library reflection essay

Reflective writing: Reflective essays

• What is reflection? Why do it?
• What does reflection involve?
• Reflective questioning
• Reflective writing for academic assessment
• Types of reflective assignments
• Differences between discursive and reflective writing
• Sources of evidence for reflective writing assignments
• Linking theory to experience
• Reflective essays
• Portfolios and learning journals, logs and diaries
• Examples of reflective writing
• Video summary
• Bibliography

On this page:

“Try making the conscious effort to reflect on the link between your experience and the theory, policies or studies you are reading” Williams et al., Reflective Writing

Writing a reflective essay

When you are asked to write a reflective essay, you should closely examine both the question and the marking criteria. This will help you to understand what you are being asked to do. Once you have examined the question you should start to plan and develop your essay by considering the following:

• What experience(s) and/or event(s) are you going to reflect on?
• How can you present these experience(s) to ensure anonymity (particularly important for anyone in medical professions)?
• How can you present the experience(s) with enough context for readers to understand?
• What learning can you identify from the experience(s)?
• What theories, models, strategies and academic literature can be used in your reflection?
• How this experience will inform your future practice

When structuring your reflection, you can present it in chronological order (start to finish) or in reverse order (finish to start). In some cases, it may be more appropriate for you to structure it around a series of flashbacks or themes, relating to relevant parts of the experience.

Example Essay Structure

This is an example structure for a reflective essay focusing on a single experience or event:

When you are writing a reflective assessment, it is important you keep your description to a minimum. This is because the description is not actually reflection and it often counts for only a small number of marks. This is not to suggest the description is not important. You must provide enough description and background for your readers to understand the context.

You need to ensure you discuss your feelings, reflections, responses, reactions, conclusions, and future learning. You should also look at positives and negatives across each aspect of your reflection and ensure you summarise any learning points for the future.

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• Last Updated: Jan 19, 2024 10:56 AM
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Reflective practice - tips and resources

Introduction.

• Everyday reflection
• Models of reflection
• Barriers to reflection
• Free writing
• Reflective writing exercise
• Further reading

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...

You can learn more about reflective writing in this handy video from Hull University:

Created by SkillsTeamHullUni

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:

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:

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 California State University Channel Islands , Monash University ,  UNSW 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: Apr 11, 2024 9:54 AM
• URL: https://lit.libguides.com/reflective-practice-tips

The Library, Technological University of the Shannon: Midwest

Extended Essay: Criterion E: Engagement (Reflection)

• Kick Off Day
• Define Topic
• Locate Resources
• Annotated Bibliography
• Evaluating Sources
• Integrating Quotes
• Citations & Referencing
• Evaluation Criteria & Examiner Reports
• Criterion A, B, C: Assessment of Research
• Criterion D: Presentation
• Criterion E: Engagement (Reflection)
• The Viva Voce
• EE Draft Feedback Template for Supervisors
• Language of Analysis
• Approaches to Learning (ATL)
• Roles and Responsibilities

Criterion E: Reflection (6 pts max)

Remember to include discussion of the Approaches to Learning (ATL's) in your reflections. This discussion needs to be specific and well-illustrated with clear examples. For specific language related to each of the ATL's, please click here .

Reflection One- Initial Stage

This will be after one of the early sessions with your supervisor where you outline:

• Your ideas regarding the topic in general
• The research question you have in mind
• Initial background reading or research you may have conducted
• Possible approaches
• Initial thoughts about the answer to your research question
• Roughly 100 words in length

Guiding Questions:

What exactly do you want to find out?

What resources do you plan to use?

What problems do you anticipate in your research?

What writing and research have you done since last session?

Have you found any sources with conflicting viewpoints?

Have you been able to find relevant sources from different eras?

What challenges did you encounter in finding relevant sources?

How do you think you might use your sources?

Have you collected sufficient data?

Have you finished note taking from your text?

