(Identifying outcomes)
Reflecting helps you to clarify what you have studied, integrate new knowledge with previous knowledge, and identify the questions you have and what you have yet to learn. .
Reflecting on mistakes can help you avoid repeating them. At the same time, reflecting on your discoveries helps identify successful principles to use again.
Many learners go through university with a passive approach to learning. Such learners engage with the learning process by accepting information that is presented to them. They often do not consider learning as a skill. Taking an active approach will help you develop your process of learning (making it easier and quicker). Such learners recognise the contestable nature of information that is presented to them. They often engage with activities, quizzes and further research to build their own understanding and viewpoint. That is a winning idea for any student.
For lots of professions, reflective practice is an important part of the job. This is valuable in many, if not all professions and is valuable for helping you continue to identify and build your professional skills development.
The table above is adapted from The Learning Centre, University of New South Wales ( 2013 )
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Reflective writing is a balancing act with many factors at play: description, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, and future application. Reflective writers must weave their personal perspectives with evidence of deep, critical thought as they make connections between theory, practice, and learning. The steps below should help you find the appropriate balance among all these factors.
As with any writing situation, the first step in writing a reflective piece is to clarify the task. Reflective assignments can take many forms, so you need to understand exactly what your instructor is asking you to do. Some reflective assignments are short, just a paragraph or two of unpolished writing. Usually the purpose of these reflective pieces is to capture your immediate impressions or perceptions. For example, your instructor might ask you at the end of a class to write quickly about a concept from that day’s lesson. That type of reflection helps you and your instructor gauge your understanding of the concept.
Other reflections are academic essays that can range in length from several paragraphs to several pages. The purpose of these essays is to critically reflect on and support an original claim(s) about a larger experience, such as an event you attended, a project you worked on, or your writing development. These essays require polished writing that conforms to academic conventions, such as articulation of a thesis and substantive revision. They might address a larger audience than you and your instructor, including, for example, your classmates, your family, a scholarship committee, etc.
It’s important, before you begin writing, that you can identify the assignment’s purpose, audience, intended message or content, and requirements. If you can’t, ask your instructor for clarification.
Refer to the Borton, DIEL, and DIEP models as you generate ideas for your writing. To meet the tasks identified in those models you might consider things like:
The Borton, DEAL, and DIEP frameworks can help you consider how to organize your content. Remember that your reflection will generally include descriptive writing, followed by analysis and interpretation, followed by consideration of significance for future action. That pattern might be developed once throughout a short piece or repeated several times in an academic reflective essay.
When writing an academic reflection essay (as opposed to a short reflection), you’ll need to devise and support a thesis. That thesis should be an interpretive or evaluative claim, or series of claims, that moves beyond obvious statements (such as, “I really enjoyed this project”) and demonstrates you have come to a deeper understanding of what you have learned and how you will use that learning. For example, the thesis below appeared in an end-of-semester reflection essay, written in response to an assignment asking students to consider their writing progress. Notice that the student makes a focused, interpretive claim that can be supported throughout her essay with evidence from her own writing.
Throughout this class, I’ve learned that a skilled writer writes with a central focus in mind. Writing with a central focus results in a greater emphasis on the writer’s message and brings about specificity and clarity within the writing piece.
A word about thesis placement: Because a reflection essay combines personal perception with academic convention, the thesis does not necessarily appear in the introduction. Many writers build to the thesis in the conclusion of their essays. You should place the thesis where it is most effective based on the essay’s structure.
And speaking of structure, there is no one-size-fits-all organization pattern for an academic reflection essay. Some writers introduce the subject, follow the introduction with a series of reflections, and then move to an interpretive close. Others establish a chronology of events, weaving the implications of those events throughout. Still others articulate a series of major points, supporting those points with evidence. You should craft an organizational structure that best fits your distinctive ideas and observations.
However you choose to organize an academic reflection essay, you’ll need to support your claims with evidence. Evidence is defined broadly in an academic reflection, so it might include such things as anecdotes, examples, relevant material from a course or outside sources, explanations of logic or decision-making, definitions, speculations, details, and other forms of non-traditional evidence. In the example below, notice how the writer uses her decision to limit the scope of a project as evidence to support her claim.
Keeping a central focus in mind applies to multimodal compositions as well as written essays. A prime example of this was in my remix. When storyboarding for the video, I wanted to appeal to all college students in general. Within my compressed time limit of three minutes, I had planned to showcase numerous large points. It was too much. I decided to limit the scope of the topic to emphasize how digitally “addicted” Ole Miss college students are and that really changed the project in significant ways.
