reflective journal assignment example

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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).

Engineering Design Report

Learning Journal (weekly reflection)

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
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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?

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 .

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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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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Journal Buddies Jill | July 8, 2024 July 19, 2023 | Journal Prompts & Writing Ideas

53 Reflective Journal Prompts for Students

Reflective Journaling Ideas — To help you get going, we’ve put together a list of reflective journal prompts that will help you get the ideas flowing. 

Reflective Journaling offers a wonderful way to catalog your thoughts and better understand yourself.

Use of Reflective Journals

Processing your experiences, emotions, and thoughts often can help you cleanse your mind and soul, so you’re better able to have a clear view of your circumstances, emotions, and desires.

Even science backs up the advantages of writing and has discovered that writing has the potential to benefit both physical and emotional well-being.

Further…

Writing in a journal may help improve mood, boost the immune system, and reduce stress. 

Of course, it’s not always easy to start putting your heart and soul on paper, particularly if you’re not sure where to begin. The last thing you want to do is waste time staring at a blank page or screen.

That’s where writing prompts come in handy, and we’ve got a nice list of them outlined below just for you.

Enjoy our list of reflective journal prompts and ideas and journal writing prompts. We hope they get your writing off to a thoughtful start.

53 Reflective Journal Prompts

• What do you want to be doing in your life a year from now? How about in 10 years? 
• What things are you look forward to? 
• Do you have skills that you feel make you stand out? Do you use these skills enough in your life? 
• What is your favorite way to spend a day? 
• List some of the things that make you laugh and smile. 
• Write about some of the people in your life you feel are the most supportive. 
• Describe one moment in your life that you’ll never forget and why it’s unforgettable. 
• What is one thing you wish other people knew about you? 
• What are some of the things that bring tears to your eyes? 
• What things have surprised you about life in general? 
• What do you think is your biggest personal success? What about your biggest professional success?
• What things in life scare you? 
• If you knew that you wouldn’t fail, what things would you do? 
• Write about someone that you admire. What characteristics do you share with that individual? 
• What things are you most grateful for in your life? 
• In what ways have you changed from the person you were five or ten years ago? 
• What things do you have on your bucket list? 
• Think about some of the greatest life lessons you’ve encountered. Write about one of the most important ones and what you learned. 
• What are some ways that you can give back? 
• Are there things in your life you need to let go of? What are they? 
• What are five things that you love about yourself? 
• What is your favorite quote? Why do you love it? What does it mean to you? 
• What are your thoughts on miracles? Have you ever seen a miracle in your life? 
• What qualities do you look for when choosing your friends? 

• What things in life do you need to start saying no to? 
• Write about a secret that you have never shared with anyone before. 
• What things make you feel at peace with your life? 
• What is your definition of true love? 
• What things are frustrating you in your life right now? Can you do anything about them? 
• If you had a million dollars that had to be spent in a year, how would you spend that money? 
• Describe the best compliment you’ve ever been given. 
• How was your day? How was your attitude about the day? 
• What things would you tell your teenage self if you were able to go back in time? 
• What do you believe that unconditional love looks like? 
• What do you feel is your greatest weakness? How does it hold you back? Can you improve it? 
• Discuss a book that has touched you on a very personal level.
• What song or songs do you feel are the themes of your life? 
• What things do you fear the most about your future? 
• What are your biggest dreams for the future? 
• Write about a time that you mistreated another person. What would you change about that event? 
• What do you love the most about your favorite hobbies? Are there ways to incorporate that into other areas of your life? 
• How do you feel about spending time alone? Do you enjoy it, or does it bother you? 
• Do you use actions, words, or other methods to show people that you love them? 
• Do you tend to go after challenges, or do you shy away from them? 
• Who do you talk to when you are dealing with a problem? 
• You have the chance to take a job you love with a small salary, or you can do a job you hate with a big salary. Which option will you choose? Why? 
• Do you believe that all is fair in love in war? Why? 
• When you have an important task to complete, do you prefer to get it done right away or do you wait until the last minute? Why? 
• When you’re feeling down, what things can you do to cheer yourself up? 
• Who do you tell first when you get good news? What does who you tell reveal about you? 
• When you’re gone, how do you want people to remember you? 
• Would you change anything about yourself if you could? Why or why not? If yes, what would you change? 

I hope you enjoyed these reflective writing prompts and use them with your middle school, high school, college kids, or students in general.

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A Few Final Thoughts

Self-reflective journaling is key to unearthing your authentic self and will get you tuned into a deeper level of self honesty.

Weather you are looking for new insights about yourself or intending to take your personal development learning journey another step farther along, a reflective diary — and reflective journaling — can and will help you create positive changes in your life.

Ok, grab you notebook, pen, or journaling format of choice and get into the healthy habit of daily writing. It’s truly an amazing gift you can give yourself filled with learning experiences, personal feedback and incredible takeaways.

That’s all for today.

If you enjoyed these Reflective Journaling Prompts , please share them on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest. and/or Pinterest. I appreciate it!

Sincerely, Jill journalbuddies.com creator and curator

PS – explore these Examples of Reflective Writing for more inspiration and guidance!

Teaching Strategy & Journal Assignment

“Journaling is used in academia as a means of aiding reflection, deepening a student’s understanding and stimulating critical thinking.

The value of journaling in improving student learning outcomes cannot be overemphasized… Reflective journal writing is one such technique that has been promoted by educators as a means of encouraging reflective learning.

Journaling as a Learning Tool for Deeper Insights

The strength of reflective journaling is that it highlights students’ thoughts and perceptions about course content. It is a heuristic teaching tool that fosters critical thinking skills and develops reflective practices among students.

This increases student interest and encourages further investigation. Reflective journaling is not simply a recounting of the day’s events but a learning exercise in which students express in writing their understanding of, reflections on, response to or analysis of an event, experience or concept.

This form of writing encompasses all aspects of the students’ thoughts and emotions around specific aspects of their experiences in class and increases attention and concentration levels during class time.

Transformative Learning Process

Furthermore, reflective journaling plays a major role in the transformative learning process.

Transformative learning is thoughtful learning employed deliberately by the student under the guidance of the teacher.

It allows students to change their orientation by critically reflecting on their beliefs and consciously making and implementing plans that bring about improved ways of redefining their beliefs. Reflective journaling is a useful tool in facilitating the critical reflection underpinning transformative learning.

Deeper Understanding of a Reflective Journal

Reflective journaling provides a channel of inner communication that connects beliefs, feelings, and actions which allows students to develop their knowledge and understanding of course content. 

This creates effective learning conditions that result in self discovery.  A reflective journal – often called a learning journal – is a steadily growing document that the learner writes to record the progress of their learning.  Learners keep a learning journal for any course they undertake, or even for daily work.

A reflective journal is not:

• simply a summary of the course material. Focus more on your reactions to what you’ve read, and what you’ve been reading.
• a learning log. On a learning log, you might write down the times and days when you read something. A log is a record of events, but a journal is a record of your reflections and thoughts.

Entries in a reflective journal can include:

• Points that you found especially interesting in your reading, and would like to follow up in more detail.
• Questions that came up in your mind, because of points made in the material you read on this topic.

Possible Types of Reflection Questions for Your Student’s Reflective Journal

• What was the most interesting thing I read for this lesson (mark it above with an asterisk) – why was that?
• What were three main things I learned from this lesson?
• What did I previously think was true, but now know to be wrong?
• What did we not cover that I expected we should?
• What was new or surprising to me?
• What have I changed my mind about, as a result of this lesson?
• One thing I learned in this lesson that I may be able to use in the future is…
• I am still unsure about…
• Issues that interested me a lot, and that I would like to study in more detail
• Ideas for action, based on this lesson…
• What I most liked about this lesson was…
• What I most disliked about this lesson was…
• Miscellaneous interesting facts I learned in this lesson…

Source: Reflective Journaling as a Teaching Strategy

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Reflective Journal Examples: The BEST Way to Grow

It’s no secret that establishing a regular reflective practice is a great way to improve both your mental health and overall personal life.

Reflecting writing , in particular, allows you process past experiences and determine any better decisions or future actions you’d like to take to improve your personal experience the next time you encounter the same situation. The critical reflection in every reflective journal entry turns each of your past experiences into a deeply helpful learning experience.

But sometimes, even when you know what should be in your reflective diary journal entries, you just need a little extra help, and maybe a few reflective journal examples, to get started. That’s where we come in!

From writing prompts, to different types of reflection, to journal writing examples, to new techniques, we’re here to offer some new ideas and examples to help you jumpstart your reflective practice!

Understanding Reflective Journaling

Reflective journaling  is not just about recording events, but about exploring your reactions and turning them into a learning experience. It’s an intimate process that connects past experiences to personal growth by weaving them into the learning process.

The Basics of Reflective Writing

Reflective writing is a method of processing your thoughts and feelings about an event or experience. Here’s what you need to grasp:

• Purpose : The core aim is to engage with your past experiences at a deeper level, analyzing your actions, decisions, and feelings.
• Growth : It’s about personal development. By reflecting, you’re looking for patterns, lessons, and insights.

When crafting a reflective journal entry, remember to keep it personal. Reflective writing isn’t like academic writing; it’s a learning journal focused on authenticity and self-discovery, and one that will likely push you outside of your comfort zone.

Reflective Journal Entry Structure

A well-structured reflective journal entry helps guide your critical reflection process.

Here’s a simple layout to follow:

• Description : Start with a description of the experience. What happened? Be specific.
• Analysis : Break down the experience. What went well? What didn’t? Most write from a first person perspective, but some find it helpful to reflect on and write about their experience from an outsider’s perspective.
• Outcomes : Reflect on what you learned and how this experience has changed you or your perspective. How might you approach the situation differently next time?

Use bullet points or numbered lists to organize your thoughts.

Remember to focus on how these experiences have impacted you personally, including both your daily life and your overall mental health. Reflective journaling offers a way to understand yourself better by linking feelings to both past and future actions.

Practical Approaches to Reflective Journaling

Reflective journaling boosts your understanding of each personal experience and enhances your communication skills. By regularly engaging in this reflective practice, you create a valuable tool for personal growth and even professional development.

Incorporating Reflective Writing Prompts

Reflective journal prompts are your stepping stones to kickstart the reflective learning process. Think of them as targeted questions that guide your thoughts and help structure your daily journal entries. 

For instance, you could use reflective writing prompts like, “What challenged you today and how did you respond?” or “If you could replay your past experiences, would you approach things differently this time?”

This technique encourages you to explore specific aspects of your past experiences on a regular basis and gain deeper insights from them.

Reflecting on Personal Experience

Your personal experience offers a rich resource for learning. When jotting down those experiences, focus on writing a description of the experience, the outcomes, and most importantly, your feelings about those events. 

Reflect on moments that triggered a strong emotional response, as they’re often tied to areas where you can grow the most. Regular reflection turns these anecdotes into actionable insights and even action plans that can positively impact you on a daily basis.

Reflective Practice for Communication Skills

Reflective journaling isn’t just introspective; it also builds your communication skills! When you’re writing a reflective journal entry, you’re essentially having a conversation with yourself. 

Be honest and clear about your successes and challenges in your communication skills. This practice can help you identify patterns and consider alternative approaches that you can apply in future interactions. 

Remember, good communicators are made, not born, and your reflective diary can be the workshop where you hone those communication skills.

Using Reflective Journaling for Personal Growth

Reflective journaling is a valuable tool for unpacking your day-to-day experiences and using each one as a learning experience. By examining your past actions and planning future actions, you can foster personal growth and make better decisions.

Learning from Past Actions

When you reflect on your past actions, you gain insights that are crucial for personal development. 

