LM_NET: Library Media Networking

Previous by DateNext by Date Date Index
Previous by ThreadNext by Thread Thread Index
LM_NET Archive



Thanks to all the people who responded!
APA was the winner. Comments follow.
Monika

We have adopted the MLA style for the school.

Peter Milbury, Co-owner of LM_NET          pmilbury@ericir.syr.edu

For elementary and high school I'd recommend MLA style and make sure you
stick
with it for all assignments, mixing and matching only confuse the
students. We did
this in a small college I taught at, years ago.... we watched the
writing skill
increase and the test scores were even higher... because the students
became
confident in one style form, for all of their papers, for all of their
classes.
When they took their major subject area, technical writing class that
was the only
area that may change the style form. In most cases the instructor would
ask
students to redo a previous favorite paper in a technical writing style
and
develop a mature publication style ... The students did very well and
wrote some
wonderful papers.

Jeannette M. Croft
Library Consultant - Gardner's Book Services - Phx, AZ

We teach MLA it is used by most Freshman College English classes in
Missouri.

Of those two we use MLA.  Additionally, our History Department uses
Turabian.

Diane H. Albosta, Director

We use MLA in our high school, and a simplified version locally created
for our middle school.

We used adapted MLA.
There's electronic citing sources in this listserv monthly FAQ.
I have the Li & Crane:  _Electonic style:  A Guide to citing
electronic information_ book
which is very thorough and accepted nationally.
Richard Librarian

Why just teach one or the other? Students must be taught that there are
many ways of citing sources in the various disciplines. We use both APA
and MLA, with the school having decided which subject is to use which
format. Date sensitive materials are more significant in the sciences,
for instance, so APA is prescribed. The arts subjects require MLA
format. This way, students become aware that no one format is the
correct format. All subjects require correct documentation in one of the

formats, with a student handbook being issued defining the requirements
and presenting examples of the documentation.


The freshman students each receive a copy of Writer's Inc. and learn how
to
use it in Orientation class.  The students are then expected to use this

style throughout high school.

Wendi Colby
Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Northwood, NH 03261
wcolby@coebrown.k12.nh.us

 In my school I headed a committee of teachers. We used MLA has a
base and put together our own research manual for students. Junior high
students got the basics for citations and high schoolers got a more
detailed listing. Teachers were given all the examples for the odd items

that students seem to find.
        Our biggest problem was internet citations. Those addresses are
ridiculous. If you have better suggestions, please forward.
        Hope this helps, Sue St. Ann


When I first arrived at my high school 14 years ago, there was almost
open warfare between three departments about which style to use.  I
suggested that we choose one and stick to it.  I even volunteered to
write up a student guide and do all the work.  No luck.  So I let the
animosity (which almost led to physical violence) calm down for a year
or two.  Then I went ahead and put together a tri-fold, 1 page guide
for students whose teachers did not give them any guidance or who
didn't care what form they followed.  Mine was based on MLA.  Little
by little, teachers began to use my form as the standard.  I did not
coerce them--I just let them know it was available whenever they
needed it.  We still have a few teachers who prefer what they used in
college (including footnotes!) and a few who want students to use APA,
but on the whole, the guide I provide is the dominate species.

Our English Dept. teaches MLA style.  I put together a two-sided,
one-page
sheet with examples of the most commonly used MLA citations (magazines,
encyclopedias, books, Internet, Infotrac, SIRS) and keep copies at the
desk
for students to take.  This has been a big help teachers from other
departments (e.g., SS) who are trying to integrate English skills into
their
curriculums.  They just tell their students to pick up a sheet in the
library.

In a few instances, I have had students who were required to use APA for
their
citations.  I found a site on the Internet for quick reference and keep
an APA
manual in reference for them to use.

 I am at the middle school level and we only teach MLA style.  The
students
use this through high school.  I have not seen APA except when I was in
Grad school.  I hand out a sheet with bibliographic information and
examples that include  printed works, electronic data and Web sites the
first time a class comes in for research orientation.  I collaborate
with
teachers on this during their very first research project and this helps

put the information in a context.  The teachers are more than willing to

have me jump in with helping teach researching strategies and a
bibliography is just part of that effort.  I have every student three
hold
punch it and keep it in their notebooks.  We share information on styles

between several of the elementary schools, middle and high school.  This

way we are all doing the same thing.
        I will be interested in hearing what other schools are doing.

We use MLA.  It seems to be the most popular.

I am a media generalist at Valley View Middle School in Edina, MN

We use MLA as a school district.  It took me years to get an answer from
our
high school language arts teachers to reveal what they use.

As a school, we have agreed to use forms for kinds of resources.
Students
fill them out and keep them for their lists of works cited for different

projects. I designed the forms and we print them in bright colors.  The
kids
like this.  They are available at our media center to be handy for
students as
they work.

To view these forms go to www.edina.k12.mn.us/southview/media

My colleague at the other middle school in our district has them
online.  I
ask for corrections if you find errors.  TIA.

Wendy Larson, Media Generalist
Valley View Middle School

 I teach bibliography/webliography to our sixth grade students using
MLA.

Monika,  When I taught English, I taught both.  I taught MLA one year;
APA the next.  Students need both.  English and some humanities majors
will use MLA in college.  Psychology and many other fields use APA.
Students should have a familiarity with both.  If English departments
used MLA, the Social Science or other departments could use APA.  Good
luck, Jim

Monika, I just wanted to let you know that SIRS Mandarin's Web site,
www.sirs.com, allows students to link to MLA and APA sites. Go to the
Web Guide button, and under Reference Material, you will find a complete

list of interesting Reference links, among which are included MLA and
APA. Also, if your library has our databases, they come with a How to
Cite reference tool using Turabian, MLA and APA guidelines.

Our Curriculum Committee asked that we have a school wide standard, and
our English Department chose MLA.  One of our librarians prepared a two
page summary handout, based on the MLA Bibliography.  There is also a
chapter on the MLA bibliography in a book called The Practical Writer,
which we require for Sophomore English classes.  We attached a reprint
from Classroom Connect magazine October 1998 p. 23 on how to cite
internet resources.

We give out the handout to classes that visit the library, and have them

available for students.

In addition, the school purchased copies of Timmer, Joseph F. A Guide to

MLA Documentation 5th edition 1999 Houghton Mifflin (0-395-93851-1) for
every faculty member.

The idea was that students would learn one style, and be held to one
standard.  It's generally thought that the librarians and English
teachers are responsible for teaching it, but now everyone will grade on

the proper application of MLA style.

This is our first year under this system, so I can't tell you the
results.

I teach MLA because our local high school has adopted it as a
standard, but I show kids other styles.



--


Monika Sisbarro, librarian
Forked River Elem. School
Forked River, NJ 08731
(School) lacey7@injersey.com
(Home) monika@vitinc.com

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
    All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to:
 listserv@listserv.syr.edu         In the message write EITHER:
 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
 3) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv
 For LM_NET Help & Archives see:  http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=


LM_NET Archive Home