A single, unpolished draft may suffice for short, in-the-moment reflections. Longer academic reflection essays will require significant drafting, revising, and editing. Whatever the length of the assignment, keep this reflective cycle in mind:
Types of reflective writing assignments.
A journal requires you to write weekly entries throughout a semester. May require you to base your reflection on course content.
A learning diary is similar to a journal, but may require group participation. The diary then becomes a place for you to communicate in writing with other group members.
A logbook is often used in disciplines based on experimental work, such as science. You note down or 'log' what you have done. A log gives you an accurate record of a process and helps you reflect on past actions and make better decisions for future actions.
A reflective note is often used in law. A reflective note encourages you to think about your personal reaction to a legal issue raised in a course.
An essay diary can take the form of an annotated bibliography (where you examine sources of evidence you might include in your essay) and a critique (where you reflect on your own writing and research processes).
a peer review usually involves students showing their work to their peers for feedback.
A self-assessment task requires you to comment on your own work.
Social science fieldwork report (methods section).
The field notes were written by hand on lined paper. They consisted of jotted notes and mental triggers (personal notes that would remind me of specific things when it came to writing the notes up). I took some direct observational notes recording what I saw where this was relevant to the research questions and, as I was aiming to get a sense of the culture and working environment, I also made researcher inference notes . I found the note-taking process itself helpful, as it ensured that I listened carefully and decoded information. Not all the information I recorded was relevant but noting what I found informative contributed to my ability to form an overview on re-reading. However, the reliability of jotted notes alone can be questionable. For example, the notes were not a direct transcription of what the subjects said but consisted of pertinent or interesting information. Rarely did I have time to transcribe a direct quotation, so relied on my own fairly rapid paraphrasing, which risks changing the meaning. Some technical information was difficult to note down accurately . A tape recorder would have been a better, more accurate method. However, one student brought a tape recorder and was asked to switch it off by a participant who was uneasy about her comments being directly recorded. It seems that subjects feel differently about being recorded or photographed (as opposed to observers taking notes), so specific consent should be sought before using these technologies . | Description/ explanation of method.
Includes discipline-specific language
Critical evaluation of method
Conclusion and recommendation based on the writer's experience |
Question: Discuss at least two things you learnt or discovered – for example about design or working in groups or the physical world – through participating in the Impromptu Design activities. Firstly, the most obvious thing that I discovered was the advantage of working as part of a group . I learned that good teamwork is the key to success in design activities when time and resources are limited. As everyone had their own point of view, many different ideas could be produced, and I found the energy of group participation made me feel more energetic about contributing something . Secondly I discovered that even the simplest things on earth could be turned into something amazing if we put enough creativity and effort into working on them . With the Impromptu Design activities we used some simple materials such as straws, string, and balloons, but were still able to create some 'cool stuff' . I learned that every design has its weaknesses and strengths and working with a group can help discover what they are. We challenged each other's preconceptions about what would and would not work. We could also see the reality of the way changing a design actually affected its performance. | Addresses the assignment question Reflects on direct experiences Direct reference to the course activity The style is relatively informal, yet still uses full sentences. Relating what was learnt. |
Last week's lecture presented the idea that science is the most powerful form of evidence . My position as a student studying both physics and law makes this an important issue for me and one I was thinking about while watching the 'The New Inventors' television program last Tuesday . The two 'inventors' (an odd name considering that, as Smith (2002) says, nobody thinks of things in a vacuum) were accompanied by their marketing people. The conversations were quite contrived, but also funny and enlightening. I realised that the marketing people used a certain form of evidence to persuade the viewers (us?) of the value of the inventions . To them, this value was determined solely by whether something could be bought or sold—in other words, whether something was 'marketable'. In contrast, the inventors seemed quite shy and reluctant to use anything more than technical language, almost as if this was the only evidence required – as if no further explanation was needed.
This difference forced me to reflect on the aims of this course—how communication skills are not generic but differ according to time and place. Like in the 'Research Methodology' textbook discussed in the first lecture, these communication skills are the result of a form of triangulation, which I have made into the following diagram: ... | Description of topic encountered in the course The author's voice is clear Introduces 'everyday' life experience The style is relatively informal, yet still uses full sentences Makes an explicit link between 'everyday' life and the topic |
Brookfield, S 1987, Developing critical thinkers: challenging adults to explore alternative ways of thinking and acting , Open University Press, Milton Keynes.
