Begin your analysis by reviewing the interpretive questions you generated about your subject. Choose one that interests you and will allow you to carry out your assignment. Then review and refine your question. Ask yourself:
A good analytical question is open to interpretation. Questions that focus on factual or yes/no answers seldom provide a strong foundation for an analytical essay. In contrast, questions that lead you to investigate the origins or potential impacts of a subject, to consider its qualities, to weigh its significance, or to explore its meaning are more likely to lead to success. Consider the differences between the following sets of questions.
| Questions Leading to Factual or Yes/No Answers |
| When did the Iraq War begin? |
| Has NASA’s annual budget kept pace with inflation? |
| Who were the villains in the first Indiana Jones movie? |
| Who won the last World Series? |
| Questions Open to Interpretation |
| What caused the Iraq War? |
| How can NASA pursue its mission on a reduced annual budget? |
| In what ways do the key themes of the first Indiana Jones movie reflect changes in American foreign relations? |
| What contributed to the success of the last World Series champions? |
You should also consider how a question will direct your thinking about your subject. For example, you might want to understand the potential effects of a proposal to reduce the cost of attending your state’s public colleges and universities by increasing class size and laying off faculty and staff. Asking a question about the plan’s impact on education might direct your attention toward students and the trade-offs between lower costs and the quality of instruction. In contrast, asking a question about the plan’s impact on the state budget might lead you to view the subject through the lens of business concerns and economic forecasts. Although the questions are related, they would lead to significantly different analyses.