4. Reflection
Reflective writing is a part of many university courses because it makes you a better learner. Reflection also makes for better practitioners in work.
- Always follow the guidelines you are given, for example regarding word limits.
- Make sure you put thought into choosing the examples that will illustrate your discussion best – you cannot write about everything.
- Most of the marks will be for analysis and critical thinking (not for describing or reporting), so keep your descriptions brief and to the point.
- Although you are writing about your own experiences, try to stand back and be objective.
- Write in an academic style, so for example use references and proper paragraphs and avoid informal language.
- In your reflective writing, show links between what you have experienced and what you have read – do they contradict (and why), does the literature help you understand what happened?
- There are frameworks to help you structure your reflective writing. One example of a framework is by Gibbs (1988).
For more help and information about reflective writing, and more details about these tips, visit our Reflective Writing page.