Mezirow, J 1990, Fostering critical reflection in adulthood: a guide to transformative and emancipatory learning , Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.
Schön, DA 1987, Educating the reflective practitioner , Jossey-Bass. San Francisco.
We thank the students who permitted us to feature examples of their writing.
Prepared by Academic Skills, UNSW. This guide may be distributed or adapted for educational purposes. Full and proper acknowledgement is required.
2 hours ago
The effects of mindfulness and meditation on college students’ stress levels, the balance between surveillance and privacy in the digital age, the power of social media influencers on teenagers’ lifestyle choices, the influence of globalization on local traditions and cultural identity.
The essay example below is crafted to help you with your academic assignments and needs. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, seeking to gather ideas, or wanting to understand the specific structure required for this type of writing, this sample is designed to guide you. Use it as a resource to improve your writing skills and better understand how to approach various essay formats.
Self-reflection is a powerful tool that can significantly influence personal growth and academic success. By taking the time to think deeply about one’s experiences, actions, and goals, individuals can gain valuable insights that help them improve and achieve their full potential. This process involves examining one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and making adjustments to foster continuous development.
One of the primary benefits of self-reflection is that it enhances self-awareness. By regularly reflecting on their experiences, individuals can identify their strengths and weaknesses. This awareness allows them to build on their strengths and address areas for improvement. For example, a student who reflects on their study habits might realize that they are more productive in the morning. Armed with this knowledge, they can schedule their study sessions accordingly to maximize their efficiency.
Self-reflection also promotes emotional intelligence, which is the ability to understand and manage one’s emotions. By examining their emotional responses to different situations, individuals can develop better coping strategies and improve their emotional regulation. This is particularly important for college students, who often face significant stress and pressure. Through self-reflection, students can identify the sources of their stress and develop healthier ways to manage it, such as practicing mindfulness or seeking support from friends and family.
Another important aspect of self-reflection is that it encourages a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning. By reflecting on their experiences and recognizing their progress, individuals can cultivate a growth mindset and become more resilient in the face of challenges. For instance, a student who struggles with a difficult subject can use self-reflection to analyze their study methods, identify what works, and make necessary adjustments. This approach fosters perseverance and a positive attitude toward learning.
Self-reflection also plays a crucial role in goal setting and achievement. By regularly assessing their progress and reflecting on their goals, individuals can stay focused and motivated. This process helps them identify any obstacles or distractions that may be hindering their progress and develop strategies to overcome them. For example, a student who reflects on their academic goals might realize that they are spending too much time on social media. By setting boundaries and creating a study schedule, they can stay on track and achieve their goals.
In addition to personal growth, self-reflection can significantly impact academic success. Reflective practices, such as keeping a journal or engaging in regular self-assessment, can help students deepen their understanding of course material and improve their critical thinking skills. By reflecting on their learning experiences, students can identify gaps in their knowledge and seek additional resources or support. This proactive approach to learning enhances their academic performance and helps them achieve better grades.
Moreover, self-reflection encourages active learning and engagement. When students take the time to reflect on their coursework and study habits, they become more invested in their education. This increased engagement can lead to a deeper understanding of the material and a greater sense of accomplishment. For example, a student who reflects on a challenging assignment might discover new perspectives or connections that enhance their comprehension and appreciation of the subject.
Furthermore, self-reflection fosters a sense of responsibility and accountability. By regularly evaluating their actions and decisions, individuals can take ownership of their learning and personal development. This sense of accountability motivates them to set realistic goals, monitor their progress, and make necessary adjustments. For instance, a student who reflects on their time management skills might recognize the need to prioritize tasks and eliminate distractions. By taking responsibility for their actions, they can improve their productivity and achieve their academic goals.
Incorporating self-reflection into one’s daily routine does not have to be a complicated process. Simple practices, such as journaling, meditation, or regular self-assessment, can be effective ways to engage in self-reflection. Setting aside a few minutes each day to reflect on experiences, emotions, and goals can lead to significant personal and academic growth over time.
In conclusion, self-reflection is a valuable practice that promotes personal growth and academic success. By enhancing self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a growth mindset, self-reflection helps individuals navigate challenges and achieve their goals. Regular reflection also encourages active learning, engagement, and a sense of responsibility. By incorporating self-reflection into their daily routines, students can unlock their full potential and create a foundation for lifelong learning and development.
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What is a reflective essay, examples of reflective essays, lesson summary, reflective essays: explore further.
