This chapter focuses on making sense of “traces of learning” through systematic analysis aligned with a clearly framed SoTL question. Because SoTL spans diverse disciplines and epistemologies, the chapter avoids prescribing a single methodology. Instead, it proposes five principles for systematic analysis: be intentional in selecting an approach; be methodical in documenting and applying it; be careful at each step and with the people involved; be receptive to unexpected insights; and be connected to literature, collaborators, and—crucially—students. The chapter underscores that systematic does not mean rigid; plans can—and perhaps should—evolve as findings emerge. The chapter concludes by emphasizing transparency for varied SoTL audiences inside and beyond one’s discipline: explain what artifacts were gathered and why, how analysis was designed and executed, and how assumptions shaped interpretation. This clarity distinguishes SoTL from ad hoc reflection and invites informed critique and adaptation by colleagues in other contexts.