Citations and Referencing JK - 12 Guide
This guide outlines the requirements for students in each grade to cite and reference their research.
The Brockton Citation Guide was originally created in 2018. Updated in August 2026
At Brockton School, we use the MLA style of referencing and ask that all teachers use this consistently. There are several online tools to assist in teaching this style of referencing including: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_fo rmatting_and_style_guide.html
Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten Work citation expectations per grade
Verbal Work cited expectations
Example (Verbal)
Book citations
-Understands what an author is and where to find the name -Understands what an illustrator is and where to find the name -Understands why it is important to give credit to the author and illustrator
An author works hard to write a book. They would like to be acknowledged for their ideas
Reference book citations
N/A
N/A
Online database citations
N/A
N/A
Web page citations
Name of website
New toys
Using appropriate acknowledgements for Indigenous material
Explain that we learn on Indigenous land.
I can give a simple acknowledgement
Work citation expectations per grade
Work cited expectations
Example (verbal/written)
Book citations
1. Name of the author. 2. Title of the book.
Joanna Cole. The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System.
Reference book citations
1. Title of the article or chapter. 2. Title of the encyclopedia or book.
“Shark.” The World Book Encyclopedia.
Online database citations
1. Title of the article. 2. Name of the resource site. 3. Online.
“Abraham Lincoln.” Kid Stuff. Online.
Web page citations
1. Title on the page or section of the page you used. 2. Title of the Web page, found in the address bar. 3. Online.
“New toys.” Consumer Reports. Online.
Using appropriate acknowledgements for Indigenous material
Explain that we learn on Indigenous land.
I can give a basic land acknowledgement.
An illustrator works hard to create images for a book. They would like to be acknowledged for their ideas
Grade 1-2
Grade 3-4 Work citation expectations per grade
Work cited expectations
Example (written)
Book citations
1. Name of the author. 2. Title of the book in italics. 3. The year the book was published.
Joanna Cole. The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. 2010.
Reference book citations
1. Title of the article or chapter. 2. Title of the encyclopedia or book, in italics, 3. The year the encyclopedia or book was published.
“Shark.” The World Book Encyclopedia, 2016.
Online database citations
1. Title of the article in quotes. 2. Name of the resource site, in italics. 3. The date the article was published (Month day year). 4. Online.
“Abraham Lincoln.” Kid Stuff. January 4, 2017. Online.
Web page citations
1. Title on the page or of the section of the Web page you used in quotes. 2. Title of the Web page, in italics, found in the tab or title bar. 3. Online.
“New toys.” Consumer Reports. Online.
AI citations
1. The name of AI tool 2. Prompt or what it was doing 3. Date
"I used ChatGPT to help me with interview questions on April 3, 2026."
Using appropriate acknowledgements for Indigenous material
I can explain that we live, work and play on Indigenous land
I can give a basic land acknowledgement
Work citation expectations per grade
Work cited
Example
Book citations
1. Last name of the author, first name. 2. Title of the book, in italics. 3. Publisher, 4. The year the book was published.
Cole, Joanna. The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. Penguin, 2010.
Grade 5
Reference book citations
1. Last name of the author, first name. 2. Title of the article or chapter in quotes. 3. Title of the encyclopedia or book, in italics, 4. Publisher, 5. The year the book was published.
Fisher, Joseph. “Shark.” The World Book Encyclopedia, Astor Press, 2016.
Online database citations
1. Author of the article last name, first name. 2. Title of the article in quotes. 3. Name of the resource site in italics. 4. The year the article was published, 5. URL of the article page..
Winters, Paul. “Abraham Lincoln.” Kid Stuff. 2017, http://kidsdb.com/abe.
Web page citations
1. Title on the page or of the section of the page you used in quotes. 2. Title of the Web page, in italics, found in the address bar. 3. The date the page was published or last updated (day month year), 4. URL of the Web page.
“New toys.” Consumer Reports. 10 March 2015, http://consumerreports/newtoys.
