2008-10-01, 04:36 PM
Wow, I hate it when the assignment is really vague like that. It doesn't give you very much to work with when you're trying to get started. On the other hand, overly restrictive topics are detrimental as well because it can be difficult to make it long enough when you can talk only on a narrow subject. There's a pretty delicate balance that most teachers just don't quite seem to get.
How to focus? (Suggestions on the essay would be good too, but I don't think anyone here is a speech language therapist.) Here are my current strategies:
-sleeping for 20 minutes when I stop focusing As he said, not a great idea. If you miss the alarm you'll be in trouble. Too risky.
- writing out a timetable that I can report on every 5 minutes - This might work, but 5 minutes seems to often. Would the time you spent on the time table be detracting from what time you have a available? Knowing your attention to detail this is a very real concern :p
- stopping when I get distracted (eg by Southperry. oops.) - XD Yeah, if you need to you may want to disconnect the internet. Unless you need it to work on your paper, in which case... I don't know what to do. I'm not gonna be selfish and tell you to come on xD
- keeping paper and pen handy so I can brainstorm - Definitely. Most of the time when I get distracted while writing it's because I have run out of ideas at the time. If you can get yourself to write up more ideas it will likely keep you on track
- having all my textbooks on hand - Probably a good idea, the reasons why are self explanatory.
- trying to direct myself from a top-down approach so I can keep my mind on the bigger picture - If that's how you work then definitely. I don't think it would help me very much though.
How to focus? (Suggestions on the essay would be good too, but I don't think anyone here is a speech language therapist.) Here are my current strategies:
-
- writing out a timetable that I can report on every 5 minutes - This might work, but 5 minutes seems to often. Would the time you spent on the time table be detracting from what time you have a available? Knowing your attention to detail this is a very real concern :p
- stopping when I get distracted (eg by Southperry. oops.) - XD Yeah, if you need to you may want to disconnect the internet. Unless you need it to work on your paper, in which case... I don't know what to do. I'm not gonna be selfish and tell you to come on xD
- keeping paper and pen handy so I can brainstorm - Definitely. Most of the time when I get distracted while writing it's because I have run out of ideas at the time. If you can get yourself to write up more ideas it will likely keep you on track
- having all my textbooks on hand - Probably a good idea, the reasons why are self explanatory.
- trying to direct myself from a top-down approach so I can keep my mind on the bigger picture - If that's how you work then definitely. I don't think it would help me very much though.