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ENG 101 - Digital Literacy Informative Essay

2. Explore Your Topic

After thoroughly examining your assignment, now it's time to look for some initial background research on digital literacy. The library created a research guide that will be helpful to you on this topic:

Research Guide

Library Databases

 Browse the links below to learn more about topic through library databases. This phase of the research process can help you get familiar with the information that is available as you finalize what your topic will be. 

Analyze Your Topic

WhoDecoctive picture of magnifying glass

Think about who might be involved or targeted. This could be specific people, but it could also be groups of people - consider different groups based on nationality, age, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status (wealth), who may be affected (good or bad) by your topic. What aspects are important to your paper? 

What

Consider what factors are involved in your topic. Read some background information or a summary to learn more about your topic, and then make a list of relevant factors.

The background reading can also provide you with keywords, specialized vocabulary, and definitions, which will be useful for future searches.

When

What time period is involved? Are you considering the present day or the future? Be sure you know what dates and times are involved in your topic because that will affect how you write about them. Your topic may have specific dates associated with it or it may be more general.

Where

Sometimes places or geography are important to your topic. Are you only looking at issues in the United States or another country? The situation can be quite different in some countries than it is here.

Why

This is a really important one. Why do people care or should care about this topic? What's at stake, or why did it happen / is it happening? Why did you choose it?