AI- Artificial Intelligence
Correct MLA format expected 1. Prompt 2. Publisher/ tool 3. Date
“Create interview questions to support learning about the role of a veterinarian”. ChatGPT, 13 Feb.
Using appropriate acknowledgements for Indigenous material
Creating an original story or finding an existing story (with permission). Share who the original author was.
I can explain where I got permission to share a story from. I can explain why I need to get permission to share an Indigenous story.
Grade 6 and 7 (POD) Work citation expectations per grade
Work cited
Example
Book citations
1. Last name, first name of the author. 2. Title of chapter in quotes. 3. Title of the book, in italics. 4. Publisher, 5. The year the book was published, 6. Page numbers of
Smith Linda. “Virtual Reality.” New Technologies for Schools. Google Press, 2017, pp. 34-54.
the chapter. Reference book citations
1. Last name of the author, first name. 2. Title of the article or chapter in quotes. 3. Title of the encyclopedia or book, in italics, 4. Volume number, 5. Publisher, 6. The year the book was published, 7. Page numbers of article.
Fisher, Joseph. “Shark.” The World Book Encyclopedia, vol. 4, Astor Press, 2016, pp. 34-35.
Online database citations
1. Author of the article last name, first name. 2. Title of the article in quotes. 3. Name of the resource site, in italics. 4. The date the article was published (day month year), 5. Title of database, 6. URL of the article page.
Winters, Paul. “Abraham Lincoln.” Kid Stuff. 4 January 2017, EBSCO, http://kidsdb.com/abe.
Web page citations
1. Author of the article. 2. Title on the page or of the section of the page you used in quotes. 3. Title of the Web page, in italics, found in the address bar. 4. Name of the publisher of the page, 5. The date the page was published or last updated (day month year), 6. URL of the Web page.
Jones, Alice. “New toys.” Consumer Reports. Hearst Inc., 10 March 2015, http://consumerreports/newtoy s.
AI- Artificial Intelligence
Correct MLA format expected 1.Prompt 2.Publisher 3.Date 4.Location: Give the general URL for the tool.1
See this guide “Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
Using appropriate acknowledgements for Indigenous land and material
I can explain where I got permission to share a story. I can explain why I need to get permission to share an Indigenous story.
I can share where the story came from and who the author was.
Understand the purpose of a land acknowledgement. Lead a land acknowledgement
I can lead a land acknowledgement
Grade 8 Work citation expectations per grade
Work cited
Example
Book citations
Correct MLA format - mastered
Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House. MacMurray, 1999.
Article in a reference book citations
Correct MLA format - in progress
"Ideology." The American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd ed., Dell, 1997, p. 369.
Online database
Correct MLA format - in progress
Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates.” Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1002/tox.20155.
Web page citations
Correct MLA format - in progress
Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory. Purdue U, 28 Nov. 2003, www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theo ry/. Accessed 10 May 2006.
In-text citation
Correct MLA format - in progress
Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263). Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263). Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).
AI- Artificial Intelligence
Correct MLA format expected
See this guide “Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
1. 2. 3. 4.
Using appropriate acknowledgements for Indigenous land and material
Prompt Publisher Date Location: Give the general URL for the tool.1
Use of correct and appropriate acknowledgments. First Nations Principles of Learning states that "Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain circumstances" FNESC (n.d)
I can explain where I got permission to share a story. I can explain why I need to get permission to share an Indigenous story. I can share where the story came from and who the author was.
Understand the purpose of a land acknowledgement. Lead a land acknowledgement
I can lead a land acknowledgement
Work citation expectations per grade
Work cited
Example
Book citations
Correct MLA format - mastered
Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science. Penguin, 1987.
Article in a reference book citations
Correct MLA format - mastered
"Ideology." The American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd ed., Dell, 1997, p. 369.
Online database
Correct MLA format - mastered
Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates.” Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1002/tox.20155.
Web page citations
Correct MLA format - mastered
Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory. Purdue U, 28 Nov. 2003, www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theo ry/. Accessed 10 May 2006.
In-text citation
Correct MLA format - In progress
Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263). or Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263). Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).