For each significant personal experience, ask yourself two questions in your journal:

• Consider what the situation taught you and how it has contributed to your personal growth.
• Imagine if this was the first time you encountered such a situation; with hindsight, identify how you might approach it differently next time.

This approach not only helps you better understand your reactions and decisions but also guides you in making better decisions in the future.

Planning Future Actions

Planning your future actions can be transformative! Use your journal to lay out your action plans. For this, include:

• A list of goals: What do you aim to achieve in the coming days or months?
• The actions you need to take for the first time or adjust based on your past experience.

Examples of a Reflective Journal Entry

When you’re first embarking on a reflective practice journey, it’s sometimes helpful to have a little guidance. Here are some examples of reflective journal entries that can inspire your own writing:

• Date : June 1, 2024
• Topic : Conflict
• Entry :  I had a bad fight with my mom today. It all started when she insisted I parent my daughter in the exact way she suggested, determined that it was the only true solution…
• Date : June 1-7, 2024
• Themes : Challenges and Growth
• Entry :  This week was about overcoming my fear of public speaking. Every time I stood up to speak, I reminded myself that it was an opportunity to grow.
• Date : Post-Project, June 30, 2024
• Project Name : Green Community Garden
• Entry :  Reflecting back, this project taught me the value of community effort. The success was not just in the garden we built, but in the friendships that blossomed.

Remember, the goal of reflective writing is to gain deeper insight into each personal experience.

Jot down thoughts, feelings, and anything that strikes you as significant. The key is to  start writing  and let your introspection guide you.

Did these reflective journal examples and new ideas help you? Are there any new techniques you love that we missed? Be sure to share in the comments!

Happy reflecting, friend!

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• Writing a Research Proposal
• Generative AI and Writing
• Acknowledgments

Reflective writing is a process of identifying, questioning, and critically evaluating course-based learning opportunities, integrated with your own observations, experiences, impressions, beliefs, assumptions, or biases, and which describes how this process stimulated new or creative understanding about the content of the course.

A reflective paper describes and explains in an introspective, first person narrative, your reactions and feelings about either a specific element of the class [e.g., a required reading; a film shown in class] or more generally how you experienced learning throughout the course. Reflective writing assignments can be in the form of a single paper, essays, portfolios, journals, diaries, or blogs. In some cases, your professor may include a reflective writing assignment as a way to obtain student feedback that helps improve the course, either in the moment or for when the class is taught again.

How to Write a Reflection Paper . Academic Skills, Trent University; Writing a Reflection Paper . Writing Center, Lewis University; Critical Reflection . Writing and Communication Centre, University of Waterloo; Tsingos-Lucas et al. "Using Reflective Writing as a Predictor of Academic Success in Different Assessment Formats." American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 81 (2017): Article 8.

Benefits of Reflective Writing Assignments

As the term implies, a reflective paper involves looking inward at oneself in contemplating and bringing meaning to the relationship between course content and the acquisition of new knowledge . Educational research [Bolton, 2010; Ryan, 2011; Tsingos-Lucas et al., 2017] demonstrates that assigning reflective writing tasks enhances learning because it challenges students to confront their own assumptions, biases, and belief systems around what is being taught in class and, in so doing, stimulate student’s decisions, actions, attitudes, and understanding about themselves as learners and in relation to having mastery over their learning. Reflection assignments are also an opportunity to write in a first person narrative about elements of the course, such as the required readings, separate from the exegetic and analytical prose of academic research papers.

Reflection writing often serves multiple purposes simultaneously. In no particular order, here are some of reasons why professors assign reflection papers:

• Enhances learning from previous knowledge and experience in order to improve future decision-making and reasoning in practice . Reflective writing in the applied social sciences enhances decision-making skills and academic performance in ways that can inform professional practice. The act of reflective writing creates self-awareness and understanding of others. This is particularly important in clinical and service-oriented professional settings.
• Allows students to make sense of classroom content and overall learning experiences in relation to oneself, others, and the conditions that shaped the content and classroom experiences . Reflective writing places you within the course content in ways that can deepen your understanding of the material. Because reflective thinking can help reveal hidden biases, it can help you critically interrogate moments when you do not like or agree with discussions, readings, or other aspects of the course.
• Increases awareness of one’s cognitive abilities and the evidence for these attributes . Reflective writing can break down personal doubts about yourself as a learner and highlight specific abilities that may have been hidden or suppressed due to prior assumptions about the strength of your academic abilities [e.g., reading comprehension; problem-solving skills]. Reflective writing, therefore, can have a positive affective [i.e., emotional] impact on your sense of self-worth.
• Applying theoretical knowledge and frameworks to real experiences . Reflective writing can help build a bridge of relevancy between theoretical knowledge and the real world. In so doing, this form of writing can lead to a better understanding of underlying theories and their analytical properties applied to professional practice.
• Reveals shortcomings that the reader will identify . Evidence suggests that reflective writing can uncover your own shortcomings as a learner, thereby, creating opportunities to anticipate the responses of your professor may have about the quality of your coursework. This can be particularly productive if the reflective paper is written before final submission of an assignment.
• Helps students identify their tacit [a.k.a., implicit] knowledge and possible gaps in that knowledge . Tacit knowledge refers to ways of knowing rooted in lived experience, insight, and intuition rather than formal, codified, categorical, or explicit knowledge. In so doing, reflective writing can stimulate students to question their beliefs about a research problem or an element of the course content beyond positivist modes of understanding and representation.
• Encourages students to actively monitor their learning processes over a period of time . On-going reflective writing in journals or blogs, for example, can help you maintain or adapt learning strategies in other contexts. The regular, purposeful act of reflection can facilitate continuous deep thinking about the course content as it evolves and changes throughout the term. This, in turn, can increase your overall confidence as a learner.
• Relates a student’s personal experience to a wider perspective . Reflection papers can help you see the big picture associated with the content of a course by forcing you to think about the connections between scholarly content and your lived experiences outside of school. It can provide a macro-level understanding of one’s own experiences in relation to the specifics of what is being taught.
• If reflective writing is shared, students can exchange stories about their learning experiences, thereby, creating an opportunity to reevaluate their original assumptions or perspectives . In most cases, reflective writing is only viewed by your professor in order to ensure candid feedback from students. However, occasionally, reflective writing is shared and openly discussed in class. During these discussions, new or different perspectives and alternative approaches to solving problems can be generated that would otherwise be hidden. Sharing student's reflections can also reveal collective patterns of thought and emotions about a particular element of the course.

Bolton, Gillie. Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development . London: Sage, 2010; Chang, Bo. "Reflection in Learning." Online Learning 23 (2019), 95-110; Cavilla, Derek. "The Effects of Student Reflection on Academic Performance and Motivation." Sage Open 7 (July-September 2017): 1–13; Culbert, Patrick. “Better Teaching? You Can Write On It “ Liberal Education (February 2022); McCabe, Gavin and Tobias Thejll-Madsen. The Reflection Toolkit . University of Edinburgh; The Purpose of Reflection . Introductory Composition at Purdue University; Practice-based and Reflective Learning . Study Advice Study Guides, University of Reading; Ryan, Mary. "Improving Reflective Writing in Higher Education: A Social Semiotic Perspective." Teaching in Higher Education 16 (2011): 99-111; Tsingos-Lucas et al. "Using Reflective Writing as a Predictor of Academic Success in Different Assessment Formats." American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 81 (2017): Article 8; What Benefits Might Reflective Writing Have for My Students? Writing Across the Curriculum Clearinghouse; Rykkje, Linda. "The Tacit Care Knowledge in Reflective Writing: A Practical Wisdom." International Practice Development Journal 7 (September 2017): Article 5; Using Reflective Writing to Deepen Student Learning . Center for Writing, University of Minnesota.

How to Approach Writing a Reflection Paper

Thinking About Reflective Thinking

Educational theorists have developed numerous models of reflective thinking that your professor may use to frame a reflective writing assignment. These models can help you systematically interpret your learning experiences, thereby ensuring that you ask the right questions and have a clear understanding of what should be covered. A model can also represent the overall structure of a reflective paper. Each model establishes a different approach to reflection and will require you to think about your writing differently. If you are unclear how to fit your writing within a particular reflective model, seek clarification from your professor. There are generally two types of reflective writing assignments, each approached in slightly different ways.

1.  Reflective Thinking about Course Readings

This type of reflective writing focuses on thoughtfully thinking about the course readings that underpin how most students acquire new knowledge and understanding about the subject of a course. Reflecting on course readings is often assigned in freshmen-level, interdisciplinary courses where the required readings examine topics viewed from multiple perspectives and, as such, provide different ways of analyzing a topic, issue, event, or phenomenon. The purpose of reflective thinking about course readings in the social and behavioral sciences is to elicit your opinions, beliefs, and feelings about the research and its significance. This type of writing can provide an opportunity to break down key assumptions you may have and, in so doing, reveal potential biases in how you interpret the scholarship.

If you are assigned to reflect on course readings, consider the following methods of analysis as prompts that can help you get started :

• Examine carefully the main introductory elements of the reading, including the purpose of the study, the theoretical framework being used to test assumptions, and the research questions being addressed. Think about what ideas stood out to you. Why did they? Were these ideas new to you or familiar in some way based on your own lived experiences or prior knowledge?
• Develop your ideas around the readings by asking yourself, what do I know about this topic? Where does my existing knowledge about this topic come from? What are the observations or experiences in my life that influence my understanding of the topic? Do I agree or disagree with the main arguments, recommended course of actions, or conclusions made by the author(s)? Why do I feel this way and what is the basis of these feelings?
• Make connections between the text and your own beliefs, opinions, or feelings by considering questions like, how do the readings reinforce my existing ideas or assumptions? How the readings challenge these ideas or assumptions? How does this text help me to better understand this topic or research in ways that motivate me to learn more about this area of study?

2.  Reflective Thinking about Course Experiences

This type of reflective writing asks you to critically reflect on locating yourself at the conceptual intersection of theory and practice. The purpose of experiential reflection is to evaluate theories or disciplinary-based analytical models based on your introspective assessment of the relationship between hypothetical thinking and practical reality; it offers a way to consider how your own knowledge and skills fit within professional practice. This type of writing also provides an opportunity to evaluate your decisions and actions, as well as how you managed your subsequent successes and failures, within a specific theoretical framework. As a result, abstract concepts can crystallize and become more relevant to you when considered within your own experiences. This can help you formulate plans for self-improvement as you learn.

If you are assigned to reflect on your experiences, consider the following questions as prompts to help you get started :

• Contextualize your reflection in relation to the overarching purpose of the course by asking yourself, what did you hope to learn from this course? What were the learning objectives for the course and how did I fit within each of them? How did these goals relate to the main themes or concepts of the course?
• Analyze how you experienced the course by asking yourself, what did I learn from this experience? What did I learn about myself? About working in this area of research and study? About how the course relates to my place in society? What assumptions about the course were supported or refuted?
• Think introspectively about the ways you experienced learning during the course by asking yourself, did your learning experiences align with the goals or concepts of the course? Why or why do you not feel this way? What was successful and why do you believe this? What would you do differently and why is this important? How will you prepare for a future experience in this area of study?

NOTE: If you are assigned to write a journal or other type of on-going reflection exercise, a helpful approach is to reflect on your reflections by re-reading what you have already written. In other words, review your previous entries as a way to contextualize your feelings, opinions, or beliefs regarding your overall learning experiences. Over time, this can also help reveal hidden patterns or themes related to how you processed your learning experiences. Consider concluding your reflective journal with a summary of how you felt about your learning experiences at critical junctures throughout the course, then use these to write about how you grew as a student learner and how the act of reflecting helped you gain new understanding about the subject of the course and its content.

