ACTIVITY 9.17
Evaluating Usability for Your Purposes

Now that you have evaluated the E-text, you need to reflect on how you might use it for your own research and in your own writing.

How did the E-text affect your knowledge of the topic? Did it offer statistics, examples, or expert testimony that you didn't know about before?

How did what you learned affect your position on the topic? For instance, perhaps you are conducting research in preparation to write an argumentative essay for or against censorship in cyberspace. Did some statistic, example, or argument confirm your belief? Did some statistic, example, or argument counter your belief? (Even if the text contradicts your position, you will still be able to use the E-text in your argument, because you will address counterarguments to your position.) Did something in the E-text lead you to consider an angle on the topic you hadn't thought of before?

What specifically might you glean from the E-text for your own essay? By "specifically," we mean information you will want to write down, including the pertinent bibliographical information like page numbers, the exact statistics, references to research, and so on.

Did the E-text bring up any related topics or issues that you want to know more about? Make notes for yourself on topics you might want to do follow-up research on.

It is quite possible you found several E-texts on the same subject. If that is the case, rank all those you've read and analyzed from most useful to least useful for your purposes.