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Communication Research Guide

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Welcome to your Communication research guide! This guide will help you with any research-related Communication assignments at Valley College. Begin by taking a look at the "Research Cycle" below. Make your way through the guide by clicking on the blue tabs on the left-hand side of the screen, or by clicking on the "Previous" / "Next" buttons at the bottom of each page. 

The Research Cycle

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1. Explore Your Topic

Before you settle on a topic, it's a good idea to do some background research first. The Library is a great source for background information!

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2. Refine Your Topic

Now that you've done some background research, it's time to narrow your topic. In general: the shorter your final paper, the narrower your topic needs to be.

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3. Search For Sources

After you've refined your topic, it's time to start searching for sources. Do you need books, articles, or something else?

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4. Evaluate Your Sources

It's always a good idea to evaluate sources before using them in your assignment. Do you need to have scholarly sources or the most recent research?

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5. Write

Pull everything together to share your argument and your evidence. Tie ideas from your sources together with your own thoughts and analysis to make a compelling case.

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