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ESL 150 & NCESL 57 (Lackkaty) SP25

Introduction

Welcome Students!

I'm here to support you with your research.

Questions? Email Stacey at svonwinckelmann@miracosta.edu

MLA Citations Research Guides
Ask a Librarian 24/7 The Learning Centers

Database Searching

1.  Spelling counts! Not seeing many results? Double-check your spelling.

2. Try "Phrase Searching" - Place quotation marks around keywords to keep them together.
Example: "fast fashion" "consumer behavior"

3. Use AND to link required terms.
Example: "fast fashion" AND outsourcing

4. Consider a specific aspect of Fast Fashion as a keyword, such as:

  • Consumer Culture ("fashion trends," shopping habits, "social media")
  • Environmental (pollution, landfill, textile waste)

5. Grow your keywords with words you read in abstracts, article titles, and subjects.

Keyword searching is not an exact science. Experiment with different combinations for the best results.

Keyword Examples

Keyword Instruction by Assignment

Click on the blue buttons below to view keyword instructions for each assignment.

Essay 1: Plastic Surgery Essay 2: Comparing Diets

Step 1: Before Background Research

Preliminary Topic:
Is fast fashion helpful or harmful? Explain why or how.

Understanding the "WHY" and "HOW"

❌ HARMS ✅ HELPFUL ASPECTS
WHY: Fast fashion harms the environment by encouraging a cycle of overconsumption, leading to large volumes of clothing being produced, purchased, and discarded quickly. WHY: Fast fashion makes trendy, stylish clothing accessible at a lower cost, democratizing fashion and allowing individuals to express themselves regardless of income.
HOW: This system uses non-biodegradable fabrics, relies on fossil fuels, and produces high levels of textile waste and carbon emissions. HOW: Companies speed up the design-to-shelf timeline using cost-efficient production methods to sell clothes more cheaply and restock quickly to meet consumer demand.
WHY: Fast fashion contributes to poor working conditions and human rights violations in countries where labor is cheap. WHY: It provides jobs in countries with limited employment opportunities.
HOW: Garment workers are often paid below a living wage, work in unsafe environments, and are subject to long hours and labor exploitation. HOW: Large-scale manufacturing creates employment and can help grow local economies if regulated and supported by fair labor practices.
 

 

Step 2: After Background Research

Research Question:
How do fast fashion business practices and consumer culture contribute to environmental and human rights harms?

 

Topic Keyword Suggestions
Business Practices

outsourcing, profits, "clothing industry"
Environment

landfill, pollution, "textile waste"
Labor Conditions

exploitation, "human rights", "garment workers"
Consumer Culture

fashion trends, consumer behavior, "social media"

 

CQ Researcher

Opposing Viewpoints

EBSCOhost

Databases