Prof. Francia - ENG 101 - Fall 2025: Background Info & Research Question

When you do background research you can find:

• Words or phrases that are specific to your topic.
• Major ideas related to your topic.
• Basic information on your topic. 
• People, places, time periods relevant to your topic.
• Additional readings on your topic.

Reference Databases for Background Information:

The following database is a good place to browse topics, begin research, and narrow your topic to formulate a specific research question.

When narrowing down your topic, think about the Who, What, Where, & Why. 

For example: if you want to write about social media, you must narrow it down to a specific question. Otherwise, you'll be overwhelmed with information. 

• Who is the specific group or person you'll focus on? → Teenagers
• What aspect of the topic is interesting? → Psychological, mental health
• Where is the geographic area or region you'd like to research? → United States
• When is your topic happening (time period)? → Last 5 years
• Why is your topic important? → To understand how social media influences teenagers' behaviors and well-being