ANOTHER NOTE: Regardless of whether you write a reflection paper or a journal, do not focus your writing on the past. The act of reflection is intended to think introspectively about previous learning experiences. However, reflective thinking should document the ways in which you progressed in obtaining new insights and understandings about your growth as a learner that can be carried forward in subsequent coursework or in future professional practice. Your writing should reflect a furtherance of increasing personal autonomy and confidence gained from understanding more about yourself as a learner.

Structure and Writing Style

There are no strict academic rules for writing a reflective paper. Reflective writing may be assigned in any class taught in the social and behavioral sciences and, therefore, requirements for the assignment can vary depending on disciplinary-based models of inquiry and learning. The organization of content can also depend on what your professor wants you to write about or based on the type of reflective model used to frame the writing assignment. Despite these possible variations, below is a basic approach to organizing and writing a good reflective paper, followed by a list of problems to avoid.

Pre-flection

In most cases, it's helpful to begin by thinking about your learning experiences and outline what you want to focus on before you begin to write the paper. This can help you organize your thoughts around what was most important to you and what experiences [good or bad] had the most impact on your learning. As described by the University of Waterloo Writing and Communication Centre, preparing to write a reflective paper involves a process of self-analysis that can help organize your thoughts around significant moments of in-class knowledge discovery.

• Using a thesis statement as a guide, note what experiences or course content stood out to you , then place these within the context of your observations, reactions, feelings, and opinions. This will help you develop a rough outline of key moments during the course that reflect your growth as a learner. To identify these moments, pose these questions to yourself: What happened? What was my reaction? What were my expectations and how were they different from what transpired? What did I learn?
• Critically think about your learning experiences and the course content . This will help you develop a deeper, more nuanced understanding about why these moments were significant or relevant to you. Use the ideas you formulated during the first stage of reflecting to help you think through these moments from both an academic and personal perspective. From an academic perspective, contemplate how the experience enhanced your understanding of a concept, theory, or skill. Ask yourself, did the experience confirm my previous understanding or challenge it in some way. As a result, did this highlight strengths or gaps in your current knowledge? From a personal perspective, think introspectively about why these experiences mattered, if previous expectations or assumptions were confirmed or refuted, and if this surprised, confused, or unnerved you in some way.
• Analyze how these experiences and your reactions to them will shape your future thinking and behavior . Reflection implies looking back, but the most important act of reflective writing is considering how beliefs, assumptions, opinions, and feelings were transformed in ways that better prepare you as a learner in the future. Note how this reflective analysis can lead to actions you will take as a result of your experiences, what you will do differently, and how you will apply what you learned in other courses or in professional practice.

Basic Structure and Writing Style

Reflective Background and Context

The first part of your reflection paper should briefly provide background and context in relation to the content or experiences that stood out to you. Highlight the settings, summarize the key readings, or narrate the experiences in relation to the course objectives. Provide background that sets the stage for your reflection. You do not need to go into great detail, but you should provide enough information for the reader to understand what sources of learning you are writing about [e.g., course readings, field experience, guest lecture, class discussions] and why they were important. This section should end with an explanatory thesis statement that expresses the central ideas of your paper and what you want the readers to know, believe, or understand after they finish reading your paper.

Reflective Interpretation

Drawing from your reflective analysis, this is where you can be personal, critical, and creative in expressing how you felt about the course content and learning experiences and how they influenced or altered your feelings, beliefs, assumptions, or biases about the subject of the course. This section is also where you explore the meaning of these experiences in the context of the course and how you gained an awareness of the connections between these moments and your own prior knowledge.

Guided by your thesis statement, a helpful approach is to interpret your learning throughout the course with a series of specific examples drawn from the course content and your learning experiences. These examples should be arranged in sequential order that illustrate your growth as a learner. Reflecting on each example can be done by: 1)  introducing a theme or moment that was meaningful to you, 2) describing your previous position about the learning moment and what you thought about it, 3) explaining how your perspective was challenged and/or changed and why, and 4) introspectively stating your current or new feelings, opinions, or beliefs about that experience in class.

It is important to include specific examples drawn from the course and placed within the context of your assumptions, thoughts, opinions, and feelings. A reflective narrative without specific examples does not provide an effective way for the reader to understand the relationship between the course content and how you grew as a learner.

Reflective Conclusions

The conclusion of your reflective paper should provide a summary of your thoughts, feelings, or opinions regarding what you learned about yourself as a result of taking the course. Here are several ways you can frame your conclusions based on the examples you interpreted and reflected on what they meant to you. Each example would need to be tied to the basic theme [thesis statement] of your reflective background section.

• Your reflective conclusions can be described in relation to any expectations you had before taking the class [e.g., “I expected the readings to not be relevant to my own experiences growing up in a rural community, but the research actually helped me see that the challenges of developing my identity as a child of immigrants was not that unusual...”].
• Your reflective conclusions can explain how what you learned about yourself will change your actions in the future [e.g., “During a discussion in class about the challenges of helping homeless people, I realized that many of these people hate living on the street but lack the ability to see a way out. This made me realize that I wanted to take more classes in psychology...”].
• Your reflective conclusions can describe major insights you experienced a critical junctures during the course and how these moments enhanced how you see yourself as a student learner [e.g., "The guest speaker from the Head Start program made me realize why I wanted to pursue a career in elementary education..."].
• Your reflective conclusions can reconfigure or reframe how you will approach professional practice and your understanding of your future career aspirations [e.g.,, "The course changed my perceptions about seeking a career in business finance because it made me realize I want to be more engaged in customer service..."]
• Your reflective conclusions can explore any learning you derived from the act of reflecting itself [e.g., “Reflecting on the course readings that described how minority students perceive campus activities helped me identify my own biases about the benefits of those activities in acclimating to campus life...”].

NOTE: The length of a reflective paper in the social sciences is usually less than a traditional research paper. However, don’t assume that writing a reflective paper is easier than writing a research paper. A well-conceived critical reflection paper often requires as much time and effort as a research paper because you must purposeful engage in thinking about your learning in ways that you may not be comfortable with or used to. This is particular true while preparing to write because reflective papers are not as structured as a traditional research paper and, therefore, you have to think deliberately about how you want to organize the paper and what elements of the course you want to reflect upon.

ANOTHER NOTE: Do not limit yourself to using only text in reflecting on your learning. If you believe it would be helpful, consider using creative modes of thought or expression such as, illustrations, photographs, or material objects that reflects an experience related to the subject of the course that was important to you [e.g., like a ticket stub to a renowned speaker on campus]. Whatever non-textual element you include, be sure to describe the object's relevance to your personal relationship to the course content.

Problems to Avoid

A reflective paper is not a “mind dump” . Reflective papers document your personal and emotional experiences and, therefore, they do not conform to rigid structures, or schema, to organize information. However, the paper should not be a disjointed, stream-of-consciousness narrative. Reflective papers are still academic pieces of writing that require organized thought, that use academic language and tone , and that apply intellectually-driven critical thinking to the course content and your learning experiences and their significance.

A reflective paper is not a research paper . If you are asked to reflect on a course reading, the reflection will obviously include some description of the research. However, the goal of reflective writing is not to present extraneous ideas to the reader or to "educate" them about the course. The goal is to share a story about your relationship with the learning objectives of the course. Therefore, unlike research papers, you are expected to write from a first person point of view which includes an introspective examination of your own opinions, feelings, and personal assumptions.

A reflection paper is not a book review . Descriptions of the course readings using your own words is not a reflective paper. Reflective writing should focus on how you understood the implications of and were challenged by the course in relation to your own lived experiences or personal assumptions, combined with explanations of how you grew as a student learner based on this internal dialogue. Remember that you are the central object of the paper, not the research materials.

A reflective paper is not an all-inclusive meditation. Do not try to cover everything. The scope of your paper should be well-defined and limited to your specific opinions, feelings, and beliefs about what you determine to be the most significant content of the course and in relation to the learning that took place. Reflections should be detailed enough to covey what you think is important, but your thoughts should be expressed concisely and coherently [as is true for any academic writing assignment].

Critical Reflection . Writing and Communication Centre, University of Waterloo; Critical Reflection: Journals, Opinions, & Reactions . University Writing Center, Texas A&M University; Connor-Greene, Patricia A. “Making Connections: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Journal Writing in Enhancing Student Learning.” Teaching of Psychology 27 (2000): 44-46; Good vs. Bad Reflection Papers , Franklin University; Dyment, Janet E. and Timothy S. O’Connell. "The Quality of Reflection in Student Journals: A Review of Limiting and Enabling Factors." Innovative Higher Education 35 (2010): 233-244: How to Write a Reflection Paper . Academic Skills, Trent University; Amelia TaraJane House. Reflection Paper . Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence, University of Arkansas; Ramlal, Alana, and Désirée S. Augustin. “Engaging Students in Reflective Writing: An Action Research Project.” Educational Action Research 28 (2020): 518-533; Writing a Reflection Paper . Writing Center, Lewis University; McGuire, Lisa, Kathy Lay, and Jon Peters. “Pedagogy of Reflective Writing in Professional Education.” Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (2009): 93-107; Critical Reflection . Writing and Communication Centre, University of Waterloo; How Do I Write Reflectively? Academic Skills Toolkit, University of New South Wales Sydney; Reflective Writing . Skills@Library. University of Leeds; Walling, Anne, Johanna Shapiro, and Terry Ast. “What Makes a Good Reflective Paper?” Family Medicine 45 (2013): 7-12; Williams, Kate, Mary Woolliams, and Jane Spiro. Reflective Writing . 2nd edition. London: Red Globe Press, 2020; Yeh, Hui-Chin, Shih-hsien Yang, Jo Shan Fu, and Yen-Chen Shih. “Developing College Students’ Critical Thinking through Reflective Writing.” Higher Education Research and Development (2022): 1-16.

Writing Tip

Focus on Reflecting, Not on Describing

Minimal time and effort should be spent describing the course content you are asked to reflect upon. The purpose of a reflection assignment is to introspectively contemplate your reactions to and feeling about an element of the course. D eflecting the focus away from your own feelings by concentrating on describing the course content can happen particularly if "talking about yourself" [i.e., reflecting] makes you uncomfortable or it is intimidating. However, the intent of reflective writing is to overcome these inhibitions so as to maximize the benefits of introspectively assessing your learning experiences. Keep in mind that, if it is relevant, your feelings of discomfort could be a part of how you critically reflect on any challenges you had during the course [e.g., you realize this discomfort inhibited your willingness to ask questions during class, it fed into your propensity to procrastinate, or it made it difficult participating in groups].

Writing a Reflection Paper . Writing Center, Lewis University; Reflection Paper . Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence, University of Arkansas.

Another Writing Tip

Helpful Videos about Reflective Writing

These two short videos succinctly describe how to approach a reflective writing assignment. They are produced by the Academic Skills department at the University of Melbourne and the Skills Team of the University of Hull, respectively.

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HST 21008 | Life Worth Living (Univ of Sheffield)

Reflective learning journal: assignment 1.

By Joshua Forstenzer

Joshua Forstenzer & Casey Strine

Your response can—indeed should—emerge from your own study, our seminar discussion, and your further reflection.

By Joshua Forstenzer & Casey Strine

The Engagement and Participation mark is designed to incentivise engagement with the module in and beyond the seminars. For this element, students should engage weekly with the Perusall assignments on the primary texts and in the seminar discussions. This work will prepare you for the final collection, revision, and submission of the learning journal.

The learning journal you submit will consist of three entries taken from the whole of the module, with at least one coming from weeks 2-6 (the religious traditions) and at least one coming from weeks 8-11 (the philosophical traditions). You can choose your four responses from any of questions that I have posed on Perusall.

Each entry should list the question you are responding to, the key text of the primary document you are discussing, and your response to the question. Your response can—indeed should—emerge from your own study, our seminar discussion, and your further reflection.

