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Examples of Reflective Writing

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.

Some examples of reflective writing

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

Engineering Design Report

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.

Learning Journal (weekly reflection)

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. 

Essay and assignment writing guide

  • Essay writing basics
  • Essay and assignment planning
  • Answering assignment questions
  • Editing checklist
  • Writing a critical review
  • Annotated bibliography
  • How do I write reflectively?
  • Examples of reflective writing
  • ^ More support

How to Write a Reflective Journal with Tips and Examples

  • How To Create a Reflective Journal

One of the most commonly used and therapeutic ways to utilize your journal is to reflect upon experiences you deem profound or that had an impact on your life. Getting it all down on paper can really give you a completely different perspective on things. Writing in your journal can be an incredibly useful tool to help you better understand yourself and the world you operate in. Reflective learning journals are also a great way to find creative solutions to difficult problems.

So, what exactly is a Reflective Journal?

A reflective journal (aka a reflective diary) is the perfect place to jot down some of life's biggest thoughts. In a reflective journal, you can write about a positive or negative event that you experienced, what it means or meant to you, and what you may have learned from that experience.

A well-written journal can be an important tool. As with any tool, to get the most benefits, you need practice. This could mean forcing yourself to write, at first, but after a while, it will become like second nature. Write down your entry as soon as possible after the event. This way, the details will still be fresh in your mind, which will help later in your analysis.

5 Reasons To Write a Reflective Journal

Reflective journals are most often used to record detailed descriptions of certain aspects of an event or thought. For example, who was there, what was the purpose of the event, what do you think about it, how does it make you feel, etc. Write down everything, even if you don't have a clear idea of how this information will be helpful. 

Here are some of the most common reasons why people find reflective journals so useful:

  • To make sense of things that happened. What you write should sound as if you are describing the details to someone who wasn't there. Be as descriptive as possible. Just the act of writing down the details of what happened may give you perspective that you may not have otherwise considered had you just continued to think about it.
  • To speculate as to why something is the way it is.  Your views can come from your own common sense, or from something you have heard at a lecture or read in a book. Either way, speculating why something is the way it is can be a very useful exercise in reasoning.
  • To align future actions with your reflected values and experiences.  After positing your interpretation, continue to observe the subject of your speculation to decide whether you want to stick to your original views, or make changes. That is one of the great things about an online journal--you can make changes to your entries at any time.
  • To get thoughts and ideas out of your head.  Writing down your thoughts can help relieve pressure or help resolve problems. It will also help you focus the task at hand.
  • To share your thoughts and ideas with others.  Getting opinions from others about what you wrote can help you clarify your feelings for a deeper understanding of yourself.

The Reflective Journal Thought Process

When writing a reflective journal, you are simply documenting something that has happened in your life that requires you to make a change or consider the impact of your decision. Your journal, in many ways, is a dialogue that you are having with yourself. You are forcing your brain to think critically about something and to produce written words accordingly.

The worst thing you can do to a creative flow is to start inputting criticism before your thought is complete. Allow yourself the time to make a mistake and keep going. Who cares if you didn't phrase that exactly how you should have or you didn't spell that word right? Those things just aren't important here. Find whatever works for you.

4 Tips To Get Your Reflective Journaling Started

Writing a reflective journal requires not only that you describe a learning experience, but also that you analyze the topics covered and articulate your feelings and opinions about the subject matter. There is no set structure for writing a reflective journal, as the diary is meant for your own use. The writing process is entirely free-form. However, there are certain guidelines to follow that will make you more successful at this. Here are some basic tips at how to write a reflective journal. 

1. Always Keep the Journal Nearby

The first step in learning how to write a reflective journal is as simple as being prepared to jot down your thoughts and opinions on something you are learning anytime the mood strikes. For example, if you have an insightful observation about a book you're reading while on the bus, it pays to have your journal with you. Penzu's free diary software  come in handy in such a situation, as online and mobile entries can be made in your Penzu journal from any location.

2. Make Regular Entries

While you can write in whatever form and style you please, it's important to write regular entries, even if a moment of inspiration doesn't arise. This ensures you are reviewing content and actively thinking about what you have learned. This will develop your writing and critical thinking skills while keeping you organized. In the end, this should enable you to better understand specific topics you are studying.