AI- Artificial Intelligence
Correct MLA format expected 1. Prompt 2. Publisher 3. Date 4. Location: Give the general URL for the tool.1
See this guide “Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
Grade 9
Using appropriate acknowledgements for Indigenous land and material
Use of correct and appropriate acknowledgments. First Nations Principles of Learning states that "Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain circumstances" FNESC (n.d)
I can explain where I got permission to share a story. I can explain why I need to get permission to share an Indigenous story. I can share where the story came from and who the author was.
Understand the purpose of a land acknowledgement. Lead a land acknowledgement
I can lead a land acknowledgement
Grade 10 Work citation Expectations per grade
Accurately cite sources.
Examples
Book citations
Correct MLA format expected
Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science. Penguin, 1987.
Article in a reference book citations
Correct MLA format expected
"Ideology." The American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd ed., Dell, 1997, p. 369.
Online database
Correct MLA format expected
Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates.” Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1002/tox.20155.
Web page citations, Correct MLA format expected
Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory. Purdue U, 28 Nov. 2003, www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/. Accessed 10 May 2006.
In-Text citation
Correct MLA format expected.
Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263). or Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263). or Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).
AI- Artificial Intelligence
Correct MLA format expected 5. Prompt 6. Publisher 7. Date 8. Location: Give the general URL for the tool.1
See this guide “Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023,
chat.openai.com/chat. Using appropriate acknowledgements for Indigenous land and material
Use acknowledgements and citations; includes citing sources in appropriate ways to understand and avoid plagiarism and understanding protocols that guide the use of Indigenous oral texts and other knowledge.
I can lead a land acknowledgement using, "I would like to start by acknowledging and thanking the Coast Salish people whose traditional territory Brockton School resides on. I express our gratitude to the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and we value the opportunity to learn, live, and share educational experiences on this traditional territory."
Use of correct and appropriate acknowledgments. First Nations Principles of Learning states that "Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain circumstances," FNESC (n.d)
I can explain where I got permission to share a story from. I can explain why I need to get permission to share an Indigenous story. I can share where the story came from and who the author was.
Grade 11 & 12 Work citation expectations per grade
Accurately cite sources.
Example
Book citations
Correct MLA format expected
Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science. Penguin, 1987.
Article in a reference book citations
Correct MLA format expected
"Ideology." The American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd ed., Dell, 1997, p. 369.
Online database
Correct MLA format expected
Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates.” Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1002/tox.20155.
Web page citations
Correct MLA format expected
Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory. Purdue U, 28 Nov. 2003, www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/. Accessed 10 May 2006.
In-Text citation
Correct MLA format expected
Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263). or Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263). or Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).
AI- Artificial Intelligence
Correct MLA format expected 1. Prompt 2. Publisher 3. Date 4. Location: Give the general URL for the tool.1
See this guide “Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
Using appropriate acknowledgements for Indigenous land and material
Use acknowledgements and citations; includes citing sources in appropriate ways to understand and avoid plagiarism and understanding protocols that guide the use of Indigenous oral texts and other knowledge.
I can lead a land acknowledgement using, "I would like to start by acknowledging and thanking the Coast Salish people whose traditional territory Brockton School resides on. I express our gratitude to the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and we value the opportunity to learn, live, and share educational experiences on this traditional territory."
Use of correct and appropriate acknowledgments. First Nations Principles of Learning states that "Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain circumstances" FNESC (n.d)
I can explain where I got permission to share a story. I can explain why I need to get permission to share an Indigenous story. I can share where the story came from and who the author was.
References First Nations Education Steering Committee. "First Peoples Principles of Learning." FNESC, n.d., fnesc.ca. PDF download. Purdue Writing Lab. "MLA Formatting and Style Guide." Purdue Online Writing Lab, Purdue University, owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guid e.html. "Indigenous Peoples Terminology: Guidelines for Usage." Indigenous Corporate Training Inc., 2022, www.ictinc.ca/blog/indigenous-peoples-terminology-guidelines-for-usage. Accessed 29 May 2023.