• What am I interested in researching and why?
• What are my motivations for undertaking research in this area?
• How will I begin the research process?
• Is my chosen topic appropriate for the subject I have chosen to complete it in?
• Do I have sufficient knowledge of the subject area to fulfill the criteria of an EE?
• What possible question(s) might I research?
• How might I go about undertaking this research?
• Do I have access to appropriate sources?
• Are my chosen research methods appropriate for the subject I have chosen to complete it in?
• Are there any ethical issues I need to consider before pursuing this area of research?
• Is there sufficient focus to my research area?

Examples of Reflection One

• Sample History EE Reflection

I was attracted to Anna Comnena's The Alexiad as a result of some extra readings which formed part of my IB History course (Crusades). As the first female historian, she stands in a unique place in terms of historiography, something which appealed to me as both a woman and budding historian. I was initially considering writing about her accounts of the First Crusade but quickly found the topic to be far too wide in scope. A reading of Paul Magdalino's article "The Pen of the Aunt" helped refocus me on the issue of historical purpose, i.e., why she wrote the history she did. I have now allocated time to reading historical accounts of Manuel I's reign to decide how closely the events Anna mentions in her history of her father's reign (Alexius) so as to validate my current hypothesis-  that Anna intended the work as a celebratory account of her father so as to cast a negative light on the rule of her nephew Manuel I. My current list includes Runciman, France, Macrides, Christomides, and Hill.

Reflection Two- Interim Stage

This reflection session will usually fall somewhere in the middle to latter half of your EE process, usually before the first draft is completed.

• Discuss how the research question has become more refined.
• Comment on any challenges you have encountered & what solutions you have attempted.
• Discuss how your thinking on your topic has evolved.
• Roughly 200 words in length

Where was I? Where I am now? Where am I going?

What sources do you find helpful?

How have you evaluated your sources?

Have you adopted a structure for writing based on what the IB requires?

What do you need to do next?

Examples of Reflection Two

I was finding it hard to come up with a satisfactory counter to the question of accuracy and authenticity which feature prominently in modern readings of her work. Historians ranging from Edward Gibbon and John France to the more direct Howard-Johnson paper which completely challenges her authorship effectively negated my hypothesis entirely. Using Magdalino and Hill as a focus point, I re-read key sections of The Alexiad and mapped out her account against the policital events of Manuel I's reign and quickly discovered some interesting overlaps (building works, military campaigns, relations with the West, etc.). Though occasionally obscure and subtle, the criticisms emerge by means of an unspoken comparison which Byzantine readers of her account would have well understood. This approach is providing me with a suitable counter to the aforementioned criticisms. I have also begun structuring my work accordingly with sections devoted to historical context followed by a section on The Alexiad which compares and contrasts events from Alexius' time with those of Manuel's. I am considering a chapter on the historiographical tradition of Byzantium but may integrate it into the main body in the end.

Reflection Three- Looking Back

This final reflection should be written BEFORE the Viva Voce meeting. It should:

• Offer your final reflections on the process
• Discuss any achievements realized or challenges overcome
• Discuss elements that allowed you to complete the task that may not be readily apparent in the essay itself.
• Discuss any relevant ATL's (Approaches to Learning) that you have developed through the process & be ready to provide good examples.

Guiding Questions

What did you discover that surprised you?

Is writing the EE mainly about process or product AND why?

What would you have done differently and why?

What advice would you give to a student just beginning this process?

What have been the high and low points of the research and writing processes?

What would you have done differently?

What is the most important thing that you learned?

What was your greatest challenge and how did you overcome it?

What would you change if you did another EE?

What was the most valuable experience that you took away from the process?

What was your greatest challenge and what did you do to overcome it?

What IB learner profile attribute would you say helped you through the process (communicator, risk-taker, etc.)?

Would you like to continue reading on this topic?

What questions did this process raise?

What conclusions have you drawn about the topic?

Examples of Reflection Three

I am very pleased with how the essay has turned out. Skills wise, I had no problems with referencing which I picked up quickly though integrating source analysis did prove a challenge at times due to my narrative tendencies. I believe I've been able to challenge the orthodox interpretations of Anna's work as a piece of fantasy fiction at the hands of a disgruntled woman by showing that Anna was effectively using one of the few weapons still permitted her in her diminished political state- the power of words- to criticize the existing leadership. Hill's works proved of particular use to me as they examined female power in a broader context and thus gave me a framework for interpreting what Anna was able to do within the context of her time.

