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Reflective practice toolkit, introduction.
- What is reflective practice?
- Everyday reflection
- Models of reflection
- Barriers to reflection
- Free writing
- Reflective writing exercise
- Bibliography
Many people worry that they will be unable to write reflectively but chances are that you do it more than you think! It's a common task during both work and study from appraisal and planning documents to recording observations at the end of a module. The following pages will guide you through some simple techniques for reflective writing as well as how to avoid some of the most common pitfalls.
What is reflective writing?
Writing reflectively involves critically analysing an experience, recording how it has impacted you and what you plan to do with your new knowledge. It can help you to reflect on a deeper level as the act of getting something down on paper often helps people to think an experience through.
The key to reflective writing is to be analytical rather than descriptive. Always ask why rather than just describing what happened during an experience.
Remember...
Reflective writing is...
- Written in the first person
- Free flowing
- A tool to challenge assumptions
- A time investment
Reflective writing isn't...
- Written in the third person
- Descriptive
- What you think you should write
- A tool to ignore assumptions
- A waste of time
Adapted from The Reflective Practice Guide: an Interdisciplinary Approach / Barbara Bassot.
You can learn more about reflective writing in this handy video from Hull University:
Created by SkillsTeamHullUni
- Hull reflective writing video transcript (Word)
- Hull reflective writing video transcript (PDF)
Where might you use reflective writing?
You can use reflective writing in many aspects of your work, study and even everyday life. The activities below all contain some aspect of reflective writing and are common to many people:
1. Job applications
Both preparing for and writing job applications contain elements of reflective writing. You need to think about the experience that makes you suitable for a role and this means reflection on the skills you have developed and how they might relate to the specification. When writing your application you need to expand on what you have done and explain what you have learnt and why this matters - key elements of reflective writing.
2. Appraisals
In a similar way, undertaking an appraisal is a good time to reflect back on a certain period of time in post. You might be asked to record what went well and why as well as identifying areas for improvement.
3. Written feedback
If you have made a purchase recently you are likely to have received a request for feedback. When you leave a review of a product or service online then you need to think about the pros and cons. You may also have gone into detail about why the product was so good or the service was so bad so other people know how to judge it in the future.
4. Blogging
Blogs are a place to offer your own opinion and can be a really good place to do some reflective writing. Blogger often take a view on something and use their site as a way to share it with the world. They will often talk about the reasons why they like/dislike something - classic reflective writing.
5. During the research process
When researchers are working on a project they will often think about they way they are working and how it could be improved as well as considering different approaches to achieve their research goal. They will often record this in some way such as in a lab book and this questioning approach is a form of reflective writing.
6. In academic writing
Many students will be asked to include some form of reflection in an academic assignment, for example when relating a topic to their real life circumstances. They are also often asked to think about their opinion on or reactions to texts and other research and write about this in their own work.
Think about ... When you reflect
Think about all of the activities you do on a daily basis. Do any of these contain elements of reflective writing? Make a list of all the times you have written something reflective over the last month - it will be longer than you think!
Reflective terminology
A common mistake people make when writing reflectively is to focus too much on describing their experience. Think about some of the phrases below and try to use them when writing reflectively to help you avoid this problem:
- The most important thing was...
- At the time I felt...
- This was likely due to...
- After thinking about it...
- I learned that...
- I need to know more about...
- Later I realised...
- This was because...
- This was like...
- I wonder what would happen if...
- I'm still unsure about...
- My next steps are...
Always try and write in the first person when writing reflectively. This will help you to focus on your thoughts/feelings/experiences rather than just a description of the experience.
Using reflective writing in your academic work
Many courses will also expect you to reflect on your own learning as you progress through a particular programme. You may be asked to keep some type of reflective journal or diary. Depending on the needs of your course this may or may not be assessed but if you are using one it's important to write reflectively. This can help you to look back and see how your thinking has evolved over time - something useful for job applications in the future. Students at all levels may also be asked to reflect on the work of others, either as part of a group project or through peer review of their work. This requires a slightly different approach to reflection as you are not focused on your own work but again this is a useful skill to develop for the workplace.
