- Put time aside just to think?
- Leave assignments too late to have much time to think?
- Know your best time for thinking?
Research shows that putting time aside regularly for thinking helps avoid making automatic responses and drawing the most obvious conclusions. By engaging more widely in research to go beyond the surface of a topic, you are more likely to reach arguments that are well-rounded, interesting and different.
It is usually obvious to tutors when a student has engaged in deep thought about complex issues.
It can shine through every aspect of your work when you have, or haven’t engaged in deep thought of critical issues. It reveals itself through your reading choices, the clarity and coherence of your thinking, how they synthesise material and even in the kinds of difficulties you encounter. If you devote little time to thought, your work is unlikely to merit or gain the highest grades.
6 ways to increase your thinking time
If your ‘thinking time’ is pressurised or you are not aware of how and when you think at your best, give more attention to your thought processes. Become more aware of what helps you think at your best for different kinds of thinking: creative, critical, empathetic, reflective, etc.
1. Identify when you think best
Reflect on the times where you feel most alert and engaged in working through ideas and thoughts. Do they come more easily when you are:
- Writing
- Talking
- Walking
- In silence
- Doing something practical or creative?
Whatever helps, make time to do it.
2. Think differently
If you’re stuck with ideas when brainstorming, try a new strategy to help you when thinking.
For instance, think through your fingertips: develop thoughts through writing. You may not even know what you think before you start. Use initial drafts to think about assignments.
3. Plan to think
Now that you know the best time for you to think, add it into your daily/weekly routine.
Plan time for thought into your diary by making it a task alongside your assignments. That way, you won’t forget to do it!
4. Think across the process
What is required from you at each stage of your work?
Leave sufficient time to think about each stage of assignments: what to read, question, include, conclude, critique, debate, so all of your work demonstrates thoughtfulness. Then, plan for time to act on each of these stages, so you get it done.
Planning assignments also helps to shape thoughts. Address gaps in understanding that might emerge during the planning stages.
5. Grapple with the issues
Put time into understanding what is problematic about the topic – why it is of interest to researchers and set for you as an assignment.
6. Clarify your own position
Put time into clarifying where you stand on the main debates in your subject and how you would defend your position on these.
Choose at least one
Commit to choosing at least one of the suggestions in this article to support you in thinking more thoughtfully for your assignment.
More from Bloomsbury
Explore Stella Cottrell’s 50 ways to boost your grades for more practical tips!
Use mindfulness activities in your every day studies with Stella Cottrell's Mindfulness for students.