3. Participate, Observe, Summarize and Contemplate

While reflecting is the main part of keeping a reflective diary, it's also vital that you first participate in a learning activity, make observations and summarize facts and experiences. For example, if you are writing a lab for science class, be sure to first cover what you did and what the goal and outcome of the experiment was prior to elaborating on your ideas and opinions of what was discovered. Reflective journaling is first about participating and observing before writing.

4. Review Regularly

Take time to read over previous journal entries and see how new experiences, additional knowledge and time have altered how you think and feel about the material you've been analyzing and contemplating. This will make the journal more valuable to you personally, as it will shed light on how you've grown. 

Reflective Journal Topic Examples

To create a reflective journal that really provides detail on your overall perspective on a variety of different situations, consider using one of the prompts below to help with your thought process.

  • Write about which relationships have the most meaning to you and why. Include ways you can grow to help maintain these close relationships and get rid of the toxic relationships currently in your life.
  • Write about what you are learning at school or in college.
  • Write about someone in your life who has experienced a positive change and how you can learn from their situation.
  • Write about what you want out of the next five years of your life and what you can do to achieve these goals.

If you’re looking for more topic examples, check out these great reflective journal prompts

Reflective Journal Example

The passage below is a sample reflective diary entry about losing a job:

“This week I lost my job because my employer thought I was not consistent in my work. At first I was a little upset, because I'm always on time, and I complete what I can by the end of the day. I couldn't figure out what she meant by stating that I wasn't consistent in my work. After thinking about the situation, I realized that I can only complete the work assigned to the best of my ability. What she doesn't realize is that the problem started because I constantly received incomplete reports. Whoever ends up with my former job will have the same issues if that problem isn't addressed first. However, knowing that I did what I could will allow me to continue to move forward with a positive outlook for the future.

A reflective journal is a personal account of an educational experience that offers a variety of benefits, from enhancing your writing skills and helping you retain information to allowing you to express your thoughts on new ideas and theories.

When keeping a reflective journal, it's important that you have privacy and convenience. Penzu's online account and mobile platform offer secure access and the ability to write entries from anywhere, and your diary will never get lost or stolen.

There's no time like the present - start your free online journal today!

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Reflective Learning Journals

What is reflective learning.

Our default way of tackling almost anything - assignments, projects, and even life - tends to be more like a checklist. We "tick the boxes" when we've finished a task and move on. How often do we REALLY stop to think, question, or reflect on what we've read or learned, or what we've learned. Mostly we're just glad to be done!

Watch the video below to learn a better approach. The concept of reflection - deciding how to make use of knowledge, information, or experience is a significant part of the learning process.

What is a Reflective Learning Journal?

                            writing

A learning journal is about writing that's done for the purpose of learning.  You are writing to learn. There is no single right way or wrong way to write a reflective learning journal. You simply write down, using your own personal everyday language, what you thought about or what you felt or experienced as you engaged with the reading or other course materials. Reflective writing or reflective practice help you develop the skills to be an independent learner.

  • Reflective Learning Journal Ideas A learning or reflective journal is a steadily growing document that you write to record the progress of your learning. This type of journal is not simply a summary of the course material; it should also include your reactions , your thoughts, your feelings and your questions about what you've learned. There is no right or wrong way to do this.

If You're Stuck....

How to get un-stuck when writing .

thinking

Your instructor explained her expectations in the guidelines she provided to the class, but you may still find yourself stuck when encounter that blank page. Here are some idea that might help you get unstuck:

  • Write as though talking to yourself or a friend. This puts you in touch with your writing voice and helps you express your thoughts which in turn, helps you connect what you're learning to the ideas or experiences meaningful to you.
  • Don't censor what you are thinking ahead of time. Don't judge what you are writing.Something that might seem silly or stupid at first may just be the seed that turns into something strong and focused as you continue to work with it.
  • Don't be afraid to express a negative reaction to something you read. Again, as you work with it, you will begin to understand why you responded the way you did. You may learn something about yourself, you didn't expect to.
  • Start to look for connections in the theories you are reading about to knowledge you have in other areas whether your personal life, other courses, your job or workplace, your family life, relationships etc. Notice patterns that may begin to emerge. This expands your learning and understanding in a real-world context.