This lesson taught you what a reflective essay is and how it is structured, as well as giving you some important examples. In this lesson extension, follow the prompts below to examine this idea further.
How do reflective essays compare to other kinds of writing that you're already familiar with? What do they have in common with, for example, prose fiction writing? How about with expository or persuasive essays? Draw a Venn diagram comparing reflective essays to one or more other types of writing.
This lesson gave you three great examples of reflective essays. If you want to see more examples to get a sense of the writing style and how it works in different contexts, check out one or more of the essays listed below:
Now it's time to write your own reflective essay. This should be about an important event or journey in your life. It should be about something that changed the way you see yourself and the world. Think carefully about what you want to say. Start by outlining your thoughts, and then write your first draft. It's always good to go back and edit your work to make it the best that it can be. Have fun learning this new style of writing!
Reflective essays are essays in which the writer looks back on, or reflects upon, his or her experiences and how they caused personal change. Reflective essays require a writer to delve into memories that trigger a strong emotional response.
First, the writer should brainstorm and choose an event from their past to write about. The writer should format the reflective essay into an introduction, body, and conclusion. Within the essay, the writer should work to convey the most important lesson learned from the experience.
Reflective essays are essays in which the writer looks back on, or reflects upon, his or her experiences and how they caused personal change. Reflective essays involve self-reflection. Typically, the writer examines the past and analyzes it from the present. This is different from an informative essay , where the writer would present facts about a particular subject from a non-biased point of view. Reflective essays express the writer's attitude or feelings toward a subject, whereas an informative essay requires the writer to remain objective. Reflective essays are often compared to narrative essays . The key difference, however, is that a narrative essay focuses on a specific event in time, whereas the reflective essay focuses on the writer's personal changes due to their experiences.
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''Mr. Lytle, an Essay,'' by John Jeremiah Sullivan, a popular magazine writer, reflects on Sullivan's time being mentored in his twenties by the Southern renaissance writer, Andrew Lytle. Sullivan writes with such grace about art and futility, the Old South, and male relationships. Sullivan's reflective essay can be read online at the Paris Review .
"Once More to the Lake" is a reflective essay by E.B. White. Writer of popular children's fiction, including Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little , White was also an accomplished essayist . In this reflective essay, White reflects on the time that he and his son spent a week together on a lake in Maine. It is the same lake that White visited with his father as a boy. White's essay can be found in The Collected Essays of E.B. White .
''Notes of a Native Son'' was written by James Baldwin , who is also the author of Go Tell It on the Mountain . Baldwin opens this reflective essay with a stark contrast between life and death. Baldwin reflects on how his father died on the same day that his father's last child was born. He goes on to explore the memories and complicated relationship he had with his father.
The purpose of the reflective essay is to allow the writer to reflect on their personal growth. Therefore, the reflective essay is typically assigned to students in high school or those who are preparing for college. Often, universities will have prospective candidates submit reflective essays with their application. In addition, reflective essays are used in more business-type settings, where employers are looking to see maturity, growth, and the ability to analyze and think critically.
Great writers go through the writing process when composing their reflective essays. The steps below provide a helpful guide in creating a reflective essay.
The format of a reflective essay is similar to that of a narrative. However, the writer may change the format depending on what type of reflective essay that the audience is reading. For example, the audience would have different expectations when reading a business-type reflective essay as opposed to a student's academic essay. Typically, reflective essays follow the following format:
Introduction: The introduction can be one or two paragraphs. The introduction should begin with a ''hook,'' or an interesting statement to grab the reader's attention. It should also establish the thesis and frame of the reflective essay. Either directly or indirectly, the writer should use the introduction to state what the overall focus of the reflection will be.
Body: The body will be the longest section of the reflective essay. Typically, the body will resemble a narrative, in which the writer tells the story from their point of view. The body of the paper is where the writer gives full explanatory details on how the writer has changed and why. Furthermore, the writer should use imagery and descriptive language, rather than a simple retelling of key events.
Conclusion: The conclusion of the reflective essay will be one or two paragraphs. Here, the writer should reflect on the links between their experiences and the impacts these experiences have had on their personal growth. They should reflect on how they have changed and were affected by the topic. The writer may also use the conclusion to sum up the main points in the reflective essay. The writer should leave the reader with some final key insights about their future.
Choosing a good topic for a reflective essay can be difficult. The following is a list of common topics:
Reflective essays are essays in which the writer looks back on their experiences and their personal changes. Because reflective essays require the writer to analyze their past, these types of essays are usually assigned to older students. Reflective essays are also common in business-type settings, where employers are looking for candidates with the ability to express maturity, growth, and the ability to analyze and think critically.