The length of your response should be 250 words, though you can go over this limit if you like. Good responses are not necessarily long, but detailed, succinct, and reflective of sustained reflection on the topic. Do not confuse more words for better content. Likewise, feel free to supplement your responses with images, a related piece of music, a poem, or the like that has shaped and informed your reflection. Feel free to be creative here... if you like, not as a necessity.

You should submit one of the reflections you think will be in your final learning journal no later that Monday, 7 November, at 5:00 PM (the Reading Week). These will be read, and formative feedback will be offered before classes start again in Week 8.

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Reflective Journal: Inspiration, Ideas, and Prompts

Here's how to keep a reflective journal to deepen your self-awareness by examining your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors..

• May 04, 2023

Home » Day One Blog » Reflective Journal: Inspiration, Ideas, and Prompts

Keeping a reflective journal is a way to deepen your self-awareness by regularly examining your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a structured and intentional way. By taking time to reflect on your experiences and record your thoughts and feelings in a journal, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your reactions to the world around you.

In this post, we’ll cover the benefits of reflective journaling, some tips for getting started, and some prompts and ideas to guide your reflection journal writing.

What is Reflective Journaling?

Reflective journaling is a process of recording and analyzing personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings in your journal . A reflective journal can serve as a tool for self-exploration, helping you to uncover insights into your own motivations, values, and beliefs that may be hidden beneath the surface of your conscious awareness.

Reflective journaling can take many forms, such as writing down observations about one’s day, describing emotions and reactions to events, analyzing one’s behaviors and motivations, or exploring personal values and beliefs. Reflective journaling allows you to engage in a process of ongoing self-reflection and self-discovery that can support your personal and professional growth, deepen your relationships with others, and help you live a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Why Start a Reflective Journal? 10 Key Benefits

The purpose of reflective journaling goes beyond merely recording daily events; it encompasses the exploration of emotions, challenges, successes, and insights that arise from our interactions with the world around us. The purpose of reflective journaling is multifaceted and offers numerous journaling benefits , including:

1. Improve self-awareness

Reflection can help you gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This increased self-awareness can lead to greater clarity about your needs, values, and goals.

2. Enhance learning

Reflection allows you to process and integrate your experiences, which can deepen your learning and understanding of new information or skills.

3. Improve decision-making skills

Reflective journaling can help you identify patterns and themes in your experiences, which can inform your decision-making and lead to more effective choices.

4. Increase empathy

Keeping a reflective journal can promote greater understanding and empathy for others, as you gain insights into your thought processes and emotional responses.

5. Develop emotional Intelligence

Engaging in reflective journaling can significantly contribute to the development of emotional intelligence. By examining and understanding your emotions, you become better equipped to manage and regulate them effectively.

6. Reduce stress

Reflection journaling can be a helpful tool for managing stress, as it allows you to process your emotions and identify strategies for coping with difficult situations.

7. Facilitate personal growth

A reflective journal can be a catalyst for personal growth and development, as you identify areas for improvement and take steps to make positive changes in your lives.

8. Strengthen memory

Reflective journaling can serve as an effective tool for improving memory by encouraging you to actively recall and process daily experiences, events, and information. By regularly writing about your thoughts, emotions, and learnings, you reinforce neural pathways in the brain, making it easier to store and retrieve memories.

9. Foster mindfulness in everyday life

Reflective journaling encourages you to be fully present and engaged in the moment, promoting mindfulness and a deeper appreciation for daily experiences.

10. Gain a deeper sense of meaning

Reflecting on your life and your experiences can help bring a sense of fulfillment and purpose. The process of self-exploration and reflection can help you develop a greater sense of clarity and direction, and become more intentional about your actions and decisions.

What to Write About in A Reflective Journal: Inspiration and Ideas

If you’re just getting started with keeping a reflective journal, you may find yourself staring at an empty page. In a reflective journal, you can write about a wide range of topics, including your thoughts, emotions, goals, challenges, successes, fears, values, and beliefs. You can also reflect on your interactions with others, your relationships, and your personal and professional development.

Here are a few ideas for what to write about in your reflective journal:

When it comes to reflective journaling, putting your thoughts onto paper can be a profoundly clarifying exercise. Thoughts can often be fleeting and difficult to hold onto, but writing them down can give them a tangible form that allows you to gain a sense of perspective and distance from them.

“I don’t know what I think until I write it down.” – Joan Didion

Emotions and Feelings

Journaling can serve as a tool for emotional regulation, allowing you to process your emotions in a healthy and constructive way. Journaling about feelings can provide a deeper understanding of yourself, your triggers, and your needs, and develop strategies for managing your emotions. In addition to helping you manage your emotions in the moment, journaling can also create a record of your emotional experiences over time, which can help you identify emotional patterns.

“Having the courage to reckon with our emotions and to rumble with our stories is the path to writing our brave new ending.” – Brené Brown

Daily Experiences

Reflective journaling can also include writing about your daily experiences, including routine activities and interactions. By reflecting on the experiences of your day, you can gain insights into your behavior and thought patterns, and process the experience more fully. Writing about your daily experiences can also help you appreciate the small moments in life and find meaning in the everyday. Additionally, reflecting on your daily experiences in writing can be a helpful way to unwind and de-stress at the end of the day, and to process any difficult or challenging interactions that you may have had. By writing about your daily experiences, you can create a safe and supportive space for self-reflection and personal growth, and develop a greater sense of awareness and mindfulness in your daily life.

“There is, of course, always personal satisfaction of writing down one’s own experiences so they may be saved, caught and pinned under glass, hoarded against the winter of forgetfullness.” — Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Keeping a reflective journal can offer a safe space to explore your memories and reflect on the formative experiences that have shaped your life. Writing about memories can help you process past experiences and gain insights into how they have influenced your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Reflecting on positive memories can also be a source of comfort and inspiration, while reflecting on difficult memories can help you release negative emotions and gain closure. Writing about memories can also help create a personal narrative of your life, which can help you develop a greater sense of identity and purpose. By writing about your memories in a reflective journal, you can honor the past, gain clarity about the present, and create a vision for the future.

“In solitude we give passionate attention to our lives, to our memories, to the details around us.” – Virginia Woolf

Reflecting on how you respond to daily events by analyzing your actions, reactions, and emotional responses in different situations can provide useful insights for understanding yourself. Through consistent self-reflection, you can identify patterns, triggers, and areas for improvement, allowing you to cultivate healthier coping mechanisms, make more conscious decisions, and ultimately, develop a deeper sense of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. This newfound understanding can lead to more effective communication and stronger relationships. (You can even go deeper through journaling about relationships. )

“Writing in a daily journal is important […] I’m able to reflect on my life, my actions, my behaviors, my memories and also the behavior of others around me.” — Nando Prudhomme

Personal Values and Beliefs

Reflective journaling offers a chance to clearly identify what you value and what you belief. Reflecting on your personal values and beliefs can help you identify what is truly important to you, and align your actions and decisions with your authentic self. Writing about your personal values and beliefs can also help you navigate challenging situations or decisions, by providing a clear framework for making choices that align with your core principles.

Goals and Aspirations

Reflecting on your goals and aspirations can help you better prioritize your time, energy, and resources towards the things that truly matter to you. By reflecting on your goals, you can identify what is most important and meaningful in your life, and focus your efforts on pursuing those things. This can help you avoid distractions and time-wasters, and make the most of your resources. Reflecting on your goals can help you develop a greater sense of self-awareness , as you gain insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. By setting and pursuing meaningful goals, you can challenge yourself to grow and develop, and become the best version of yourself.

“I realized that journal writing was and is a powerful tool for personal growth, problem solving, monitoring goals, and documenting my life over time.” — Bakari Chavanu

Reflective journaling can also be a form of keeping a gratitude journal . Reflecting on what you’re grateful for on a regular basis can help you cultivate a more positive and optimistic outlook on life, and even boost feelings of happiness. By focusing on the good things in your life, you can shift your attention away from negative thoughts and emotions, and develop a greater sense of appreciation and contentment.

“The secret to happiness is simple. And it begins with gratitude.” – Dr. Sophia Godkin

20 Reflective Journal Prompts

Answering journal prompts can be a great way to deepen your reflective journaling practice. Journal prompts can help guide you into a reflective mood so you can think more deeply about your experiences.

Here are 20 reflective journal prompts to guide your writing and deepen your self-reflection:

• What has been on my mind lately?
• What is a repetitive thought I’ve been having?
• How am I feeling right now?
• What emotion did I experience today?
• What triggered this emotion?
• How did I respond to this emotion?
• What happened today?
• What did I think and feel in response to something that happened today?
• What did I learn today?
• What challenged me today?
• What did I enjoy about today?
• What was something significant that has happened lately?
• What random memory comes to mind right now?
• What is one happy memory I have?
• What have I been struggling with lately?
• What do I need more of in my life?
• What are my values?
• What have I learned about myself?
• What are my goals right now?
• What am I grateful for today?

Reflective Journal Example

This reflective journal example aims to demonstrate how to practice self-reflection, as well as to inspire you to start your own reflective journal.

Date: May 4, 2023

Today’s Journal Prompt: What did I experience today?

Today was a day full of mixed experiences. The morning started off on a high note as I woke up to the sound of chirping birds outside my window. I was reminded that I’ve always associated spring with hopefulness and fresh starts. After breakfast, I headed out to work feeling refreshed and energized.

At work, I was assigned a new project by my manager. The new project means shifting my focus to a different strategy. I felt uncertain about this change, and had to take a walk to give myself some time to process my hesitancy. I know I need extra time when something unexpected happens, especially if it means I’ll need to rethink my regular daily tasks.

During lunch, I had an unexpected encounter Justin, an old friend from college. We had not seen each other in years, and it was a pleasant surprise to catch up. We reminisced about our college days and updated each other on our lives. I often miss my college days, and it seems strange so much time has passed since then.

After work, I decided to take a different route home and stumbled upon a small art gallery that I had never noticed before. I decided to take a peek inside, and I was captivated by some of the beautiful abstracts on display. The visit to the art gallery made me want to start painting again. I’ve missed having that creative outlet, even if it’s only a hobby.

The day took a slightly challenging turn when I received a phone call from my sister. She shared some personal struggles she has been facing recently, and it made me feel anxious—concern for her well-being, empathy for her situation, and a sense of helplessness for not being able to do more to support her.

As I sit here reflecting on my day, I realize that it was filled with a wide range of experiences, emotions, and encounters. I want to appreciate the small moments of joy and beauty in life, the value of personal connections, and the importance of empathy and understanding. I hope to carry these lessons with me and use them to better navigate the complexities of my life.

Wrapping Up: Your Journey, Your Reflective Journal

The practice of reflective journaling offers a wealth of benefits, from enhancing self-awareness to nurturing personal growth. By dedicating time to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences, you create a deeper connection with your inner self and foster a better understanding of your life’s journey. As you embark on this transformative practice, allow yourself the freedom to discover and express your authentic self, and remember that the key to growth lies in the consistent and honest exploration of your inner world. Embrace the power of reflective journaling as you discover new insights about yourself and your life. Happy journaling!

About the Author

Kristen Webb Wright is the author of three books on journaling. With a passion for writing and self-reflection, Kristen uses her experience with journaling to help others discover the benefits of documenting their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. In her role at Day One, she helps to promote the power of journaling so people from all walks of life can experience the transformative power of journaling.

Start a Reflective Journal Today in the Day One Journal App

The Day One app can help you get your new journaling habit off to a great start. With compelling prompts and journaling reminders, Day One makes journaling enjoyable as well as easy. Download the Day One app for free today and start writing. 

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Structure of academic reflections

Guidance on the structure of academic reflections.

