Brainstorm ideas about the business report that you have to write. Jot down everything that comes to mind. Sit down with a mind map -- which you can make yourself, or download from the Internet -- and then start "clustering" the ideas. Analyze what you can eliminate and figure out how to synthesize your main points.
Develop critical reading skills using a mind map. As you read, take notes of salient points. Sit down with a mind map and your notes. Sketch in how the author analyzed the problem, synthesized the various issues and evaluated the result.
Use mind maps for classification. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of major economic theories and then use a mind map to organize them. A mind map can provide you with a one-page reference for all major economic theories. Evaluate the pros and cons of the economic theories based on the information on your mind map.
Develop critical writing mind maps. Try doing a free-flow writing exercise on a topic of your choice. When you have finished, draw a mind map that identifies the inferences and prejudices in your piece of writing. Use the mind map to evaluate your work and to edit it for control and logic.
Attend a university lecture or a public debate. Note the major points that are raised. Using a mind map, analyze the points in terms of their relevance to the topic and then evaluate the lecture or debate based on the data you organized on your mind map.