When writing a reflective essay, writers should first choose a topic that triggers a strong emotional response. Next, the writer should research their topic, prepare an outline or graphic organizer, and organize their thoughts and ideas. Then, the writer can begin drafting the reflective essay. The writer may adapt the format of the reflective essay depending on their intended audience . However, most reflective essays will follow the typical narrative format: introduction, body, conclusion. In the introduction the writer should reveal, either directly or indirectly, what the overall focus of the reflection essay will be. In the body the writer should reflect on their experiences, changes, and personal growth. The writer will use the conclusion to sum up how they have changed and how they have been affected by the topic.
Format of a reflective essay.
A reflective essay is an essay in which the writer examines his or her experiences in life. The writer then writes about those experiences, exploring how he or she has changed, developed or grown from those experiences.
The format of a reflective essay may change slightly depending on who the audience is. For example, writing a reflective essay for a college course and an academic audience will have slight changes in how the essay is organized from writing a reflective essay for a magazine or a collection of essays, which has a broader audience, without people who have necessarily gone to college. However, some major elements go into a typical reflective essay: introduction, body and conclusion.
Reflective essays always have an introduction , where the speaker shares, either directly or indirectly, what the overall focus of the reflection will be. Many popular essay writers might be a bit indirect about their main topic, or about what part of their lives they will focus on. However, an academic writer should be more direct in explaining what aspect of his or her experiences that he or she will talk about.
The body of the reflective essay explains how the writer has changed or what the writer has learned. It also explains what things caused the writer to change. For example, many academic writers are asked to reflect on how they improved as writers over the semester or quarter. Those writers often share how different assignments and lessons made them stronger writers.
A strong reflective writer will not only share the change but also give examples as supporting details. For example, if a writer discusses becoming more optimistic in life, then examples should be given of what made this change, such as sharing an incident in which the writer took a positive approach to resolving the incident.
In the conclusion of a reflective essay, the writer sums up how he or she has changed or the effect of those changes. The writer also might look ahead or look backward. If looking ahead, the writer shares how he or she thinks the experiences in the essay will change him or her in the future. If looking backward, the writer will note how different he or she was in the past. Often, the writer will compare past and future selves to emphasize the difference.
Numerous essayists have used the reflective essay style to share ideas that are important to them or lessons that they have learned through personal experience. Examples include the following:
Reflective essays are written in order to look back on personal experiences and measure how that experience has helped the author to grow or change. Reflective essays should have a clear introduction, body and conclusion in order to share the past events and how those events created change in the writer. A few examples of reflective essays are Notes of a Native Son and Looking at Women.
Terms/Authors | Definitions/Works |
---|---|
written to look back on personal experiences and measure ways in which they helped the author grow or change | |
the speaker shares what the overall focus of the reflection will be | |
explains how the writer has changed or what the writer has learned | |
sums up ways in which the author has changed or the effects of those changes | |
and |
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50 best reflective essay examples (+topic samples).
If you have ever read reflective essay examples, you would know that these types of written works examine the writer’s life experiences . When you write a reflective paper example, you write about your own experiences and explore how you’ve changed, grown or developed because of those experiences. There’s no standard format for this essay as it may vary depending on the target audience.
Table of Contents
A reflective essay is a type of written work which reflects your own self. Since it’s about yourself, you already have a topic to write about. For reflective essay examples, readers expect you to evaluate a specific part of your life. To do this, you may reflect on emotions, memories, and feelings you’ve experienced at that time.
Since you’re writing reflection essay samples about yourself, make sure that they’re interesting and exciting. This is very important so that your readers don’t get bored with what you’ve written. Reflective essays are very personal thus, they’re a special type of essay. As you write one, you need to reflect, think, and explain.
In the essay, you should demonstrate and describe different feelings or emotions which you’ve felt in the past. These statements breathe life into your essay as your readers start picturing what you’ve written in their minds. Reflective essays are very honest, personal, and emotional, especially those which describe painful experiences.
As aforementioned, reflective essay examples don’t have a standard format. They seem easy enough to write but once you’ve sat down to start writing, you may suddenly find the task very challenging! Besides the format, you must think about the life experience you want to write about and remember everything about it.
A reflective paper example is a lot like a personal journal or diary. Of course, the difference is that other people will read your essay. Therefore, you must write it with good structure and coherence. In this regard, reflective essays are a lot like the other types of essays too.
