Genealogy（宗谱学）is a perfect hobby for those who are interested in learning more about themselves and their families. Another factor contributing to the popularity of genealogy is the existence of the Internet which makes it easier to track long-lost relatives. However, there are several rules that a new genealogist needs to know.
New genealogists need to avoid the common mistake of focusing their search on their rich and famous relatives simply because they are easier to locate. They might have interesting tales to tell and could provide significant clues. All have family stories to share.
A budding genealogist needs to check family stories as not all of these stories are accurate. The stories must be checked with other family members. An experienced genealogist would know whether the story is a fact or fiction.
An expert in genealogy knows it is important to organize family facts properly. Information needs to be organized to enable more efficient research to bear fruitful results. There are many genealogy programs available in the market such as Genealogy J, Gramps and Family Historian which could help genealogists organize their information.
Another good practice for new genealogists is to use their living relatives. They should never underestimate the powerful memories of living relatives. These relatives could share information on deceased family members and lead to the discovery of other long-lost living relatives.
A. Ordinary relatives should not be underestimated.
B. It is a dangerous practice to accept all stories as truths.
C. It is necessary to organize files on individuals, families and events.
D. But now the genealogists prefer to organize the events by the Internet.
E. It is also good to bring along a camera or a recorder to record interviews.
F. People like to find some famous people in history to work as their ancestors.
G. People learn more about their family history and themselves by tracking down family roots.
