using quotation marks or a citation. Is this plagiarism? Explain.
Answer and explanation

Yes. Changing only a few words is not the same as paraphrasing in your own words and sentence structure, and without a citation the reader would believe the idea and phrasing are the student's own.

Problem 5

A student uses a direct quote, cites it correctly with (Nguyen 14), but never includes a Works Cited entry for Nguyen's source anywhere in the paper. What is the problem?
  1. There is no problem; the in-text citation alone is always sufficient.
  2. The in-text citation is incomplete without a full Works Cited entry, since readers need both to trace the source.
  3. The page number should not have been included.
  4. The author's first name should have been used instead.
Answer and explanation

The in-text citation is incomplete without a full Works Cited entry, since readers need both to trace the source.

In-text citations are short pointers that only work alongside a full Works Cited entry; without it, a reader cannot identify or find the actual source.

Problem 6

Explain why this is not yet a sound paraphrase. Give a detail and explain its relevance.
Answer and explanation

The wording remains nearly identical. Quote the phrase accurately, or recast the idea genuinely: Lee argues that labels should indicate where the evidence remains incomplete. Attribution is still needed.

Use the criteria to compare your reasoning, not to copy the model’s wording. A supported alternative interpretation may earn full credit.

Response criteria

  • Make an accurate, focused claim or revision.
  • Use a relevant detail or a clearly explained language choice.
  • Explain the relationship and recognize a relevant limit.

Problem 7

A learner writes: “Changing three words means I no longer need a citation.” Explain the problem and produce a better response.
Answer and explanation

Borrowed ideas still need attribution, and borrowed distinctive wording needs quotation marks. Rewriting is not a numerical word-substitution rule.

Use the criteria to compare your reasoning, not to copy the model’s wording. A supported alternative interpretation may earn full credit.

Response criteria

  • Make an accurate, focused claim or revision.
  • Use a relevant detail or a clearly explained language choice.
  • Explain the relationship and recognize a relevant limit.

Problem 8

Compare what you must inspect in these two cases. What can transfer, and what must be checked again?
Answer and explanation

A citation allows readers to trace borrowed words and ideas. MLA in-text references direct readers to a Works Cited entry, adding an available locator such as a page number when appropriate. The method transfers, but the particular detail, scope, and context must be read again. The wording remains nearly identical. Quote the phrase accurately, or recast the idea genuinely: Lee argues that labels should indicate where the evidence remains incomplete. Attribution is still needed.

Use the criteria to compare your reasoning, not to copy the model’s wording. A supported alternative interpretation may earn full credit.

Response criteria

  • Make an accurate, focused claim or revision.
  • Use a relevant detail or a clearly explained language choice.
  • Explain the relationship and recognize a relevant limit.

Problem 9

Using an assigned reading or one exercise source, write a developed response applying citing sources: mla basics. Aim for 180–250 words; name the reading or reproduce the sentence you revise.
Answer and explanation

If Lee is not named in the sentence, use (Lee); if the prose already names Lee, do not repeat it without a locator. The entry uses Lee, the article title, the site title, date, and URL. Do not add a made-up page. A complete response supplies context, a focused claim, a brief supporting detail, explanation, and a relevant qualification. Do not simply repeat this model.

Use the criteria to compare your reasoning, not to copy the model’s wording. A supported alternative interpretation may earn full credit.

Response criteria

  • Make an accurate, focused claim or revision.
  • Use a relevant detail or a clearly explained language choice.
  • Explain the relationship and recognize a relevant limit.

Problem 10

Write two specific feedback comments on a response to this unit: one on accuracy or meaning and one on evidence or language. Then state a revision priority.
Answer and explanation

Check whether the response explains a citation allows readers to trace borrowed words and ideas. mla in-text references direct readers to a works cited entry, adding an available locator such as a page number when appropriate. Ask for a relevant detail and the reason it supports the conclusion. Prioritize the mistaken assumption shown here: “Changing three words means I no longer need a citation.”

Use the criteria to compare your reasoning, not to copy the model’s wording. A supported alternative interpretation may earn full credit.

Response criteria

  • Make an accurate, focused claim or revision.
  • Use a relevant detail or a clearly explained language choice.
  • Explain the relationship and recognize a relevant limit.

Problem 11

Choose a fresh sentence or detail from the assigned selection. Explain how this unit’s method applies, and identify one uncertainty or limitation.
Answer and explanation

The archive proposal values participation, the historian asks for traceable uncertainty, and the resident asks for consent. A labeled memory layer with dates and participant approval connects these concerns without turning memory into the original map. The response must supply its own precise detail and explain it; copying the model without fresh evidence is insufficient.

Use the criteria to compare your reasoning, not to copy the model’s wording. A supported alternative interpretation may earn full credit.

Response criteria

  • Make an accurate, focused claim or revision.
  • Use a relevant detail or a clearly explained language choice.
  • Explain the relationship and recognize a relevant limit.

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