When the teacher told you to put on your thinking cap, you were being invited to engage in mediation.
A thinking cap is simply an imaginary cap that is humorously said to be worn to enhance thinking. Some of the synonyms that can represent thinking cap include "think logically", "meditate", etc.
To put on your thinking cap means for an individual to meditate or think seriously about a particular thing. For example, a teacher can tell the students to put on their <em>thinking cap</em> before answering questions. It simply means they should meditate and think properly before they answer the questions.
She is relying on the primary source. This is because, the writer is first hand information about the experience of the author. What made it a primary source is also coupled with the fact that, the writer is the one that experience it and the one that is wrote the book based on his experience.
It reveals character personality details. It allows one character to speak alone. It allows characters to be silent for a while. It demonstrates action instead of speech.