You can see some useful examples of reflective writing in academia from Monash University , UNSW (the University of New South Wales) and Sage . Several of these examples also include feedback from tutors which you can use to inform your own work.
Laptop/computer/broswer/research by StockSnap via Pixabay licenced under CC0.
Now that you have a better idea of what reflective writing is and how it can be used it's time to practice some techniques.
This page has given you an understanding of what reflective writing is and where it can be used in both work and study. Now that you have a better idea of how reflective writing works the next two pages will guide you through some activities you can use to get started.
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- Last Updated: Jun 21, 2023 3:24 PM
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Reflective Essay
Reflective essay generator.
Sometimes, it is our experiences that startled and challenged our own voyage that strengthens and improves us to be the best versions of ourselves. If your life experience greatly moved you, there is a certain essay that allows you to compose your own endeavor. In this article, read through because we will be discussing the fundamentals of writing a reflective essay.
They say that being wise is better than being knowledgeable. Wisdom is acquired through reflection of one’s experience as well as of the environment. The more we reflect the more we become aware of ourselves. We become mindful of our existence as well as the meaning of life and all the things that surround us. Here we present different formats of essays like essays in doc .
Reflective Essay Outline Template
- Google Docs
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Reflective Essay About Life Experience
- Apple Pages
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Reflective Essay Template
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Self Reflective Essay Template
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Personal Reflective Essay Template
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Personal Reflective Sample
High School Essay
- PDFReflective Essay Example Reflective Essay Example Reflective Essay Example
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Reflective Essay Outline
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Student Reflective Example
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Communication Reflective
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What Is a Reflective Essay?
A reflective essay is a written piece of literature that focuses on presenting and narrating a person’s experience and how it becomes an instrument towards a change of perception in life.
It is a way for a writer to share an important event in his/her life and how it affected him/her so that others may learn something from it. Reflective writing root on life-changing events. The writer shares a specific experience, provides a narration of the incident including the material elements. It offers a realization so that others who may have had the same experience can draw out a shared mutual lesson from it.
How to Write a Reflective Essay
To write a reflective short essay , you need to have the right disposition as well as the momentum. Remember that you are not just writing to say something but to share an important lesson in life.
1. Think of an important event. What you will be writing on your reflective essay is something that is rooted in your own personal experience or encounter of something. Think deep and concentrate. You may also see personal essay examples & samples.
2. Introduce your topic. In your introduction, write the concrete event or experience that you want to share. Pattern it in a story form.
3. Develop your point. Write the main content of your essay with at least three to five paragraphs supporting your main topic.
Final Reflective Essay
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Internship Reflective Essay
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Leadership Reflective Example
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Nursing Reflective Essay
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Research Reflective Example
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Tips on Writing a Reflective Essay
Writing a reflective essay is not persuasive writing where you have to convince your readers to accept your opinion. You simply have to share an experience.
1. Write a draft. Do not jump hastily onto formal writing . Write a draft where you can create a bulleted list of the things that you want to share.
2. Think logically. When presenting a story, do it in a chronological manner so that your readers can understand the plot. Do this as well when presenting your ideas.
3. Create a summary. Use a summary writing to briefly state your insights and to give your final thoughts of the topic.
Importance of a Reflective Essay
In this era that we currently live in, personal reflection can be considered a thing of the past. Because of the gradual change and development of the things around us, we find it difficult to pause and reflect on the things that happen to our lives. You may also see academic essay examples .
The importance of writing an essay is to present to us the things that we rarely encounter in our day-to-day activities. In this time when material things are all that mattered, we have become unappreciative of the abstract things like love, compassion, and mercy. We cannot learn these things from those electronic gadgets that keep us busy.
How to Start a Reflective Essay Correctly
As mentioned above, a reflective essay presents and narrates the experience of a writer and how it changes the way he/she perceives life. In a simpler sense, it talks about how the author reflected on a certain adventure. As an essayist, since it’s you who bears the story and lessons, you are the one who is responsible for expressing it.
