intellectual process
Intellectual growth
Marking first-year essays has reminded me of where I started, and everything I’ve learned along the way. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Essay-writing
All British university students are required to write essays…. So why isn’t essay-writing taught anywhere? Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
New Year
The start of my second year brings me out of silence, and into questions about what kind of academic I want to be. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Summer
Reflections on the PhD process, and preparing for the year ahead.
Reading and Transformation
My style of learning and understanding has completely changed — and now I understand the point of a PhD. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Procrastination
The important role of procrastination in the intellectual process: maybe it’s not just laziness. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Confidence and Motivation
In moving from details to the big picture thinking, I suffered a crisis of confidence and discovered that a PhD is about a lot more than intellect. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Just the Right Place
After a formidable search through the social science departments of Scotland, I found the perfect fit: a place with radical politics, a visionary attitude, and helpful people. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
The Eureka Moment
The beautiful sensation of seeing everything fall into place, just for a moment: an intellectual high. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Illness
The flu, from a PhD perspective: not what I expected. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
What’s it for?
Reflections on the wider purposes of higher education, beyond vocational training. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Looking Ahead
Reflections at the start of my PhD. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Just Get a Job
On the politics of work and study.
Power of the Pen
Exploring the role of writers in social movements, focusing on the frameworks writers build and how they can recreate the dominant paradigm, or empower us to see the world differently (final essay for my Spiritual Activism module).