Themes > Assessment

Reflective Writing

Contributor(s): Dr. Michael Ying and Dr. Pauline Cho

Suggested Steps for Getting Started on Reflective Writing
(Adapted from: “Reflective Journal “ Anglia Polytechnic University, Student Services website)

1. What
   • is the purpose of returning to this situation?
   • exactly happened, in your own words?
   • did you see? Did you do?
   • was your reaction?
   • did other people do, e.g. other students?
   • do you see as the key aspects of the situation?
     
2. So what
   • were you trying to achieve?
   • were the reasons for the way you responded?
   • beliefs and values influenced your actions?
   • assumptions did you make?
   • were your feelings at this time?
   • are your feelings now? Are there differences? Why?
   • “good” emerged from the situation e.g. for self, others?
   • troubles you, if anything?
   • were your experiences in comparison to other students?
   • were the feelings of others involved? How do you know?
   • are the main reasons for feeling differently from other students?
   • knowledge did or should have informed you?
   • did you do to seek clarification (where appropriate)? Why?
     
3. Now what
   • are the implications for you, and those involved?
   • needs to happen toalter the situation
   • happen if you decide not to alter anything?
   • might you do differently if faced with a similar situation again?
   • would be the consequences of alternative actions for yourself? others?
   • information do you need to face a similar situation?
   • are the best ways of getting further information about the situation should it arise again?
   • Have you learned from this exercise?
   • Would you have learned (in terms of learning experience) if you did not do this exercise?
     

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