Just like any other composition, it’s your introduction that catches the attention of the reader. Thus, in order for your essay to be fully read, it is important to start your essay remarkably. If you find writing an introduction for your reflective essay challenging, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In this section, we are going to slowly tackle the ways to compose a compelling introduction.
1. Being catchy is the key.
In writing your reflective essay, you must start with something that would captivate the readers right away. Since the purpose of the introduction is to grab some attention, you may include some unique and interesting facts or beliefs. In this part, showcase your creativity by adding an introduction that is written in a bizarre manner and not those that depict cliché experience. You may also utilize a highly moving quotation or a dialogue that would also be appropriate for your reader.
2. Write the thesis statement in one sentence.
A thesis statement refers to the sentence that carries the topic being discussed in the whole essay. Therefore, it bears the central idea in which your essay revolves around. In writing your own essay, construct this statement in a clear and concise sentence. In this way, the reader will have a better grasp of your topic and would be clearly oriented on what you want to convey. In most cases, thesis statements are written at the end of the introduction.
3. Stick to the first person POV.
Remembering that this essay is subjective and depends on the author’s interpretation, it is important to use the first person point of view. By using this POV, it would be easier for you to convey your thoughts and opinions, and it would engage you to the readers like you’re telling a story in person. The first person involves the pronouns I , me , my , and mine .
4. Keep it brief.
When it comes to writing your own essay, you must perceive what your readers feel or see in reading your composition. Always put into mind that readers also have their own time to spend, and without a mark in the writing industry, people won’t invest much time on reading your essay. Thus, it is important to keep your composition concise. You can utilize a paragraph of five to ten sentences in your introduction. Using this number of sentences, you must already express a complete and clear thought of an essay that is worth reading.
Reflective Essay Example
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Reflective Essay Assessment
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Reflective Essay Format
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Basic Reflective Essay
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Reflective Final Essay
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Sample Reflective Essay
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Simple Reflective Essay Example
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Standard Reflective Essay
Professional Reflective Essay
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Sample Reflective Essay in PDF
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Text prompt
- Instructive
- Professional
Write a Reflective Essay on your most meaningful learning experience.
Create a Reflective Essay about a time when you showed leadership.
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acement. You might also have to write reflectively about the process you went through in order to carry out a project or to produce another as. ignment. This kind of assignment feels strange at first to many students, and you might be wondering where to start with yo. r essay. Before you start, check the f. llowing:What have you been asked to wri.
Types of reflective writing. 1. REFLECTION: when you ask questions about something you would like to better understand, e.g. a problem to solve or an issue to consider. 2. REFLECTIVE PRACTICE: when you reflect on the relationship between practice in your area of study and the theories you are being introduced to. 3.
ting?Reflective writing is evidence of reflective thinking. n an academic context, reflective thinking usually involves:1 Looking back at something (often an event, i.e. some. hing that happened, but it could also be an idea or object).2 Analysing the event or idea (thinking in depth and from different perspectives, and trying to explain, ften ...
The style and tone of your reflective essay should match the purpose of the overall assignment. This is a personal essay meant to showcase what you learned from the text, event, or experience that you are writing about. You can use the pronouns "I," "me," and "mine.". Describe the text, event, or experience fully, using plenty of ...
Reflective Writing and the Revision Process 195 Dear Reader, This essay is about how I feel about the changes in the financial aid rules. I talk about how they say you're not eligible even if your parents aren't supporting you anymore. I also talk a little bit about the HOPE
REFLECTIVE WRITING Purpose . Reflective writing or a Reflective Essay critically discusses personal experience and opinion in light of broader literature,theories or subject materials. Conventions and expectations may differ across contexts, so always check expectations about the format with your lecturer or tutor. Structure
As in academic writing, reflective writing requires the use of formal language, arguments supported by evidence, and fully referenced information resources. Reflective writing looks to the future. You need to show how your reflection on what happened in the past will inform your future practice.
