The Lighthouse

Whether you are asked to write your analysis in the form of an essay or a report structure there are a few questions you can ask to get your analysis going:

1. What is the problem?
2. What caused the problem?
3. What (if any) are the symptoms of the problem?
4. What possible solutions are there to the problem (how can it be prevented from happening again or how can it be dealt with/resolved)?

Asking and answering these questions is just one way of approaching the analysis. There are other ways of approaching it (such as SWOT analysis), but this is one good way to get your thinking started if you are having trouble getting going.

For further help see:

• http://owll.massey.ac.nz/pdf/studyup-critical-reasoning.pdf
• http://owll.massey.ac.nz/pdf/studyup-critical-reasoning-handout.pdf
• http://owll.massey.ac.nz/assignment-types/business-report-structure.php
• http://owll.massey.ac.nz/assignment-types/analysing-issues-for-a-report.php