- We think of REASONS for our noted ideas. 
 - When we question each note for reasons, we improve our understandings of our notes. 
 - In this step, we read one note at a time and ask, “For What Reason?” 
 - Often we cannot think of a reason, so we simply go on and read the next note. 
 - When we can think of a reason, we mark a large X on the card after the word REASON. 
 - Then we set that marked card aside to begin a stack of cards marked with a large X. 
 - Later we will choose a few REASONS to write into our reports, and we will write them on their cards. 
 - Our Reasons: • must make sense • must be true • must not be silly.