IB-provided exemplars of "Reflections on Planning and Progress"

• Lang. Lit. Examplar #1
• Lang. Lit. Exemplar #2
• Lang. Lit. Exemplar #3
• History Exemplar #1
• History Exemplar #2
• Psychology Exemplar
• Biology Exemplar
• Math Exemplar #1
• Math Exemplar #2
• Visual Arts Exemplar #1
• Visual Arts Exemplar #2
• World Studies Exemplar #1
• World Studies Exemplar #2

Reflection Sentence Starters and Key Words

Click here or on the image below to go to the list of sentence starters you can use to help you write up your reflections. Regarding word count, we recommend 100 words for first reflection, 200 words for second reflection, and 200 words for third reflection (roughly).

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• Last Updated: Nov 19, 2024 2:29 PM
• URL: https://ismanila.libguides.com/extendedessay

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• How to Write a Reflective Essay: A Step-By-Step Guide
• Learn English
• James Prior
• No Comments
• Updated November 8, 2024

Learn how to write a reflective essay with our easy guide. Follow step-by-step instructions to craft an impactful reflection on your personal experiences.

Reflective essays allow you to dive deep into your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. They help you explore how personal events have shaped you, whether in a classroom, a workplace, or in life. This guide will walk you through every stage of writing a reflective essay, showing you how to organize your ideas, craft a strong narrative, and present your insights effectively.

Table of Contents

What is a Reflective Essay?

A reflective essay is a personal type of writing that focuses on your thoughts and reactions to a specific experience or event. It’s often a personal response rather than an objective recounting of facts, as seen in academic essays. Reflective essays are commonly used in academic settings for subjects like psychology, literature, nursing, and even education. However, they’re also valuable for self-reflection and personal development, helping you analyze experiences that shape your identity.

In a reflective essay, you narrate an experience and then explore its significance, impact, and meaning. This isn’t about providing only external details; it’s about looking within. Reflective essays encourage critical thinking and help you understand how your experiences influence your beliefs, values, and attitudes.

How to Write a Reflective Essay

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you craft a thoughtful and well-structured reflective essay. Follow these points to organize your experiences and insights, guiding readers through your journey of personal growth and discovery.

Choose a Topic

Selecting the right topic is crucial for a meaningful reflective essay. You should choose an experience or event that impacted you emotionally, intellectually, or spiritually. Reflective essays require introspection, so your topic should provide ample material for self-examination.

Examples of Reflective Essay Topics:

• A memorable event, like a family gathering or significant achievement.
• A challenging experience, such as overcoming failure or dealing with a loss.
• A learning experience, perhaps a class project or workshop.
• An impactful conversation or advice that changed your perspective.

Tip : Pick a topic that sparks strong feelings or has lasting meaning for you. Avoid topics that feel too superficial, as deeper emotions and thoughts make for a richer essay.

Reflect on the Experience

Reflection is the core of this process. Before you begin writing, take time to think deeply about your chosen experience. To understand it fully, ask yourself the following questions:

• How did I feel during and after the event?
• What new insights did I gain from this experience?
• How did it change my beliefs or attitudes?

Reflective essays require honesty, so it’s essential to look beyond the surface. Think critically and examine how the experience shaped you. Reflecting helps you gather the insights you’ll need to write a meaningful essay.

Outline Your Essay Structure

While reflective essays are personal, they still need a clear structure. Using an organized format ensures your essay remains coherent and readable. Here’s a basic outline to get you started:

• Introduction : Introduce the topic and provide context. Mention the significance of the experience briefly.
• Body : Describe the experience in detail, analyze its impact, and explore your reflections.
• Conclusion : Summarize your insights and explain how the experience has changed you. Emphasize personal growth.

Tip : Writing a brief outline can help you stay on track and avoid straying from your main points. A structured approach gives your essay clarity and keeps the reader engaged.