Still stuck? Maybe some of the Student Reflection Question listed in the link below willhelp  jump start your thinking.

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ABSTRACT How should courses bearranged ifstudents aretobeencouragedto reflect upon their practice through the writing ofreflective journals? This research question was addressed inaction research studies offive courses in the allied health areas. The five studies fedinto one ...

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✓ Your response to experiences, opinions, events or new information ✓ Your response to thoughts and feelings ✓ A way of exploring your learning ✓ An opportunity to gain self-awareness ✓ A way to achieve clarity and better understanding of what you are learning ✓ A chance to develop writing skills ✓ A way of making meaning out of what you study CRITICAL WRITING ✓ Critical writing involves considering evidence to make reasoned conclusions ✓ a clear and confident refusal to accept the conclusions of other writers without evaluating the arguments and evidence that they provide; ✓ a balanced presentation of reasons why the conclusions of other writers may be accepted or may need to be treated with caution; ✓ a clear presentation of your own evidence and argument, leading to your conclusion; and ✓ a recognition of the limitations in your own evidence, argument, and conclusion. ESSENTIALS OF REFLECTIVE AND CRITICAL WRITING ✓ It requires research and development ✓ Depending on the task, it should focus on the question and answer the question ✓ It involves critical thinking and analysis ✓ The writing should be organised into paragraphs with accurate sentence structure, etc. ✓ It requires a formal style ✓ The discussion should be clear and coherent STEPS TO REFLECT ✓ Step one: Tell the story of what you might experience in as much detail as you can. Make sure you note anything that you are confident about as well as anything you might find difficult. ✓ Step two: Try to identify the main themes. Look holistically at what you have written. Think about everyone involved.

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13+ reflective journal templates – pdf.

We are all different and we experience different things in our lives. That is a general fact. But if you take the chance to look at that phrase in a much deeper context, you would see a kind of opening. An opening that would show you that all of us are practically the same because we experience the same things in our lives. To help you understand, we are practically the same because all of us experience happy and sad moments in our lives.

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Structure to Follow while Writing a Reflective Journal

  • The Situation. This is where you first narrate the things that happened at the moment that had affected you.
  • The Effect. You will jot down what you felt when the moment happened. Ask yourself what did you feel and how did your body react seeing that moment. You can also see more templates like Article Magazine.
  • The Interpretation. After writing what you felt, this is where you will write your realizations from that event based on what you felt. If you got hurt, did you realize that it was time to let go or still hold on? You may also see inspirational journal templates .
  • The Decision. This is where you depict your interpretation of real life.

Free Template of Professional Teacher Reflective Journal

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The Different Topics You can Write About in Your Journal

  • Learnings from school
  • Relationships
  • Future goals
  • Early school years
  • Embarrassing moments
  • Breathtaking moments
  • Past and future adventures
  • The meaning of a particular suffering (Logo Therapy)
  • Getting out of your comfort zone moments
  • Fights with parents and friends
  • Break-ups with a person you trusted the most
  • Talents you wish you had
  • Talks with God
  • Things you wish had happened
  • Things you had regret doing
  • Things you wish you could have done
  • Hurting someone you did not mean to
  • Losing a friend
  • Death of a friend or a family member
  • Struggles in a moment
  • Motivating moment

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Writing in the sciences...: Reflective Journals

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  • Referencing

What is Reflective Writing?

Reflective writing differs from the more objective forms of writing you do in assignments and reports.

Reflective writing encourages you to reflect upon your own thoughts, actions and experiences as they relate to what and how you are learning.

"Learning to write reflectively will equip you with the relevant ethical and analytical ability to benefit from your practical experiences.Reflection may be articulated differently, depending on whether you are speaking or writing about your experiences."

(Howatson-Jones, L (2010). Reflecting writing. In  Reflective practice in nursing.  Exeter; Learning Matters p. 120-121)

Examples of Reflective Writing

  • Monash University
  • University of Leeds
  • Canberra University (PDF)

sample reflective journal assignment pdf

What is a Reflective Journal?

