In order to help 10th grade students with in-text citation and other general research skills before embarking on a larger higher-stakes research paper for History class we created a low-stakes research assignment in order to practice those skills in a controlled setting.

Students were asked to use the library databases to research a list of information on food item.  They were to take this information and use it in a mini-research paper with proper MLA style in-text citation.  Students turned their assignment in to me via email and after grading them each class met again to talk about what items in this process seemed to still be tripping them up.  Students asked great questions and greatly improved their searching and in-text citation skills for future writing and researching!