Academic reflections or reflective writing completed for assessment often require a clear structure. Contrary to some people’s belief, reflection is not just a personal diary talking about your day and your feelings.

Both the language and the structure are important for academic reflective writing. For the structure you want to mirror an academic essay closely. You want an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion.

Academic reflection will require you to both describe the context, analyse it, and make conclusions. However, there is not one set of rules for the proportion of your reflection that should be spent describing the context, and what proportion should be spent on analysing and concluding. That being said, as learning tends to happen when analysing and synthesising rather than describing, a good rule of thumb is to describe just enough such that the reader understands your context.

Example structure for academic reflections

Below is an example of how you might structure an academic reflection if you were given no other guidance and what each section might contain.  Remember this is only a suggestion and you must consider what is appropriate for the task at hand and for you yourself.

Introduction

Identifies and introduces your experience or learning

• This can be a critical incident
• This can be the reflective prompt you were given
• A particular learning you have gained

When structuring your academic reflections it might make sense to start with what you have learned and then use the main body to evidence that learning, using specific experiences and events. Alternatively, start with the event and build up your argument. This is a question of personal preference – if you aren’t given explicit guidance you can ask the assessor if they have a preference, however both can work.

Highlights why it was important

• This can be suggesting why this event was important for the learning you gained
• This can be why the learning you gained will benefit you or why you appreciate it in your context

You might find that it is not natural to highlight the importance of an event before you have developed your argument for what you gained from it. It can be okay not to explicitly state the importance in the introduction, but leave it to develop throughout your reflection.

Outline key themes that will appear in the reflection (optional – but particularly relevant when answering a reflective prompt or essay)

• This can be an introduction to your argument, introducing the elements that you will explore, or that builds to the learning you have already gained.

This might not make sense if you are reflecting on a particular experience, but is extremely valuable if you are answering a reflective prompt or writing an essay that includes multiple learning points. A type of prompt or question that could particularly benefit from this would be ‘Reflect on how the skills and theory within this course have helped you meet the benchmark statements of your degree’

It can be helpful to explore one theme/learning per paragraph.

Explore experiences

• You should highlight and explore the experience you introduced in the introduction
• If you are building toward answering a reflective prompt, explore each relevant experience.

As reflection is centred around an individual’s personal experience, it is very important to make experiences a main component of reflection. This does not mean that the majority of the reflective piece should be on describing an event – in fact you should only describe enough such that the reader can follow your analysis.

Analyse and synthesise

• You should analyse each of your experiences and from them synthesise new learning

Depending on the requirements of the assessment, you may need to use theoretical literature in your analysis. Theoretical literature is a part of perspective taking which is relevant for reflection, and will happen as a part of your analysis.  

Restate or state your learning

• Make a conclusion based on your analysis and synthesis.
• If you have many themes in your reflection, it can be helpful to restate them here.

Plan for the future

• Highlight and discuss how your new-found learnings will influence your future practice

Answer the question or prompt (if applicable)

• If you are answering an essay question or reflective prompt, make sure that your conclusion provides a succinct response using your main body as evidence.  

Using a reflective model to structure academic reflections

You might recognise that most reflective models mirror this structure; that is why a lot of the reflective models can be really useful to structure reflective assignments. Models are naturally structured to focus on a single experience – if the assignment requires you to focus on multiple experiences, it can be helpful to simply repeat each step of a model for each experience.

One difference between the structure of reflective writing and the structure of models is that sometimes you may choose to present your learning in the introduction of a piece of writing, whereas models (given that they support working through the reflective process) will have learning appearing at later stages.

However, generally structuring a piece of academic writing around a reflective model will ensure that it involves the correct components, reads coherently and logically, as well as having an appropriate structure.

Reflective journals/diaries/blogs and other pieces of assessed reflection

The example structure above works particularly well for formal assignments such as reflective essays and reports.  Reflective journal/blogs and other pieces of assessed reflections tend to be less formal both in language and structure, however you can easily adapt the structure for journals and other reflective assignments if you find that helpful.

That is, if you are asked to produce a reflective journal with multiple entries it will most often (always check with the person who issued the assignment) be a successful journal if each entry mirrors the structure above and the language highlighted in the section on academic language. However, often you can be less concerned with form when producing reflective journals/diaries.

When producing reflective journals, it is often okay to include your original reflection as long as you are comfortable with sharing the content with others, and that the information included is not too personal for an assessor to read.

Developed from:

Ryan, M., 2011. Improving reflective writing in higher education: a social semiotic perspective. Teaching in Higher Education, 16(1), 99-111.

University of Portsmouth, Department for Curriculum and Quality Enhancement (date unavailable). Reflective Writing: a basic introduction [online].  Portsmouth: University of Portsmouth.

Queen Margaret University, Effective Learning Service (date unavailable).  Reflection. [online].  Edinburgh: Queen Margaret University.

Writing in the sciences...: Reflective Journals

• Lab Reports
• Reflective Journals
• 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)

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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Reflective Journals

Reflection is a critical 21st Century and social-emotional skill

What Is It?

Reflective journals are notebooks or pieces of paper that students use when writing about and reflecting on their own thoughts. The act of reflecting on thoughts, ideas, feelings, and their own learning encourages the development of metacognitive skills by helping students self-evaluate and sort what they know from what they don't know. The process of examining one's own thoughts and feelings is particularly helpful for students who are learning new concepts or beginning to grapple with complex issues that go beyond right and wrong answers.

Examples of Reflective Journals:

History Alive Reflection (Fifth Grade) "The character I chose for history alive was Sequoya. He was a Native American who invented the first Cherokee alphabet so his people could read and write a language. "Sequoya had a lot of perserveracne because he never game up when he was making his Cherokee alphabet. No matter how hard it was to come up with all eighty-sox symbols and even when other Cherokee members burnt down this house for writing the alphabet, he never gave up. That is one of the best skills you can ever have. "Sequoya also had a lot of confidence and organization. Confidence explains how Sequoya knew he could make an alphabet and how he knew he could prove to the Tribal Council that the alphabet was no fake. Organization explains how well organized he arranged his alphabet. From learning about Sequoya, I learned that I need to be more confident in myself and by that I can achieve my goal and be successful in anything that I may want to do." ~Natalie R.

Reflection on Teamwork (Middle School) Group Members: Brian, Kristin, and CJ Responsiblities: Brian – Leader (Paper), Kristen – PowerPoint, CJ – Outline General Feeling: If we can get to the computer to work on Power Point and get some more info, we should be fine. Progress: Today we got any information that was left out of the books. Our paper is started, and our bibliography is all caught up. Concerns: I am concerned about getting everything done, I think we can do it but CJ is going to have to help.

Why Is It Important?

John Dewey (1938) believed that education should serve not only as a means of acquiring information but also as a way to bring learning to our everyday actions and behaviors. Most successful learners know how to identify questions and problems as they reflect on what they already know, what they want and need to know, and how they will proceed to increase their understanding. Less successful learners need to develop the habits of mind that are the underlying strategies of the learning process.

Reflective practice can be supported in classrooms by creating opportunities that allow students to think about their learning, their own lives, and the world around them. The process often illuminates problems, misunderstandings, and confusions and helps determine new growth, independence, and responsibility for learning (Strong, Silver, and Perini 2001).

Reflective journals allow students to practice their writing skills in an open-ended format that encourages the same thought process that is used in analytical writing. Zemelman, Daniels, and Hyde (1993) believe that the most powerful learning happens when students self-monitor, or reflect. As learners continue to distinguish what they know from what they need to reevaluate or relearn, they begin to translate discoveries they have made about their own learning into plans for improvement. Just as reflective journals open the windows of a student's mind, they also allow teachers to look in. In this way, the journals become a useful assessment tool that gives teachers additional insight into how students value their own learning and progress.

How Can You Make It Happen?

Model the journaling process, especially with younger students, by thinking aloud, debating what and what not to write. The main idea is to show students how to transfer their thinking into writing, not necessarily how to produce a finely polished piece of writing. Students can take from 3-15 minutes to write reflective entries in their personal journals before, during, or after a learning activity. The entries may build on areas covered in the classroom or promote students' thoughts about their own lives or the world beyond the classroom.

The most important aspect of reflective journal writing is to encourage students to begin to think about their own thinking. The reflective process transfers the responsibilities of self-appraisal and understanding the elements of quality work from the teacher to the student. Reflective journals should encourage students to develop their own personal values, going beyond summary conclusions such as "I hate this class" or "I didn't learn anything." Students should consider what they personally think and feel, drawing their own conclusions instead of just parroting what the teacher thinks. Journal prompts and questions should not be superficial but should encourage students to explore their thoughts in depth. For example, consider the difference between the following questions.

The questions in the first column are vague and may lead children to respond with egocentric or superficial facts and feelings, while the questions in the second column ask them to explore assumptions and values. Good journaling questions will help students develop critical-thinking skills and expand, analyze, or defend ideas.

It is important that journaling become a regularly scheduled activity. As with any other writing form, reflective journaling takes time and practice. Creating a routine for journaling will give students an opportunity to anticipate and prepare for other writing activities.

Encourage students to reread and revise previous entries as well as any they have just written. Help them observe the progression of their thoughts and understanding by letting them rewrite or comment on earlier entries. This exercise will help students appreciate their own learning and the process they have gone through to arrive at an understanding of concepts and knowledge. When journals are not formally assessed, students are free to experiment without fear of outside evaluation. Open assignments, or having students choose topics to write about, can allow students to express ideas in new forms and contexts. Encourage students to extend, defend, debate, and question their own ideas.

If you do assess the journals, give students feedback on what they have written. It may not always be possible to comment on each entry, so try using stickers to recognize what students have written. A smiley face sticker can give positive feedback while a star can be used to signify good ideas or thinking.

Students should keep their reflective journals in a folder or spiral or bound notebook. This allows students to review what they have written and monitor their own reflective process and thoughts throughout the school year. Establish a system for identifying each entry in the journal, and create a shared understanding concerning the time frame allowed for journal writing. Some students will want to have time to reflect before they begin to write. Others will need to know when journal time is about to end. A timer may be used to warn and then signal the end of the reflection time.

Depending on the grade level of your students, you may want to keep the journals in a place that is easily accessible. Students should know where to find their journals and understand that they need to be returned to this area. You may want to establish a clear procedure for the distribution and collection of journals. Older students may want to keep their reflections between themselves and the teacher, and it may be more appropriate to have students keep track of the journals individually.

In This Article:

Featured 5th grade resources.

Related Resources

About the author.

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• Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning
• Instructional Guide
• Reflective Journals and Learning Logs

Reflective journals are personal records of students’ learning experiences. Students typically are asked by their instructors to record learning-related incidents, sometimes during the learning process but more often just after they occur. Entries in journals and learning logs can be prompted by questions about course content, assignments, exams, students’ own ideas or students’ thought processes about what happened in a particular class period. Journals and learning logs are then submitted to the instructor for feedback. Both paper-based and online journals or logs can be turned in before or after each class period or at any other designated time.

A student’s writing style for journals and logs can be informal and sometimes inappropriate. However, to help students learn more about a particular subject or content, you can require students to write more formal entries using correct terminology, facts, and connections to course content. Consider providing guidelines and/or rules to help students write meaningful and authentic journals or logs.

Journals have long been used in exploratory writing activities but also can benefit the student beyond learning how to write. As with any instructional or learning activity, selecting to use reflective journals or learning logs as part of a course should fit your teaching style and also connect with the course learning goals and objectives (Bean, 1996). Because it takes time for students to write in their reflective journals or learning logs, so too, it will take time for you to read and respond.

Journals have long been used in exploratory writing activities but also can benefit the student beyond learning how to write.

