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Reflective Writing

Reflective writing usually involves looking back at something, analysing a particular event or idea and thinking about what that event or idea means for students’ ongoing journey during their studies and professional life. Reflection enables students and practitioners to look forward and make changes in order to get better at what they do.

When approaching criticality in reflection, it is important to consider the following:

• What went well?
• What didn’t go well?
• What have you learned from your experience?
• What is the significance of the experience?

Type: Sway Presentation / Creator: CU Scarborough

Resources

The Gibbs & Rolfe reflective models can be found in the books below. 

Journal Articles

Journal articles can be found by searching the databases through searching the Locate link here. 

They are articles written by experts in their field and are academic sources that you can reference to support your arguments and ideas when completing your assignments.

Linking Words & Phrases

Using linking words and phrases can improve the flow of your writing and show the connectedness of the ideas contained in your work. Here are some commonly used linking words and phrases you might want to employ in your reflection: 

Example: 

I will be discussing my experience and progress at CU Coventry during the first 6 weeks of my course. Firstly, I will be talking about my experience during class. Secondly, I will be analysing the experiences by applying a reflective theory. Finally, I will be creating a personal development plan outlining my goals and objectives for the future. 

Example: 

Overall, the task went well due to group members taking on the extra workload, however, there were elements where communication was not always apparent. 

The use of ‘I’

When reflecting, it is normally appropriate to use the first person ‘I’, however, it is important to bear in mind that reflective writing will almost always include a third person as well e.g. Quinn (2017) suggests that...’. Always check your guidelines if you are not sure or ask your tutor.