A reflective journal is a personal and unstructured form of reflective writing. In a learning journal you can write about:

  • what you and others did on any particular occasion
  • what you thought; what others might have thought
  • what you felt; what others might have felt

Why write a reflective journal?

  • helps clarify thinking
  • allows you to express feelings about yourself/peers/lecturers/course content/your writing/others' writing
  • helps identify misunderstandings / non-understandings
  • can help you identify learning needs
  • can inform dialogues between you and your lecturer / peers
  • allows you to perceive links between knowledge/experience - past/present

Your journal could include reflective running notes on:

  • experiences with others
  • personal experiences which impinge on your work
  • interactions with peers / lecturers
  • things you did / would not say, but did think
  • feelings about your writings
  • comments on your reading
  • any increase in your knowledge
  • increase in your ability to articulate and identify issues
  • the expansion of your depth of understanding
  • changes in beliefs, theories, attitudes, relationships or practices

    ( Adapted from Gillie Bolton (2005).  Reflective Practice: writing and professional development.2nd Ed.)

Guided reflection

Guidelines for keeping a reflective diary/journal & writing up critical reflective incidents

  • Keep a journal of experiences over the year
  • Write up the journal entry/incident
  • Below the entry write up your reflections / analysis notes of the situation
  • Write up experiences the same day if possible
  • Use actual dialogue wherever possible to capture the situation
  • Make a habit of writing up at least one experience per work day/shift
  • Balance problematic experiences with satisfying experience
  • Challenge yourself at least once a day about something that you normally do without thought / take for granted
  • Ask yourself 'why do I do that?'  (i.e. make the normal problematic)
  • Always endeavour to be open and honest with yourself - find the authentic 'you' to do the writing

Ask yourself: 

What did I learn from the situation?  

In what way has it assisted my learning to be a health practitioner? 

Could the situation have been better managed?

(From: Johns (1992) & Carper (1978) in P. Palmer, S. Burns and C. Bulman, C.,   Reflective Practice in Nursing  (1994). London. Blackwell Scientific Publications. p. 112).

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    sample reflective journal assignment pdf

  6. FREE 6+ Reflective Writing Samples & Templates in PDF

    sample reflective journal assignment pdf

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  1. 2024 Reflective Report Assignment

  2. Reflective Journal of b.ed teaching practice

  3. Try my reflective journal app to help! https://nofoodrules.co/GetTheApp

  4. Reflective journal sample for B Ed students📗

  5. Introduction to reflective essays

  6. How to write reflection? Explained briefly with examples. #mbbs #newcurriculum

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  1. PDF Reflective-writing

    Critical reflection is often assessed through a wide variety of tools, such as learning and reflective journals, reports, reflection papers, case studies, or narratives. These types of assignments are increasingly popular in applied disciplines such as marketing, business, accounting, nursing, health sciences, social work or education.

  2. PDF Writing a Reflective Journal

    Writing a Reflective Journal Why is critical reflection important for learning? Reflection is essential to help us develop our understanding about ourselves, our learning experiences, our responses to what we're learning, and to develop and continue as effective practitioners throughout our professional life.

  3. (PDF) Reflective Journal as assignment

    This study assessed the benefits of keeping reflective journal writing on improving English writing skills, increasing motivation, enhancing creativity, and critical thinking among university students. It also explored differences in students' performance and attitudes due to gender, and some writing practices. The sample consisted of 120 male and female students from four sections of an ...

  4. PDF Reflective Journal Assignment

    The journal assignment is your opportunity to reflect on musings that you have, both in and out of class, and to collect your thoughts in a cumulative and creative way about the connections you see between mathematics and your life. 1.) You will be given a journal prompt periodically. You have one week to respond to these prompts.

  5. PDF Main Heading

    Here are extracts from a sample reflective journal written by 'Chrissy' for a first year nursing course. Read the example paying attention to the structure and language used.

  6. PDF Journals and Reflective Writing

    Journals are assigned in many kinds of courses. Although the journal provides an alternative to usual classroom communications, instructors of ten relate journal assignments to other classroom communications, as in a reading journal, a planning journal, or a personal connections journal.

