This document outlines a teaching method called "Citations as Explanations" to help students learn how to construct citations. It describes common citation issues students were having and the solution of framing citations as explanations to an instructor on how to find a source. Exercises are provided where students use descriptors to identify citation elements and build citations in groups from various resources. The document concludes with discussing what went well in the teaching method and potential improvements for next time.

1. “REMEMBER THAT ONE TIME? AT
THAT PLACE? WITH THE THING?
WITH THOSE PEOPLE?”
Teaching Citations
as Explanations

2. THE ISSUE
Students were having trouble constructing citations
Trying to do everything at once: Get citation information, put
it in order, and format the page
Others were using citation generators and becoming confused
by all of the “options” given to them.
Content of a citation
Little Seagull handbook to check order and punctuation

3. THE SOLUTION
Reminding students: One of the reasons they were citing was
to explain to their instructor how to get to their sources
“Citations as Explanations”
Connected with the Developmental Reading instructors
Many of their students were working on an essay that required them to
cite three specific sources in MLA format (Print anthology and Credo)

4. EXERCISES
1. Use “Who, What, When, Where, How” as descriptors for parts
of citation. (Used Credo entry for our first example)
2. Put up citations on the board. Have students write
underneath which parts correspond with which descriptor. I
used one of their course books and a website. (Volunteers go
up to the board)
3. Together, we build a citation from scratch using the “Who,
What, When, Where, How” method. (Used journal article from
ProQuest)
4. Students (in groups) build their own citations from various

5. Students (in groups) build their own citations from various
resources
Google search: What to do after a flood-see if you can find a
site from a government organization
Go to Databases on the LRC homepage. Click on Issues
and Controversies. Under recent controversies, click on
Cuba Policy. Cite this article…then check out the citation
that is generated at the bottom! It’s not right, is it??
Search Credo for Frank Sinatra. Click on the second image
of him that comes up (it’s with a giant microphone). The
info’s all there, but make sure you remember to cite where
you got it from!
Search the eBooks tab for “pirates”. Click on a title. Can
you find all the info in one place?

6. INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS
National Reading Panel:
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/nrp/Documents/report.
pdf
Chapter 4, Part II: Text Comprehension Instruction
Categories of instruction that improve comprehension in readers (7
total)
Question Answering
Question Generation
Cooperative Learning
Graphic Organizer

7. WHAT WENT WELL
Participation
Questions from students
Instructor participation
Feedback from instructors

8. NEXT TIME…
Require them to have their Little Seagull
Class size/layout of the room
Online video/PowerPoint activity

9. THANKS!
Maria Fesz
Public Services Librarian
Coastal Carolina Community College
feszm@coastalcarolina.edu
Click here to watch my short citation video!