Elements of a reflective essay WHAT IS REFLECTIVE WRITING Reflection involves looking back and evaluating your actions, in light of the relevant literature in your subject, with a view to improving your practice, task or analysis. Note: Concepts of 'reflection' may vary among disciplines but you will usually be asked to write a reflective ...
Reflective WritingReflective writing is a bit different from the academic writing students might be. ore familiar with. Lecturers usually set reflective assignments to have students reveal their personal thoughts about a learning experience - what happened, why it happened, and what can. be learnt from it. It is not simply describing somethin.
arned? Introduction 1. First, identify and briefly expl. t. e text or experience. 2. The next step would be to indicate your reaction. t. e text or experience. 3. Finally, you will e. d with a thesis statement. Your purpose for writing the reflection shoul. be clear to your readers. For more information on how to create a strong thesi.
There are 6 steps to Moon [s model on how to being writing a reflective piece. Steps to Reflection - simplified model adapted from Moon (1999a) The first three steps are the basic steps required for later reflection: 1. PURPOSE - an understanding of the purpose of the reflective activity 2. BASIC OBSERVATIONS - of the event 3.
Self-Reflection. "Before my internship I knew I wanted to attend grad school, but I always said I want to work two years then figure it out. My coworkers pushed and poked my brain to really determine what I want to do now. They made me realize how hard it is to start working and go back to grad school. I have now figured out that I want to ...
Example of reflective writingBelow is an example of a student's reflection on an experience they found quite c. allenging while on placement.The different coloured sections of text indicate where the student has demonstrated the characte. istics of reflective writing.The most significant learning experience from my work placement was a ...
The structure of a piece of reflective writing varies greatly. If you have a reflective writing task, read the instructions carefully to see if a structure is provided. reflective essay should follow the classic essay format of introduction, body, and conclusion. Some other common formats include journaling or using a reflective model for only ...
Blogs are a place to offer your own opinion and can be a really good place to do some reflective writing. Blogger often take a view on something and use their site as a way to share it with the world. They will often talk about the reasons why they like/dislike something - classic reflective writing. 5. During the research process
This is why reflective writing is so important. By using reflective writing, we can channel the 'Tacit Knowledge' and put it on paper. We can do this by Freewriting. Freewriting This is essential to the reflective writing process, and it can help to develop a deeper more critical type of understanding. In academia, you have to do a lot of ...
Your reflective essay should be based on your journal writing and your insights and perspectives once the internship comes to a close. The essay should be 1000-1500 words, or 2-3 pages. Your essay will be forwarded Faculty Adviser, who will determine pass/fail for internship credit.
Reflective Essay: Sample Paper Format Introduction Common elements in a reflective writing introduction include: Q identify the focus of your reflection (e.g., your experience, a specific situation or story, an overview of a collection of experiences) Q identify theories or course material that will help you to explore your experience more deeply
this essay on the assessment of pain, Raymet demonstrates her reflective writing skills near the end of her course. Raymet had by this stage written several reflective practice essays and gained good marks. This time though she was encouraged to deepen her reflections, speculating selectively on
The Use of Reflective Writing to Improve Students' Writing and Critical Thinking Skills. January 2017. DOI: 10.5220/0007166903310335. Conference: Tenth International Conference on Applied ...
1. Think of an important event. What you will be writing on your reflective essay is something that is rooted in your own personal experience or encounter of something. Think deep and concentrate. You may also see personal essay examples & samples. 2. Introduce your topic. In your introduction, write the concrete event or experience that you ...
Sample Reflective Essay. My senior project, "designing a senior party donor marketing campaign", was very relevant. to my career goal in business. I plan to attend SOU next year and study business, but, prior to this project, I was unsure what direction in business I would take, as I have found both marketing and accounting attractive.
Inclusivity. essment overviewA reflective essay is a piece of writing, where students are expected to describe and reflect on their experiences regarding a module's activities and learning outcomes, based on t. eir experiences. B&E students are expected to submit a 3,000-word limit essay, while USE students have to submit a 1,000-word limit ...