  7. PDF Assignment Type: Reflective Journals

    Why use it Reflective journaling enhances critical thinking skills and encourages students to achieve deeper levels of learning. Students benefit from journaling because journaling promotes future learning. They center student thinking within the learning process and promote creativity in reflection. Journaling activities enhance the development of critical thinking and can transform learning ...

  8. Examples of Reflective Writing

    Learn more about the different types & examples of reflective writing including journal, learning diary, peer review and more.

  9. How to Write a Reflective Journal with Tips and Examples

    Here are some basic tips at how to write a reflective journal. 1. Always Keep the Journal Nearby. The first step in learning how to write a reflective journal is as simple as being prepared to jot down your thoughts and opinions on something you are learning anytime the mood strikes.

  10. PDF Written Reflective writing: assignments a basic introduction

    Reflective writing: a basic introduction ng number of courses require students to write reflectively. Reflective writing may be an occasional requir ment or it may be a core feature of most or all assignments. There are many different models of reflection and it is ndout is to model some basic ideas about reflective writing. We

  11. Introduction to Psychology: Reflective Journal (Assignment Guide)

    Reflective Learning Journal Ideas A learning or reflective journal is a steadily growing document that you write to record the progress of your learning. This type of journal is not simply a summary of the course material; it should also include your reactions , your thoughts, your feelings and your questions about what you've learned.

  12. PDF Reflective writing for the MA in Academic Practice

    Reflective writing for the MA in Academic Practice How is reflective writing different from other academic writing?

  13. (PDF) Students' reflective journaling: an impactful strategy that

    Reflective journals are used in the literature to promote students' learning, develop writing skills, assess students' reflection level, promote teachers' professional development, and gather ...

  14. (PDF) Reflective Journal as assignment

    See Full PDFDownload PDF. This study assessed the benefits of keeping reflective journal writing on improving English writing skills, increasing motivation, enhancing creativity, and critical thinking among university students. It also explored differences in students' performance and attitudes due to gender, and some writing practices.

  15. PDF The Reflective Learning Framework: A guide for

    Although reflection has been studied from many different perspectives, they all have in common a desire to help learners to better develop knowledge, skills, and abilities. In her book, Learning Journals: A Handbook for Reflective Practice and Professional Development, Moon (2006) places emphasis on the role of reflection in learning by identifying some purposes for learning journals, which ...

  16. 13+ Reflective Journal Templates

    You can find journal samples for a nursing internship, childcare coaching, university assignment, self-summary, teacher outline, student project, business log, learning sheet, and much more.

  17. PDF Write the introduction here

    Writing a Reflection Paper Writing a reflection assignment in an academic style can be difficult to master. Is a reflection paper the same as a journal? Should I talk about my feelings? How do I know what is appropriate to say? This handout explains how you can approach writing a reflection assignment.

  18. LibGuides: Writing in the sciences...: Reflective Journals

    What is Reflective Writing? Reflective writing differs from the more objective forms of writing you do in assignments and reports. Reflective writing encourages you to reflect upon your own thoughts, actions and experiences as they relate to what and how you are learning.

  19. PDF Writing a Reflection Paper

    A reflection paper is an assignment where you analyze what you have read or experienced and incorporate your ideas or opinions on the subject. The purpose is to learn from a text or experience and make connections between it and your insights. Although you may be asked to include reflection in parts of other writing assignments, the purpose of this resource is to provide a guideline for ...

  20. PDF Reflective writing Structure

    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 part of an essay or assignment.

  21. PDF Assigning and Responding to Journals

    "Grading" under "Example assignment: Keeping a reflective journal" below, and the "Reflective journal self evaluation" cover sheet and rubric that follow).

  22. (PDF) Higher Education Students' Reflective Journal Writing and

    Abstract and Figures Reflective journal (RJ) writing has been recognized as an effective pedagogical tool for nurturing students' lifelong learning skills. With the paucity of empirical work on ...

  23. Development and Implementation of a Reflective Writing Assignment for

    Considering Gibbs' Reflective Cycle framework, in this article, we detail the design, implementation, and evaluation of a reflective writing assignment integrated into a lower-year undergraduate public health biology course. Through the design and implementation of the reflective writing assignment, four key lessons are drawn.