When writing a reflective essay, you will have to examine your own life experiences. The purpose of writing such an essay is to provide yourself with a platform to share your most meaningful life experiences with other people. You can also use it as a way to explore how your experiences have changed you as a person.
You can present reflective writing in different formats. Most of the time though, people use a learning log or a diary entry format. You can use these formats and others. Just make sure that your essay has a good flow and that it’s easy for other readers to understand.
The format to use for your reflection essay samples would depend on your target audience. You can make an academic reflective essay or you can make it as a general and informal piece of writing. If you need to write the essay for a class assignment, follow the format given to you by your teacher.
No matter what format you choose, you may write an essay which:
Before you write your reflective essay examples, you must create an outline for them. Although you’d write about your own life, creating an outline gives structure to your essay to serve as a guide for what you want to write about.
Whether you need to write an essay for school, for a magazine or for any other reason, creating an outline is the very first step. With a good outline, you have a better idea of how your essay will flow from one paragraph to the next all the way to the conclusion.
When creating the outline of your reflective paper example, keep it organized. Develop the outline gradually and put a lot of thought into it. In doing this, you make the writing process much easier. Here is a rundown of the steps involved in the essay-writing process:
As you think about the content of your reflection essay samples, remember that the important thing is that such an essay must be highly personal but also engaging to readers. There’s so much more to reflective essays than just writing your story. You must also reflect on your experiences to engage your audiences.
For your starting point, think about the most significant experiences you had in your life. Those which had either a negative or a positive impact on you as a person. If the reflective essay is a school assignment, your professor would probably specify what you must write about. Here are some tips for you for writing your reflective paper example:
Reflective practice provides positive reinforcements for students in higher education to develop reflective writing skills, allowing them to enhance academic performance, self-reflection, decision-making and problem-solving strategies. This systematic review aims to describe essential aspects of reinforcing reflective practice through reflective writing and the contributions of reflective practice to the praxis of the students’ reflective writing skills in higher education. Using 20 of 745 peer-reviewed articles published from 2018 to 2024 in Scopus and Web of Science-indexed journals, this research applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to underpin the data search and identification criteria, data selection and data analysis procedures. The findings show that reflective practice embedded in reflective writing can enhance students' academic performance, particularly reflective writing skills, self-reflection and appreciation of diverse cultures, shared beliefs and values and other practices across disciplines. Such vital aspects contribute to the praxis of effortful reflective writing skills developed to implement the processes of writing essays reflectively while concentrating on collaboration, critical thinking skills, deep learning and feedback. This reflective practice assists students in reinforcing their enthusiasm to keep writing reflective essays regardless of challenges and hindrances they encounter. The more time they spend on reflective writing skills, the more they will likely appreciate reflective practice that cultivates the powerful values behind writing activities.
https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.5.24
Abiolu, R. T. I. (2022). Applying Reflective writing as a participatory methodology for “speaking-up” about gender-based violence in South Africa. Critical Arts, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/02560046.2022.2122526
Ahmed, A. M. (2019). Students’ reflective journaling: an impactful strategy that informs instructional practices in an EFL writing university context in Qatar. Reflective Practice, 20(4), 483–500. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2019.1638246
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Bolton, G., & Delderfield, R. (2018). Reflective practice: Writing and professional development (5th ed.). SAGE.
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Colognesi, S., Deprit, A., Coppe, T., Van Nieuwenhoven, C., März, V., & Hanin, V. (2021). Developing student teachers’ reflexivity toward their course planning: Implementation of a Training program focused on writing and reflective skills. SAGE Open, 11(2), 215824402110168. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211016897
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Ezezika, O., & Johnston, N. (2023). Development and implementation of a reflective writing assignment for undergraduate students in a large public health biology course. Pedagogy in Health Promotion, 9(2), 101–115. https://doi.org/10.1177/23733799211069993
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Goagoses, N., & Koglin, U. (2020a). The role of social goals in academic success: Recounting the process of conducting a systematic review. In Systematic Reviews in Educational Research Methodology, Perspectives and Application (pp. 145–161). Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-27602-7_9
Goagoses, N., & Koglin, U. (2020b). The role of social goals in academic success: Recounting the process of conducting a systematic review. In Systematic Reviews in Educational Research (pp. 145–161). Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-27602-7_9
Gouthro, P. A., & Holloway, S. M. (2018). Learning to be critically reflective: exploring fiction writing and adult learning. Studies in Continuing Education, 4(2), 133–148. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/0158037X.2017.1415875
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Gudeta, D. (2022). Professional development through reflective practice: The case of Addis Ababa secondary school EFL in-service teachers. Cogent Education, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2022.2030076
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Heron, M., & Corradini, E. (2023). A genre-based study of professional reflective writing in higher education. Teaching in Higher Education, 28(3), 504–516. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2020.1824178
Hughes, J. A., Cleven, A. J., Ross, J., Fuentes, D. G., Elbarbry, F., Suzuki, M., Della Paolera, M., Carter, N. S., Stamper, B., Low, P., Malhotra, A., & Faro, S. J. E. (2019). A comprehensive reflective journal-writing framework for pharmacy students to increase self-awareness and develop actionable goals. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 83(3), 6554. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe6554
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More than 100 reference examples and their corresponding in-text citations are presented in the seventh edition Publication Manual . Examples of the most common works that writers cite are provided on this page; additional examples are available in the Publication Manual .
