The first step in the Research Cycle is to set a goal. However, this cannot happen the very first time until what you presently know about your family is organized well. And, before you can organize your information well, you must determine what aspects of your family information is tradition and what has been proven and is considered a fact.

An example was provided in the textbook (pages 1-4 to 1-6) from a genealogy computer program. The facts and the traditions were kept separate. You were asked to indicate the discrepancies you saw between the two accounts.  There are all kinds of traditions you may have heard about including:

• military service in a particular war
• occupational service working with someone illustrious
• relationship to a famous person
• being named for someone special or unique

Perhaps these other ideas will remind you of ideas you have heard from your own family.  Think of some facts and traditions you know about your ancestor.