The literature is not consistent in defining the differences between reflective journals and learning logs. One may be considered less personal than the other; one might incorporate more instructor prompts and questions while the other might be more student-driven. “Journals often focus subjectively on personal experiences, reactions, and reflections while learning logs are more documentary records of students’ work process (what they are doing), their accomplishments, ideas, or questions” (Equipped for the Future, 2004). However, there is evidence that the art of reflection can help boost students’ critical thinking skills, encourage students to think about their own thinking (meta-cognition), and help students prepare for assignments and examinations (Homik, M. & Melis, E., 2007; Johnson, S., n.d.; RMIT, 2006).

…reflection can help boost students’ critical thinking skills, encourage students to think about their own thinking (meta-cognition), and help students prepare for assignments and examinations…

Types of Reflections

Journals and learning logs can be used to reflect on a range of issues and situations from numerous viewpoints and perspectives (RMIT, 2006). RMIT (2006) lists six types of reflections. The following descriptions depict a reflection on university student groups and drinking. Possible student comments are in italics.

Observations

At this stage a student would write about what they actually saw or their viewpoint on a particular event. For example , At the pre-game parties outside the stadium I saw student groups guzzling buckets of beer.  

Upon reflection, the student could ask the question, Why do the all of the student groups drink together at football games but don’t seem to get along when they don’t drink?                              

Speculations

After thinking about the situation, the student could reflect, Maybe it’s possible that that student groups drink because it’s easier to socialize that way. Or, maybe they think that they have to drink because everyone else does!

Self-awareness

At this point a student may place himself or herself in the situation by considering the ramifications. I really don’t think I need to drink to be able to socialize with my friends and think we would get into trouble if we decided to drink as much as the groups do.

Integration of theory and ideas

By reflecting on theories or ideas about cultural norms the student has connected the experience with what he or she has learned. The student might write, Social norm theory explains that particular group members think other group members drink more than their group does.

This is where the student may self-reflect on or “critique” the situation by writing, I can now reflect on my own drinking experiences to see if I really drink because my friends do.

By reflecting on theories or ideas about cultural norms the student has connected the experience with what he or she has learned.

Reflecting is a cyclical process, where recording ones thoughts (reflecting) “leads to improvement and/or insight” (RMIT, 2006). Improvement could mean progress, development, growth, maturity, enhancement, or any number of words which could imply change. In education, we want students to change for the better, to grow while learning and to mature into knowledgeable adults. Recording what has happened, reflecting on processes and analyzing to improve deeper learning all can lead to new dimensions of students’ inner selves.

There are a number of stages through which students progress when writing reflective journals or learning logs. Each source outlines the stage or process somewhat differently yet with a similar approach. The essence of these models is presented below as the fundamental method of reflective journal and learning log entries. Note that each of the items below could be modified to fit a personal situation (for the reflective journal) or a learning environment/situation (for the learning log).

Method of Creating Reflective Journals and Learning Logs

It is suggested that students capture all formal and informal events which will prove useful when the time comes to return to the reflective journal or learning log for review. Students should focus on the areas which pose the most problems or difficulty in addition to those which are less problematic. Key to reflective journals and learning logs is to see progression over a period of time and to “gain a sense of achievement” (Dalhousie University, n.d.).

Key to reflective journals and learning logs is to see progression over a period of time and to “gain a sense of achievement.”

Write, record

• Describe the situation (the course, the context)
• Who was involved with the situation?
• What did they have to do with the situation?

Reflect, think about

• What are your reactions?
• What are your feelings?
• What are the good and the bad aspects of the situation?
• What you have learned?

Analyze, explain, gain insight

• What was really going on?
• What sense can you make of the situation?
• Can you integrate theory into the experience/situation?
• Can you demonstrate an improved awareness and self-development because of the situation?

Conclusions

• What can be concluded in a general and specific sense from this situation/experience and the analyses you have undertaken?

Personal action plan

• What are you going to do differently in this type of situation next time?
• What steps are you going to take on the basis of what you have learned?”

(Sources include: Homik, M. & Melis, E., 2007; Johnson, S., n.d.; RMIT, 2006) 

Reflective journals and learning logs can be useful as a teaching and learning tool. Either format can be adopted in any discipline where you can determine what students are learning and in what areas they need assistance. Be open to read entries by students who might request feedback more often than scheduled.

Bean, J. C. (1996). Engaging ideas: The professor’s guide to integrating writing, critical thinking, and active learning in the classroom. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Equipped for the Future (2004). Teaching/Learning Toolkit. Learning logs. http://eff.cls.utk.edu/toolkit/tools_learning_logs.htm

Johnson, S. (n.d.) Faculty strategies for promoting student learning. http://www.csudh.edu/titlev/learninglog.htm

RMIT University, Study and Learning Centre, Melbourne, Australia (2006). Reflective journals. https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/2_AssessmentTasks/assess_tuts/reflective%20journal_LL/index.html

Selected Resources

Dalhousie University (n.d.). Learning logs. http://channelcontent.dal.ca/portfolio/r_learnlogs.html

Paskevicius, M (n.d.). Conversations in the cloud: The use of blogs to support learning in higher education. https://bluelightdistrict.org/assets/SharedBlogs_2010_v5-completeFinal.doc

Writing to learn learning logs (n.d.). http://www.wku.edu/3kinds/mfllmpg.html#Independent%20Study

Suggested citation

Northern Illinois University Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. (2012). Reflective journals and learning logs. In Instructional guide for university faculty and teaching assistants. Retrieved from https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide

• Active Learning Activities
• Assessing Student Learning
• Direct vs. Indirect Assessment
• Examples of Classroom Assessment Techniques
• Formative and Summative Assessment
• Peer and Self-Assessment
• Rubrics for Assessment
• The Process of Grading

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How to Write a Reflective Essay

You’re probably used to responding to different sources in essays. For example, in an academic essay, you might compare two books’ themes, argue for or against a position, analyze a piece of literature, or persuade the reader with facts and statistics.

In one way, a reflective essay is similar to an academic essay. Like an academic essay, a reflective essay can discuss ideas and concepts from books, literature, essays, or articles. However, unlike an academic essay, it focuses on how your personal experience relates to these things.

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What is a reflective essay?

Reflective essays are a type of personal essay in which the writer examines a topic through the lens of their unique perspective. Reflective essays are more subjective about their subjects than an academic essay, use figurative language, and don’t require academic sources. The purpose of a reflective essay is to explore and share the author’s thoughts, perspectives, and experiences.

Reflective essays are often written for college applications and cover letters as a way for the writer to discuss their background and demonstrate how these experiences shaped them into an ideal candidate. For example, a college applicant might write a reflective essay about how moving every few years because of their parent’s military service impacted their concept of home.

Sometimes, reflective essays are academic assignments. For example, a student may be assigned to watch a film or visit a museum exhibition and write a reflective essay about the film or exhibition’s themes. Reflective essays can also be pieces of personal writing, such as blog posts or journal entries.

Reflective essay vs. narrative essay

There are a few similarities between reflective essays and narrative essays. Both are personal pieces of writing in which the author explores their thoughts about their experiences. But here’s the main difference: While a narrative essay focuses on a story about events in the author’s life, a reflective essay focuses on the changes the author underwent because of those events. A narrative essay has many of the same elements as a fictional story: setting, characters, plot, and conflict. A reflective essay gets granular about the circumstances and changes driven by the conflict and doesn’t necessarily aim to tell a full story.

Reflective essays based on academic material

You might be assigned to write a reflective essay on an academic text, such as an essay, a book, or an article. Unlike a reflective essay about your own personal experiences, this type of reflective essay involves analysis and interpretation of the material. However, unlike in an analytical essay , the position you support is informed by your own opinion and perspective rather than solely by the text.

How to choose a topic

A reflective essay can be about any topic. By definition, a reflective essay is an essay where the writer describes an event or experience (or series of events or experiences) and then discusses and analyzes the lessons they derived from their experience. This experience can be about anything , whether big life events like moving to a new country or smaller experiences like trying sushi for the first time. The topic can be serious, lighthearted, poignant, or simply entertaining.

If your reflective essay is for an assignment or an application, you might be given a topic. In some cases, you might be given a broad area or keyword and then have to develop your own topic related to those things. In other cases, you might not be given anything. No matter which is the case for your essay, there are a few ways to explore reflective essay ideas and develop your topic.

Freewriting is a writing exercise where you simply write whatever comes to mind for a fixed period of time without worrying about grammar or structure or even writing something coherent. The goal is to get your ideas onto paper and explore them creatively, and by removing the pressure to write something submittable, you’re giving yourself more room to play with these ideas.

Make a mind map

A mind map is a diagram that shows the relationships between ideas, events, and other words related to one central concept. For example, a mind map for the word book might branch into the following words: fiction , nonfiction , digital , hardcover . Each of these words then branches to subtopics. These subtopics further branch to subtopics of their own, demonstrating just how deep you can explore a subject.

Creating a mind map can be a helpful way to explore your thoughts and feelings about the experience you discuss in your essay.

Real-life experiences

You can find inspiration for a reflective essay from any part of your life. Think about an experience that shifted your worldview or dramatically changed your daily routine. Or you can focus on the smaller, even mundane, parts of life like your weekly cleaning routine or trips to the grocery store. In a reflective essay, you don’t just describe experiences; you explore how they shape you and your feelings.

Reflective essay outline

Introduction.

A reflective essay’s introduction paragraph needs to include:

• A thesis statement

The hook is the sentence that catches the reader’s attention and makes them want to read more. This can be an unexpected fact, an intriguing statistic, a left-field observation, or a question that gets the reader’s mind thinking about the essay’s topic.

The thesis statement is a concise statement that introduces the reader to the essay’s topic . A thesis statement clearly spells out the topic and gives the reader context for the rest of the essay they’re about to read.

These aren’t all the things that a reflective essay’s introduction needs, however. This paragraph needs to effectively introduce the topic, which often means introducing a few of the ideas discussed in the essay’s body paragraphs alongside the hook and thesis statement.

Body paragraphs

Your essay’s body paragraphs are where you actually explore the experience you’re reflecting on. You might compare experiences, describe scenes and your emotions following them, recount interactions, and contrast it with any expectations you had beforehand.

Unless you’re writing for a specific assignment, there’s no required number of body paragraphs for your reflective essay. Generally, authors write three body paragraphs, but if your essay needs only two—or it needs four or five—to fully communicate your experience and reflection, that’s perfectly fine.

In the final section, tie up any loose ends from the essay’s body paragraphs. Mention your thesis statement in the conclusion, either by restating it or paraphrasing it. Give the reader a sense of completion by including a final thought or two. However, these thoughts should reflect statements you made in the body paragraphs rather than introduce anything new to the essay. Your conclusion should also clearly share how the experience or events you discussed affected you (and, if applicable, continue to do so).

6 tips for writing a reflective essay

1 choose a tone.

Before you begin to write your reflective essay, choose a tone . Because a reflective essay is more personal than an academic essay, you don’t need to use a strict, formal tone. You can also use personal pronouns like I and me in your essay because this essay is about your personal experiences.

2 Be mindful of length

Generally, five hundred to one thousand words is an appropriate length for a reflective essay. If it’s a personal piece, it may be longer.

You might be required to keep your essay within a general word count if it’s an assignment or part of an application. When this is the case, be mindful to stick to the word count—writing too little or too much can have a negative impact on your grade or your candidacy.

3 Stay on topic

A reflective essay reflects on a single topic. Whether that topic is a one-off event or a recurring experience in your life, it’s important to keep your writing focused on that topic.

4 Be clear and concise

In a reflective essay, introspection and vivid imagery are assets. However, the essay’s language should remain concise , and its structure should follow a logical narrative.