To find the reference example you need, first select a category (e.g., periodicals) and then choose the appropriate type of work (e.g., journal article ) and follow the relevant example.
When selecting a category, use the webpages and websites category only when a work does not fit better within another category. For example, a report from a government website would use the reports category, whereas a page on a government website that is not a report or other work would use the webpages and websites category.
Also note that print and electronic references are largely the same. For example, to cite both print books and ebooks, use the books and reference works category and then choose the appropriate type of work (i.e., book ) and follow the relevant example (e.g., whole authored book ).
Examples on these pages illustrate the details of reference formats. We make every attempt to show examples that are in keeping with APA Style’s guiding principles of inclusivity and bias-free language. These examples are presented out of context only to demonstrate formatting issues (e.g., which elements to italicize, where punctuation is needed, placement of parentheses). References, including these examples, are not inherently endorsements for the ideas or content of the works themselves. An author may cite a work to support a statement or an idea, to critique that work, or for many other reasons. For more examples, see our sample papers .
Reference examples are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Chapter 10 and the Concise Guide Chapter 10
Textual works are covered in Sections 10.1–10.8 of the Publication Manual . The most common categories and examples are presented here. For the reviews of other works category, see Section 10.7.
Data sets are covered in Section 10.9 of the Publication Manual . For the software and tests categories, see Sections 10.10 and 10.11.
Audiovisual media are covered in Sections 10.12–10.14 of the Publication Manual . The most common examples are presented together here. In the manual, these examples and more are separated into categories for audiovisual, audio, and visual media.
Online media are covered in Sections 10.15 and 10.16 of the Publication Manual . Please note that blog posts are part of the periodicals category.
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Here's a recap of the contents of this article, which also serves as a way to create a mind map: 1. Identify the topic you will be writing on. 2. Note down any ideas that are related to the topic and if you want to, try drawing a diagram to link together any topics, theories, and ideas. 3.
The language of reflective writing. Reflective academic writing is: almost always written in the first person. evaluative - you are judging something. partly personal, partly based on criteria. analytical - you are usually categorising actions and events. formal - it is for an academic audience. carefully constructed.
Both the language and the structure are important for academic reflective writing. For the structure you want to mirror an academic essay closely. You want an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. Academic reflection will require you to both describe the context, analyse it, and make conclusions. However, there is not one set of rules ...
4. Writing the Body. Write the body of your essay, which should include the personal reflection, description of the experience, analysis of the experience, evaluation of the experience, identification of key learning, and planning for future action. Make sure to use specific examples and details to support your reflection. 5.
Benefits of writing reflective essays for personal growth and development; II. Choosing a Reflective Essay Topic: Exploring personal experiences and their impact; ... The format of a reflective essay can vary depending on the intended audience. A reflective essay might be academic or part of a broader piece of writing for a magazine, for example.
Reflective writing is a process of identifying, questioning, and critically evaluating course-based learning opportunities, integrated with your own observations, experiences, impressions, beliefs, assumptions, or biases, and which describes how this process stimulated new or creative understanding about the content of the course.
Using reflective writing in your academic work. Even if it is not immediately obvious from the description, many of the academic assignments you will need to complete contain some form of reflection. You might be asked to write an essay where you respond to a piece of text or an image, relate a topic to your own experiences or discuss whether a ...
Any kind of reflection that is expected to be presented for assessment in an academic, professional, or skill development context. Academic reflection will be used primarily, but refer to all three areas. ... Academic reflective writing is a genre and just like an essay has characteristics, so does academic reflective writing.