Consider Your Language

Once you’ve established the outline of your reflective essay, it’s important to remember to use the right sort of language before you start writing. You should:

Use a Reflective Tone and Personal Language

Reflective essays are personal, so use a conversational tone. Writing in the first person helps make the experience feel relatable. Avoid overly formal or academic language; instead, write as though you’re sharing with a close friend.

Example : “At first, I felt nervous, unsure of how to handle the animals. But as the days passed, my confidence grew.”

This conversational tone makes the essay feel more intimate and relatable.

Use Descriptive Language

Descriptive language helps your reader visualize your experience. Reflective essays benefit from vivid descriptions that pull readers into the story. Describe sounds, colors, and emotions to make your writing come alive.

Example : “The dog’s brown eyes sparkled with excitement, and his joyful bark filled the room.”

Adding descriptive details like this will make your narrative engaging and immersive.

Include Specific Examples

Specific examples add authenticity to your writing. Instead of vague statements, focus on concrete moments that highlight your emotions or insights. This detail creates a more vivid and impactful story.

Example : “When I first walked into the shelter, a little dog wagged his tail and looked up at me. In that moment, I realized how much I wanted to help.”

Balance Description and Reflection

Reflective essays require a balance between describing events and analyzing them. While it’s essential to set the scene and narrate what happened, don’t let the description overshadow your reflections. Spend equal time explaining what you learned or how you grew.

Stay Honest and Open

Authenticity is key in reflective writing. Embrace vulnerability and share your thoughts sincerely. If an experience was difficult, discuss that honestly rather than glossing over it. Readers connect best with genuine reflections.

Example : “It wasn’t easy facing my fears that day, but doing so taught me courage.”

Write the Introduction

In the introduction, set the stage for the reader by providing essential background on the experience. Introduce the event or topic you’ll discuss and briefly mention why it’s significant to you. The idea is to hook the reader and make them want to read on. The following structure works well:

Start with a Hook : Begin with an engaging sentence to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a memorable moment, a strong feeling, or a question that reflects the main idea of your essay.

Introduce the Experience : Briefly introduce the experience or topic you’ll be reflecting on. Provide just enough context to orient the reader without giving away too much detail.

Present the Thesis Statement : Conclude your introduction with a thesis statement for your reflective essay. This statement should encapsulate the main insight or lesson you gained from the experience. Unlike a typical thesis statement, a reflective thesis is personal and sets up the reflection to come.

For example:

• “Through my experience volunteering, I discovered the transformative power of empathy and how small acts of kindness can make a lasting impact.”
• “My journey through unexpected failure taught me resilience and helped me realize that growth often stems from adversity.”

Remember to keep the introduction short; it should give the reader a glimpse of what’s to come without going into too much detail.

Full Introduction Example : “Last summer, I volunteered at a local animal shelter. I thought it would be an easy way to help, but the experience deeply impacted me, changing my perspective on responsibility and empathy.”

This introduction sets up the reader with a clear expectation of the essay’s topic and why it matters to the writer. It engages the reader while leaving space for more details in the body paragraphs. Here you can expand on specific events, reactions, and reflections.

Describe the Experience in the Body

The body of your essay is where you’ll describe the experience in detail and reflect on its significance. Using sensory language can help create vivid imagery and immerse the reader in your experience. Describe sights, sounds, smells, and emotions to paint a clear picture.

Elements to Include in the Body :

• Chronological Description : Explain the experience step-by-step so the reader understands the sequence of events.
• Personal Feelings : Discuss your emotions at different points in the experience.
• Key Insights : Share the lessons you learned and reflect on their impact.

Example : “When I arrived at the shelter, I expected a light workload. However, within minutes, I was helping feed over a dozen animals. The task was challenging, but I felt an unexpected surge of responsibility, realizing that these animals depended on me.”

Here, sensory details and emotional responses make the narrative more engaging.

Connect with Personal Growth and Insights

Reflective essays aim to show growth. After describing the event, examine how it shaped your perspective or values. Think about how the experience influenced your behavior or attitudes. Consider questions such as:

• Did this experience shift your outlook on life?
• How did it help you develop as a person?
• Are there new values or beliefs you now hold?