5 Stay professional

Although you aren’t bound to a formal tone, it’s generally best to use a professional tone in your reflective writing. Avoid using slang or overly familiar language, especially if your reflective essay is part of a college or job application .

6 Proofread

Before you hit “send” or “submit,” be sure to proofread your work. For this last read-through, you should be focused on catching any spelling or grammatical mistakes you might have missed.

Reflective essay FAQs

Reflective essays are a type of personal essay that examines a topic through the lens of thewriter’s unique perspective. They are more subjective about their subjects than an academic essay, use figurative language, and don’t require academic sources.

What’s the difference between a reflective essay and a narrative essay?

While a reflective essay focuses on its author’s feelings and perspectives surrounding events they’ve experienced or texts they’ve read, a narrative essay tells a story. A narrative essay might show changes the author underwent through the same conventions a fictional story uses to show character growth; a reflective essay discusses this growth more explicitly and explores it in depth.

What are example topics for a reflective essay?

• Moving abroad and adapting to the local culture
• Recovering from an athletic injury
• Weekly phone conversations with your grandmother
• The funniest joke you ever heard (and what made it so funny)

• TemplateLab

Reflective Essay Examples

50 best reflective essay examples (+topic samples).

If you have ever read reflective essay examples, you would know that these types of written works examine the writer’s life experiences . When you write a reflective paper example, you write about your own experiences and explore how you’ve changed, grown or developed because of those experiences. There’s no standard format for this essay as it may vary depending on the target audience.

Table of Contents

• 1 Reflective Essay Examples
• 2 What is a reflective essay?
• 3 Reflective Paper Examples
• 4 Format of reflective essay
• 5 Creating the outline of reflective essay examples
• 6 Reflective Paper Samples
• 7 Tips for writing reflective essay
• 8 Reflective Essay Samples

What is a reflective essay?

A reflective essay is a type of written work which reflects your own self. Since it’s about yourself, you already have a topic to write about. For reflective essay examples, readers expect you to evaluate a specific part of your life. To do this, you may reflect on emotions, memories, and feelings you’ve experienced at that time.

Since you’re writing reflection essay samples about yourself, make sure that they’re interesting and exciting. This is very important so that your readers don’t get bored with what you’ve written. Reflective essays are very personal thus, they’re a special type of essay. As you write one, you need to reflect, think, and explain.

In the essay, you should demonstrate and describe different feelings or emotions which you’ve felt in the past. These statements breathe life into your essay as your readers start picturing what you’ve written in their minds. Reflective essays are very honest, personal, and emotional, especially those which describe painful experiences.

Reflective Paper Examples

Format of reflective essay

As aforementioned, reflective essay examples don’t have a standard format. They seem easy enough to write but once you’ve sat down to start writing, you may suddenly find the task very challenging! Besides the format, you must think about the life experience you want to write about and remember everything about it.

A reflective paper example is a lot like a personal journal or diary. Of course, the difference is that other people will read your essay. Therefore, you must write it with good structure and coherence. In this regard, reflective essays are a lot like the other types of essays too.

When writing a reflective essay, you will have to examine your own life experiences. The purpose of writing such an essay is to provide yourself with a platform to share your most meaningful life experiences with other people. You can also use it as a way to explore how your experiences have changed you as a person.

You can present reflective writing in different formats. Most of the time though, people use a learning log or a diary entry format. You can use these formats and others. Just make sure that your essay has a good flow and that it’s easy for other readers to understand.

The format to use for your reflection essay samples would depend on your target audience. You can make an academic reflective essay or you can make it as a general and informal piece of writing. If you need to write the essay for a class assignment, follow the format given to you by your teacher.

No matter what format you choose, you may write an essay which:

• Focuses on your personal growth Such an essay helps you learn how to evaluate and analyze the experiences you have had in your personal life. This helps promote emotional development and growth. It also helps you understand yourself and your behaviors better.
• Focuses on literature For this type of essay, you may have to include references to literature and apply these to your own life experiences. Such essays are commonly given as assignments to students in school.

Creating the outline of reflective essay examples

Before you write your reflective essay examples, you must create an outline for them. Although you’d write about your own life, creating an outline gives structure to your essay to serve as a guide for what you want to write about.

Whether you need to write an essay for school, for a magazine or for any other reason, creating an outline is the very first step. With a good outline, you have a better idea of how your essay will flow from one paragraph to the next all the way to the conclusion.

When creating the outline of your reflective paper example, keep it organized. Develop the outline gradually and put a lot of thought into it. In doing this, you make the writing process much easier. Here is a rundown of the steps involved in the essay-writing process:

• Choose a topic (a significant life experience you want to write about)
• Gather information
• Create an outline
• Write a draft
• Finalize your essay

Reflective Paper Samples

Tips for writing reflective essay

As you think about the content of your reflection essay samples, remember that the important thing is that such an essay must be highly personal but also engaging to readers. There’s so much more to reflective essays than just writing your story. You must also reflect on your experiences to engage your audiences.

For your starting point, think about the most significant experiences you had in your life. Those which had either a negative or a positive impact on you as a person. If the reflective essay is a school assignment, your professor would probably specify what you must write about. Here are some tips for you for writing your reflective paper example:

• Reflection The most important part of writing your reflective essay is the reflective process. Think about the personal experience you want to write about. Focus on what happened, how this experience made you feel, and how it affected your life. Explore your memories and emotions for this part of the process. As you’re recalling and reflecting on your life experience, take a lot of notes . Write down all the details you remember and try to be as clear and as detailed as you possibly can. Take as much time as you need for reflection. You can even close your eyes as you try to remember those experiences vividly. When you’re confident that you have recalled all of the details of your life experience, it’s time to write your essay. To make it more meaningful, try to answer some important questions about your life experience including: Did you learn anything new about yourself because of this experience? Have you grown or developed because of this experience? If so, in what way? Did this experience impact your life positively or negatively? If you had the chance to experience this all over again, would you do anything differently? Why did you behave in such a way at the time of this experience? Did you make the right choices? What are your general thoughts and feelings about this experience? Can you say that you learned from this experience? Did you gain any new perspectives or skills because of this experience? These are “signpost questions” which can help you write a more meaningful essay. These are just some examples, you can also think of your own questions to ask yourself. The point of these questions is to make sure that you think critically and deeply about the experience you’re writing about.
• Planning After you’ve reflected on your life experience, it’s time to start planning your essay. When it’s time to start, you might feel as if you’re not adequately prepared even though you’ve done a lot of reflection. This is a normal feeling, especially if you want to create a written piece which people will love reading. To ease your anxiety and doubt, come up with a well-rounded and comprehensive plan. The best way to do this is through an outline. With an outline to guide your writing process, you can come up with an essay that’s more coherent and which has a clear structure. An outline or plan is important for reflective essays. Since you’re writing about an emotionally-charged topic, you might find yourself getting “lost” along the way. This is especially true if you’re writing about a painful experience which still affects you until now. The outline serves as a map for you to keep your thoughts organized. In your outline, make sure to establish all of the fundamental details you wish to include in your essay. This helps you pick out and remove any superfluous information to make it easier to read and understand. Planning the points you want to write about makes it easier for you to stay on point. As such, your writing becomes a lot clearer and your readers can follow your line of thought. An outline also prevents you from missing out any relevant information. It’s very difficult and frustrating to go back after you’ve written the whole essay just to fit in this information! Planning your essay also saves you a lot of time. Coming up with the structure makes you more familiar with your essay even before you start writing it. Thus, you can spend more time writing, revising, and proofreading your essay to make it the best version possible.

Reflective Essay Samples

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13 Self Reflection Worksheets & Templates to Use in Therapy

While valuable for clients and students, it is equally vital for therapists, coaches, and mental health professionals.

Literature across multiple disciplines confirms that reflection serves therapists by improving “learning and performance in essential competencies” (Aronson, 2011, p. 200). In therapy, it helps the client “manage personal feelings, such as anxiety and inadequacy, and their impact on others” (Fisher, Chew, & Leow, 2015, p. 736).

This article introduces the basics behind reflection along with questions and worksheets that encourage and support the reflective process and maximize the benefits for therapists, clients, and students.

Before you continue, you might like to download our three Meaning and Valued Living Exercises for free . These creative, science-based exercises will help you learn more about your values, motivations, and goals and will give you the tools to inspire a sense of meaning in the lives of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

Fostering reflection skills: the basics, 50+ questions to ask your clients or students, 5 helpful reflection worksheets & tools, journaling & diaries: 2 useful templates, top 3 activities for practicing reflection, 3 fun games to inspire clients, positivepsychology.com’s reflection resources, a take-home message.

While reflection has no single, universal definition, Aronson (2011, p. 200) frames it as the “process of analyzing, questioning, and reframing an experience in order to make an assessment of it for the purposes of learning (reflective learning) and/or improve practice (reflective practice).” It has multiple uses in various contexts.

Reflection is central to most therapies. Indeed, Socratic questioning (using open yet focused questions) is widely used in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to encourage reflection and unpack deeply held beliefs (Bennett-Levy, Thwaites, Chaddock, & Davis, 2009).

Within therapy , Bennett-Levy et al. (2009) recognized that reflection can be beneficial for both the therapist and the client, and can be considered from several perspectives.

• Reflective practices Reflection as part of the clinical experience, using journals, video, and group activities.
• Reflective skills The ability to reflect on oneself through therapeutic interaction and self-awareness of feelings and thoughts.
• Reflective systems Reflection results from the interaction of several processes, including the individual’s memory, skills, and reflective system.
• Reflective processes Reflection involves the ability to observe (possibly via visualization) and then reflect or conceptualize to engage in further processing, including elaboration, problem solving, and self-questioning.

Bennett-Levy et al. (2009, p. 121) offer the following helpful definition of reflection:

“Reflection is the process of intentionally focusing one’s attention on a particular content; observing and clarifying this focus; and using other knowledge and cognitive processes (such as self-questioning, logical analysis and problem-solving) to make meaningful links.”

The benefits of reflection carry across to the learning process found within educational environments. It forms the second of the following four-stage model used by coaches engaging with students to understand the learning process (Adams, 2016):

• Attending to and focusing on the relevant features of their experience
• Actively reflecting on their experience
• Extracting learning from that experience
• Planning how to create new ways of behaving in response to the learning

Reflection and learning are also highly applicable outside of school.

While reflection is vital to self-awareness and healing for clients, it is also a powerful and insightful tool for therapists.

Mental health professionals must be self-aware and cognizant of the skills they are using, because “in no other profession does the personality and behavior of the professional make such difference as it does in counseling” (Meier & Davis, 1997).

The following questions can be helpful for new and existing counselors and their clients to increase self-awareness and knowledge of counseling techniques (modified from Bennett-Levy et al., 2009):

• Observe the experience (such as the session or intervention). How did I feel? What did I notice?
• Clarify the experience. What did I learn? Was it helpful? What did not change?

The following two points are more applicable for therapists:

• Implications of the experience for clinical practice What are the implications for and impacts on one-to-one therapy, supervision, consultation, etc.?
• Implications of the experience for how I see myself as a therapist What are the implications of this experience for my understanding of cognitive therapy and theory?

Considering each question in turn can provide insights that encourage greater knowledge of the therapeutic process and promote lessons to take forward to future sessions.

Asking appropriate questions is a crucial aspect of reflection and central to deeper, long-lasting learning (Aronson, 2011; Adams, 2016).

Reflection questions for students

The following three sets of questions promote reflection in students by considering academic performance (modified from ones used by the Colorado Department of Education ):

Reflective Questions for personal academic performance

These Reflective Questions  prompt the student to think about what they are learning, why they are learning, and how they can improve the overall process.

The student answers the first question regarding what they have been learning and then selects a sample of other questions to prompt reflection.

They then complete the last column with their thoughts for later review by themselves or a therapist, coach, or counselor.

