Interpret+Information

==While the research process is presented as a step-by-step activity, you will find that it is actually a cyclical process. Based on information you gather and questions raised, you may need to refine your topic and locate new materials.==

Step Five: Make Sense of Information Collected
** Review Your Sources and Notes ** Review sources and notes before creating a thesis statement. Recognize relationships between information collected. Evaluate information on note cards and explore connections by sorting them. **

Write a Thesis Statement ** What does this all add up to? This is your thesis. A thesis statement answers your main topic question that you plan to discuss in your paper. All of your arguments should connect to your thesis statement since this is what your are setting out to prove.
 * Your thesis statement should be specific. It should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

See Social Studies Handbook for examples. ** ** Make an Outline ** ** An outlne will help you organize your paper and help you write a clear cohesive paper. It will keep you on track. An outline **
 * Aids in the process of writing
 * Helps you organize your ideas
 * Presents your material in a logical form
 * Shows the relationships among ideas in your writing
 * Constructs an ordered overview of your writing
 * Defines boundaries and groups
 * See Social Studies Handbook for examples. ** **

Do I Have Enough Information to Support My Thesis Statement? ** ** If the answer is yes, then you are ready for  **[|Step Six]**, Create and Evaluate Final Product.**