Exercise 2.2 (Step 1)

In my English Composition class, we are learning to go from working knowledge to focused knowledge.  Right now, I am in the working knowledge phase.  We are reading a book called The Curious Researcher by Bruce Ballenger, and throughout the book he gives us exercises to do.  In the exercise we were assigned to take our topic and search for it on a general search engine.  I chose to used Google, Bing, and Yahoo as my general search engines. 

I typed human sex trafficking in the United States into the Google search box.  I found a really good website explaining what trafficking looks like and its definition.  Here is the hyperlink to the website: http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/sex-trafficking-in-the-us.

I also found a website on Google that talked about taking action against human sex trafficking in the United States.  Here is the link to this particular website: http://www.womensfundingnetwork.org/resource/past-articles/enslaved-in-america-sex-trafficking-in-the-united-states.  This website was very compelling.  Human sex trafficking is taking place all over the United States.  There are so many different organizations to get involved with, like Love 146 or The North Star Initiative.  I really enjoyed reading this article.  I thought it was very well written and very inspiring. 

Next, I went to Bing and typed in prevention of human sex trafficking in the United States.  I found a really interesting website.  Here is the link to this website: http://www.humantrafficking.org/combat_trafficking/prevention.  I found this website very useful.  It had a link to brochures that are called “Be Smart, Be Safe.”  These brochures talked about the tactics of trafficking groups, the risks that come along with trafficking, what women can do to protect themselves against traffickers, what the victims’ rights are in the United States, and how women can get help in the United States.  I found these brochures very interesting, and I am definitely going to use the information they gave in my paper.

I also found on Bing a website by the FBI.  Here is the link to this website: http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/march_2011/human_sex_trafficking.  This website talked about how big the human sex trafficking business really is.  It also mentioned that sex trafficking is happening all over, probably even in your hometown.  This website also gave you things to look out for when you think someone might be a victim of sex trafficking.  I thought that this website was very well put together, and there was a lot of useful information. 

Next, I went to Yahoo and typed in statistics for human sex trafficking in the United States.  I found a good website that had statistics.  Here is the link to that website: http://www.worldvision.org/our-impact/child-protection?campaign=11935147.  I thought that this website was very well put together.  I also found that the statistics were very useful on this site.  I am definitely going to incorporate the numbers they gave online. 

I really thought that this exercise was very useful.  I really liked using the general search engines to help me progress in my research on human sex trafficking.  Hopefully, I will be able to find some ways to use this information in my paper.