This document provides an overview of analyzing slender structural members like rods, beams, shafts and columns. It outlines the basic logical steps to follow: 1) Make general and problem-specific modeling assumptions for geometry, loading, deformation and boundary conditions. 2) Apply the appropriate governing equations from elasticity. 3) Use an exact analytical or approximate numerical solution method. It then provides more details on modeling assumptions and solving for stresses and deflections in rods under axial loading as an example.