Discussing these aspects will show the reader your growth. Link your reflections to real changes in your thoughts or actions, showing how this event contributed to your development.

Craft a Strong Conclusion

The conclusion should summarize your key insights. Reflect on the long-term significance of the experience and how it will influence you in the future. This section should leave the reader with a sense of closure.

Questions to Consider in the Conclusion :

• How did the experience change you?
• What new understanding did it bring?
• How will this insight affect your future choices?

Example Conclusion : “My time at the shelter taught me that empathy and responsibility go hand-in-hand. Today, I feel more equipped to make a difference in my community, and I look forward to volunteering again soon.”

This conclusion emphasizes the long-term impact, rounding off the essay with a forward-looking statement.

End with a Call to Action or Thought-Provoking Idea

A reflective essay should leave the reader with a lasting impression. Consider ending with a thought-provoking question or a statement of purpose for future growth. This reinforces your theme and gives the reader something meaningful to ponder.

Reflect on the Future

To emphasize personal growth, think about how the experience will affect your future. Mentioning how you plan to use these lessons reinforces the significance of the event and underscores your development.

Edit and Refine Your Essay

Once you finish your draft, set it aside for a day before revising. Reviewing it with fresh eyes helps you spot areas for improvement. Focus on clarity, coherence, and flow, ensuring that each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next.

Editing Tips :

• Read Aloud : This can help you identify awkward phrasing or unclear sections.
• Grammar and Spelling Check : Proofread carefully for grammatical errors.
• Ask for Feedback : Get a second opinion to spot overlooked issues.

Reflective Essay vs Narrative Essay

When it comes to personal writing, reflective and narrative essays are often confused, but they serve different purposes. While both can center on personal experiences, each type of essay has a unique focus and structure.

A reflective essay emphasizes introspection, where you analyze the impact of an experience and what it taught you, while a narrative essay centers on storytelling, focusing on recounting an event with rich detail.

Reflective and narrative essays may seem similar because both involve storytelling, but they have distinct purposes and structures.

Understanding these differences can help you choose the right approach to effectively convey your message.

Here’s a breakdown of the differences:

• Reflective Essay : The primary aim is self-examination. You analyze how an experience affected you, what you learned, or how it shaped your views. Reflection and introspection are the main focuses.
• Narrative Essay : This type of essay mainly focuses on storytelling. The goal is to narrate a personal or fictional experience in a compelling, often descriptive way, without necessarily delving into personal insights or lessons.

2. Structure

• Reflective Essay : While it includes a narrative element, it’s organized around your insights. After narrating an experience, you’ll explore its impact on your thoughts, beliefs, or behavior, usually using a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Narrative Essay : It follows a straightforward story arc (beginning, middle, end) without needing extensive analysis. While some narrative essays may have a lesson, the main emphasis is on the plot and character development.

3. Tone and Perspective

• Reflective Essay : The tone is introspective and often more formal, though it remains personal. Writing is in the first person, as you focus on your thoughts and feelings about the experience.
• Narrative Essay : The tone is more flexible and can range from formal to conversational. The essay may use first or third person, depending on whether it’s a personal story or a fictional narrative.

4. Focus on Analysis

• Reflective Essay : The emphasis is on analyzing the experience. Reflection is key, so you spend time examining the “why” and “how” of your reaction to the events.
• Narrative Essay : The focus is on describing what happened. While you might touch on emotions or lessons, detailed analysis is generally not required.

Example Topics

• Reflective Essay Topic : “What volunteering taught me about empathy and resilience.”
• Narrative Essay Topic : “The time I got lost in a foreign country.”

In short, a reflective essay emphasizes personal growth and insights gained from an experience, while a narrative essay prioritizes telling a vivid story without necessarily requiring deep introspection.

Writing a reflective essay can be challenging, but it’s a powerful exercise in self-discovery. By carefully selecting your topic, using vivid language, and connecting your experiences with personal insights, you can create a compelling narrative that resonates.

Reflecting honestly, structuring your essay well, and balancing description with introspection will help you craft an engaging and meaningful essay that truly reflects your personal growth.

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