ENGL C1000 (Diaz)

ENGL 100 Assignment

Library databases give you access to credible, reliable, and peer-reviewed information. Use them to find:

• Quality Information: All resources are vetted by experts.
• Narrow Search Options: You can filter by subject, publication type, and date to find exactly what you need.
• Access to Full-Text Articles: Many databases offer full access to articles that aren't free on the web."

This video provides an overview of the distinguishing characteristics of popular and scholarly sources.

This 9 minute video provides an overview of how to search in 3 suggested databases listed below.

Are you looking for data or statistics on a particular topic? A Google search can help you find government and community resources that keep track of these numbers.

Sample Google Search:

"education statistics" AND San Diego County site: .gov (Adding "site:.gov" will narrow down your results to only government websites)

Helpful websites: 

SANDAG: The San Diego Association of Governments is the metropolitan planning organization for San Diego County, California. Various stats, including border wait times, commuter information, remote work information. 

San Diego Office of Eduaction:  Collecting, analyzing, and understanding data can help schools and districts better understand their makeup, points of success, and areas for growth.

San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency: The Community Health Statistics Unit (CHSU) provides health statistics that describe health behaviors, diseases and injuries for specific populations, in addition to health trends and comparisons to national targets.

Narrowing Your Focus

Broad Topic: The Fentanyl Crisis

General and covers too many aspects.
Doesn't specify a target group or specific effects.

Tip: Choose something you're passionate about!

Focused Research Question:
How has the rising availability of fentanyl impacted teenagers in the United States, and what measures are most effective in preventing overdoses and addiction among this group?

Specific group: teenagers
Location: United States
Specific focus: prevention of overdoses and addiction

Tip: Use the 5 W's to help you narrow your focus (Who, what, where, when, why).

Key Terms

When finding information on the fentanyl crisis, use key terms to help in your research.

Research Question:
How has the rising availability of fentanyl impacted teenagers in the United States, and what measures are most effective in preventing overdoses and addiction among this group?

• Substance abuse, opioid crisis, synthetic opioids
• Teenagers, adolescents, youth
• United States, North America
• Overdose prevention, harm reduction, addiction treatment

Combining with Broader Social Issues

• fentanyl AND mental health
• opioid crisis AND teens
• overdose prevention in schools
• fentanyl use AND peer pressure
• fentanyl-related deaths AND policies
• drug education AND youth

Areas within the Fentanyl Crisis

• Accessibility through social media
• Policies on harm reduction (e.g., Narcan availability)
• Impact on families and communities
• Role of education in prevention
• Healthcare and treatment gaps
• Law enforcement responses

Database Searching

Use the key terms and their combinations to search databases effectively.

Example Search Query:
fentanyl AND addiction prevention AND teenagers

• Use filters for relevance:
  • Source: Peer-reviewed journals, government reports
  • Date: Focus on recent studies (e.g., 2020–present)
  • Subject: Public health, substance abuse, adolescent psychology

Tip: Once you find a good source, email it to yourself and use the citation tool to save time.