Reflective essays are academic essays; what makes an essay "good" will work for a reflective essay. What is different about a reflective essay is that the essay is about you and your thinking. However, you will need evidence from your course to back up your reflections. You should structure a reflective essay as an essay, that is write to ...
The reflective essay is one of the most common reflective assignments and is very frequently used for both formative and especially summative assessments. Reflective essays are about presenting reflections to an audience in a systematic and formal way. Generally, all good academic practice for assignments applies when posing reflective essays.
Ask students to reflect at the end of the term on their development as a writer. An end-of-the term reflective essay that requires students to cite passages from their own work and to reflect on the ways ... Washington, DC: The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. Lang, James M. 2014. Cheating Lessons: Learning from Academic ...
By examining past experiences through the lens of present understanding, researchers gain invaluable insights into their academic development and scholarly identity. Evidence-Based Reflection. While reflective writing embraces subjectivity, it remains grounded in evidence and critical inquiry.
The Hull Employability Awards. A normal requirement of assessment at university is the ability to write in an academic style. Based on the application of reason and argumentation, academic essays draw on other academic sources. The style of writing is impersonal and discursive. Reflective writing style is different in several respects.
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.
Background on reflection for learning. Reflection and learning are deeply intertwined with each other and reflections are central in integrating theoretical and practical competencies, as well as to raise awareness around implicit assumptions (Mezirow, Citation 1997; Schön, Citation 1983).In practice, students will face several situations that are unclear, confusing, complex, and unstable ...
4th Step: Draft, Revise, Edit, Repeat. A single, unpolished draft may suffice for short, in-the-moment reflections. Longer academic reflection essays will require significant drafting, revising, and editing. Whatever the length of the assignment, keep this reflective cycle in mind: briefly describe the event or action;
We thank the students who permitted us to feature examples of their writing. Prepared by Academic Skills, UNSW. This guide may be distributed or adapted for educational purposes. Full and proper acknowledgement is required. Learn more about the different types & examples of reflective writing including journal, learning diary, peer review and more.
In conclusion, self-reflection is a valuable practice that promotes personal growth and academic success. By enhancing self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a growth mindset, self-reflection helps individuals navigate challenges and achieve their goals. Regular reflection also encourages active learning, engagement, and a sense of ...
the PDP into the reflective essay. Now, students use the lessons from their reflections to think about what they'll do in the future and how they may go about doing it. The PDP is intended as a tool for students to support their self-reflection, continuous learning and skills development outside of an academic environment. Design decisions
Reflective writing may be undervalued as purely expressive rather than a critical or an academic tool in undergraduate public health biology courses. When grounded in course concepts and academic learning, a reflective essay can be a learning tool for students that helps them use discipline knowledge and apply it to real-world issues.
Teacher Professional Development; ... the audience would have different expectations when reading a business-type reflective essay as opposed to a student's academic essay. Typically, reflective ...
A reflective essay is a type of written work which reflects your own self. Since it's about yourself, you already have a topic to write about. For reflective essay examples, readers expect you to evaluate a specific part of your life. To do this, you may reflect on emotions, memories, and feelings you've experienced at that time.
This reflective practice assists students in reinforcing their enthusiasm to keep writing reflective essays regardless of challenges and hindrances they encounter. ... Reflection as a core student learning activity in higher education - Insights from nearly two decades of academic development. International Journal for Academic Development, 25 ...
It involves a deep dive into one's thoughts, emotions, and experiences to extract meaningful insights that contribute to personal growth. This reflective essay aims to examine various aspects of my life, focusing on the significant experiences that have shaped my identity, values, and aspirations. By exploring my academic achievements ...
Mission. The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives.
Body Paragraph 1. The setting of the story plays a crucial role in shaping the narrative and the characters' experiences. The coastal town, with its sun-drenched beaches and lively boardwalk, serves as both a playground and a crucible for the protagonists.
4 HPCP440-1-Jan-Jun2024-SA2-TMB-V.2-07092023 8. Boston expects you to approach your work with honesty and integrity. Honesty is the basis of respectable academic work. Whether you are working on a formative assessment, a project, a paper (read at a conference), an article (published by a journal), or a summative assessment essay, you should never engage in plagiarism, unauthorised ...
More than 100 reference examples and their corresponding in-text citations are presented in the seventh edition Publication Manual.Examples of the most common works that writers cite are provided on this page; additional examples are available in the Publication Manual.. To find the reference example you need, first select a category (e.g., periodicals) and then choose the appropriate type of ...