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ENG 111: College Composition I (Nayak-Loudoun)

Tips to help with your Open Letter assignment. Guide by Eliza Selander, Librarian. Send questions to eselander@nvcc.edu

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For individual research help, schedule an appointment to meet with a librarian.


Search the Library Catalog

Search Tips

Search for books on your topic in the library catalog.

Consider limiting your results to the past five years (Under "Filter My Results" on the left side toolbar, refine the Publication Date).

Select 'Request Item' to have books sent to and from any NOVA library. If your book is at Loudoun, write down the call number to locate the book on the shelf (ex: HQ796 .H215 2014).

Access eBooks using provided links. 

For more information, see NOVA Libraries' guide on How to Find Books.

Open Letter Topic Example Keyword Examples
Negative effects of too much screen time screen time; device*; smartphone*; phone* OR tablet* OR computer*; children AND screen time; health; behavior; activity level; obesity; body mass index OR BMI; brain development
Social media and its effects social media; Facebook; Meta; TikTok; WeChat; SnapChat; BeReal; Supreme Court; effect*; impact; mental health; depression; cyberbullying
Parenting and communication parenting; communication; family therapy; generation; relationship*; conversation*
LGBTQ community LGBTQ OR queer community; equality; discrimination; sexual orientation; gender identity; Supreme Court; Respect for Marriage Act; pride; Stonewall uprising
Students and screen time student*; screen time; school*; grade*; schoolwork; class time
Gun violence in schools

gun violence; school*; impact; effect*; safety; active shooter; Uvalde; Sandy Hook; Marjorie Stoneman Douglas; Second Amendment; gun control; common sense; reform

Plastics and pollution plastic*; pollute OR pollution (pollut*); ocean*; water*; air; marine; sustainable; sustainability; environment; debris; trash; recycle OR recycling (recycl*)
NOVA's financial aid issues financial aid; NOVA OR Northern Virginia Community College; community college; higher education; student debt; problem* OR issue* OR...
Women's rights in America women's rights; America OR United States; feminist OR feminism (feminis*); abortion; birth control; women's health; reproductive rights; pro-choice; pro-life; equal pay; wage gap; safety; domestic violence
Women's rights in Afghanistan women's rights; Afghanistan; Taliban; fundamentalism; education; politics; religion; clothing OR clothes; discrimination; terrorism; violence; civil rights; medical care
Negative effects of stocks and gambling stocks OR stock market; finance; gambling; betting; sports betting; casino; effect*; impact; addiction; pathological gambling

Book & eBook Examples