"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind...."

As you combine your notes and other information, it should begin to make sense. The puzzle pieces will come together and create a clear picture of the new information. You must stop and reflect upon your facts and decide if you have enough information to complete the research paper. If not, what other information do you need? You may need to cycle back to the GATHER and SORT steps to locate missing information.

Ask yourself these questions . . .

* Have I answered all my questions thoroughly?
* Do I need to throw away what is repetitive or not useful?
* Do I need to ask new questions?
* Should I rearrange the information for clarity?
* Did I "hit" my goal?
* Can I answer at least one essential question based on my understanding of the person whose life I researched?