I just started my first analysis and mentoring course and I have to admit I am nervous every time I press the submit button when completing an assignment.  My question is:  Is there truly only one correct way to approach a search of sources in a case study?  I am working through assignment 1 and I reasoned out my procedure carefully but in these step by step case studies my process is not always precisely that of the instructor.  Does this mean a poor grade or do instructors give leeway if the student's reasoning seems valid?

I am currently working on Q. 1-4 and looking for the next relevant record now that I have approx. ages for the family members from the census records.  Throughout the process I have been trying to focus on the goal which was to find Samuel's maternal grandparents.  I know that the two key documents would be Mary Jane Brown's (Samuel's mother's) birth record and her marriage record.  Now that I have an approx. year of birth for Mary Jane I could just search directly for her birth record but my instinct is that her name is too common, even with a year and place of birth.  My idea would be to search for the marriage record first for her and Ephraim because the parental information I find on it would aid in finding the correct birth record.  Finding the proper marriage certificate given the information I have would be more likely (I have the children's births to estimate marriage year; I have two names in combination, Ephraim being more unique than Mary Jane; and I have a place). 

Am I off base?  Should I just go directly to the birth search?  I just want to know that my reasoning is sound.

Hello, I'm just posting here to say "Karen was here" and that I've started the Wills and Estates 1 course this month. I think I had a question earlier...maybe I'll come back and post it later!