A sample of the questions includes:

What have you been learning about (today, this week, or this semester)? Why do you think these objectives and this subject are important? Did you give your best effort on your most recent assignment?

Reflective Metacognition Questions for students

Reflective Metacognition Questions help students reflect on how and what they think .

The questions are grouped under the following subsections and can be answered individually, in pairs, or as a group exercise, with a summary of the answers placed in the final column.

• Reflection and collaboration
• Self-reflection

Example questions include:

What are your thoughts about what was said? Are there any other similar answers or alternative answers? Why do you think this answer is true?

Reflection Questions in Therapy

Reflection is an essential part of therapy.

Using the Reflective Questions in Therapy worksheet, the therapist can encourage and facilitate the process of reflection in the client, such as (Bennett-Levy et al., 2009):

What do I wish people better understood about me? What behaviors and beliefs do I want to let go of? Have I been receiving enough support this year?

Download 3 Meaning & Valued Living Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to find meaning in life help and pursue directions that are in alignment with values.

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During CBT and other therapies, the client is often given a workbook or journal to capture reflections on the practice or skills they develop as they progress through treatment.

Reflection reinforces learning within the sessions and, more importantly, leads to deeper insights between sessions (Bennett-Levy et al., 2009).

Learning From My Past

The Reflections on Learning From My Past worksheet helps the client capture and reflect on an event from their past and consider how different behavior may have led to an alternate outcome.

The client is asked a series of questions about the incident, such as:

What happened or what was the event? How did it make you feel? How did you handle it?

Self-Reflection Behavior Review

At the end of the year or looking back on the client’s life, it can help to look for patterns in behavior.

The Self-Reflection Behavior Review worksheet is a valuable way to summarize events and see the recurring traps into which the client falls.

The summary provides a valuable talking point during therapy sessions and can be referred to later in order to assess how behavior has changed and improved.

It asks the client to consider:

Do you see a pattern in your behavior? How could you act differently in the future? What situations should you try to avoid?

Who Am I Self-Reflection

In life, we are often so busy with everyday tasks that we forget to take stock of who we are, what we are good at, and what is important to us.

Clients or students can use the Who Am I Self-Reflection worksheet to think about what they are good at, what significant challenges they have been confronted with, and what inspires them.

Some questions to consider include:

Think of something significant that went wrong. What did I learn from it? What am I passionate about? What do I love most about myself?

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Student Work Reflection

Students can help their existing and future learning by thinking about how they are approaching their work and using metacognitive skills to drive future improvements (Adams, 2016).

The Student Work Reflection is a set of simple repeating questions to consider how they approach each task in school.

It asks the student to consider:

How could I improve? What am I still working on? What am I most proud of?

Reflection on Group Activities

Reflection is equally important in group tasks as in individual tasks. The Reflection on Group Activities  is for an educational or therapy setting to assess the success and learnings from a group activity.

Working individually or in groups, students can answer questions such as:

What went well? What did not go well? What could we try next time?

As an intervention, it is a creative way to engage clients in a therapeutic activity, increasing self-awareness and personal growth.

It can be helpful to capture some of the key events of the day. The act of writing what happened and reviewing it later can be insightful and help you recognize positive and negative patterns in your behavior.

Daily Reflection of Feelings

Use the Daily Reflection of Feelings journal with the client to record how their day went and capture the feelings they experienced.

Questions include:

What was the best part of the day? What would you change about the day if you could? What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Daily Reflection of Behavior

Clients and therapists can benefit from reviewing significant events that occurred between sessions.

Use the Daily Reflection of Behavior  journal with clients to capture daily behaviors that were unexpected or parts of habits that the client wishes to change.

What happened? How did I behave? Why did it happen?

How to start a creative journal – Johanna Clough

Several techniques can encourage the process of reflection in clients and students.

• DARN The DARN acronym forms an important aspect of motivational interviewing . With the use of evocative change questions, the client is invited to engage in reflection to consider the change, including:

Desire questions – What I would like, wish, or want to do? Ability questions – Capturing the idea that change is possible. Reasons questions – Recognizing the reasons for change. Need questions – Identifying the urgency of the change.

• OARS OARS is another acronym important to the process of motivational interviewing to elicit change talk through the use of the following:

Open questions encourage the client to talk. Affirmations include statements of understanding and offers of support. Reflections  capture and rephrase what the client has said Summarizing provides a check-in with the client by summarizing what has been said.

OARS encourages reflection in both the therapist and the client.

• Socratic questioning Observing and taking part in Socratic questioning can be a valuable opportunity to learn about the process of encouraging reflection in others and in oneself.

Consider the five questions:

What happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Why did it happen? How did it happen?

Try out the following three activities with clients or students.

Your life as a play

You can carry out this reflective exercise in small groups of three or four people.

Ask each person to describe their ideal life in three acts, as though it were a play.

What past dreams were achieved? What is the present (good and bad)? What is your ideal future?

Share with the group, discussing each of the acts, adding humorous insights along the way. End with your positive view of how the future might look.

Shield of honor

This activity is ideal for reflection in multiple small groups.

Ask each group to create a shield out of a large piece of paper.

Divide the paper into four equal rectangles, representing:

• Skills and abilities they offer
• Skills and abilities they need to improve
• Frustrations
• What they are proud of

Tell the group they are only allowed to use drawings and pictures – no words.

After 20 minutes, ask each group to share what they have created.

Reflection on communication

Individuals are grouped into pairs and asked to sit back-to-back.

One person is given either a pen and paper or building blocks and asked to create a novel design.

Ask them to describe what it looks like, while the other person attempts to recreate the design on their side.

Once finished, the two can compare what they have created and discuss the communication process.

17 Tools To Encourage Meaningful, Value-Aligned Living

This 17 Meaning & Valued Living Exercises [PDF] pack contains our best exercises for helping others discover their purpose and live more fulfilling, value-aligned lives.

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Throughout this post, we’ve discussed the importance of clarifying wants, behavior patterns, and forces of motivation to better understand what brings meaning throughout one’s life. To this end, we invite you to check out our free Meaning & Valued Living Exercises Pack .

This pack features three of our top tools from the Positive Psychology Toolkit©, all of which center on the theme of values-based living:

• The Top 5 Values This exercise draws on key principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients begin brainstorming their values. Following this, clients will then prioritize these values in a list to identify those most central to who they are.
• Self-Eulogy This exercise invites clients to consider how they’d like to be remembered at their funeral as a means to identify and clarify values. Based on this, they can then consider how well they are living in alignment with these values.
• The Scoreboard Metaphor This exercise helps clients recognize how to enact their values through goal-setting. In particular, it draws on the metaphor of a basketball game to illustrate how living into one’s values is an ongoing process and that the paths by which we pursue our goals are opportunities to enact our values in daily life.

You can access all three exercises for free by downloading our Meaning & Valued Living Exercises Pack .

Additionally, if you’re looking for further reading on the topic of self-reflection, be sure to check out our blog post featuring ten book recommendations .

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others discover meaning, this collection contains 17 validated meaning tools for practitioners. Use them to help others choose directions for their lives in alignment with what is truly important to them.

Reflection engages clients and students in the process of analyzing, questioning, and reframing an experience. It encourages individuals or groups to learn and improve, and promotes deeper, longer lasting learning (Aronson, 2011).

Within therapy and coaching, reflection can help individuals manage their feelings (such as anxiety or self-doubt) and recognize how their behavior affects others (Fisher et al., 2015).

In an educational setting, research shows that questions and exercises prompt learners to improve core competencies (Aronson, 2011).

In any environment, reflection involves metacognition. Individuals must step outside of their existing cognition to think about their thinking . It is a skill that is best learned through practice.

Therapists, coaches, counselors, and teachers can help by prompting the client or class to consider what they have learned, what has gone well (and hasn’t), and what they could have done differently.

The takeaways from reflection can change a person’s view of what has already happened and influence how they behave in the future.

The exercises and questions within this article will engage others, promoting the reflective process and offering deeper understanding and tools for future learning.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Meaning and Valued Living Exercises for free .

• Adams, M. (2016). Coaching psychology in schools: Enhancing performance, development and wellbeing . Routledge.
• Aronson, L. (2011). Twelve tips for teaching reflection at all levels of medical education. Medical Teacher , 33 (3), 200–205.
• Bennett-Levy, J., Thwaites, R., Chaddock, A., & Davis, M. (2009). Reflective practice in cognitive behavioural therapy: The engine of lifelong learning. In J. Stedmon & R. Dallos (Eds.), Reflective practice in psychotherapy and counselling (pp. 115–35). Open University Press.
• Fisher, P., Chew, K., & Leow, Y. J. (2015). Clinical psychologists’ use of reflection and reflective practice within clinical work. Reflective Practice , 16 (6), 731–743.
• Hayman, B., Wilkes, L., & Jackson, D. (2012). Journaling: Identification of challenges and reflection on strategies. Nurse Researcher , 19 (3), 27–31.
• Meier, S., & Davis, S. (1997). The Elements of Counselling . Brooks/Cole.

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Reflective Assignment

A reflection by students on their own experiences, views and suggestions for action in relation to their learning and or work/life experiences (in written or multimedia formats).  It can be in the form of a journal, log, blog or diary, and may be incorporated into a collection of evidence in the form of a portfolio .

What can it assess ?

Reflective assignments can assess the extent to which students learn from their experience, as well as the critical thinking and reflective skills that enable them to make sense of information and/or situations that are not straightforward. These tasks can be used to assess students’ ability to reflect on the development of their own learning and self-generate feedback that can be used to improve their performance.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Disadvantages.

• Supports learning that is personally meaningful
• Students develop the ability to reflect on the progress of their learning and/or practice and identify areas for improvement
• Encourages deep learning as students are required to make sense of material as it relates to their own experience
• Students can be encouraged to incorporate reflection on any formative feedback.
• Reflective writing is unfamiliar to many students who will need support and guidance to help with the task of reflection
• Can be challenging to assess and mark; requires the use of clear and transparent assessment criteria, rubrics and assessment guidance for students
• Issues of trust may arise when assessing personal reflections.

Design and Online Assessment Considerations

When designing reflective writing assessments, consider the following questions:

• How will students be prepared to conduct reflective writing exercises?
• Should reflective writing tasks take place throughout the module or only at specific points in the trimester? What’s the rationale for the chosen approach?
• How will reflective writing assignments be assessed? What criteria will be used? 

Be clear about the reasons that reflection is embedded into the module and how it supports learning. Students may be instructed to use specific Reflective Practice Models which can offer guidance on how to structure reflective writing and also support the development of clear assessment criteria for the assignment.  Consider using a rubric, or similar, to help clarify your expectations and to support student feedback and/or opportunity for self/ peer review before submission of their work. 

Journals and reflective assignments often start off as purely descriptive, however with support students can develop their writing to be more dialogic and critical (Rivera, 2017). It is important that students demonstrate reflective thinking on the development of their learning and/or practice. Sensitive issues related to student trust may arise when writing about personal and/or difficult encounters or situations, as well as issues around privacy and confidentiality if any of the work is shared.

Although Brightspace does not include a specific journaling tool, lecturers can use the VLE to provide students with the opportunity to keep a reflective journal. For example, s tudents could do this very simply online by keeping a word document that they build up over time and then submit at the end. Alternatively, by setting up private groups with restricted discussions using Brightspace’s Groups and discussion forum in Brightspace, students can keep a private journal which may be shared with the lecturer. You can view step-by-step instructions on how to set up reflective journals for students using Private Discussions in Brightspace . Please note that there is an upper limit of 200 groups per group set.   

Other tools and technologies to support this assessment type  include;

• Video assignment ( supported by Bongo integrated in Brightspace )
• File/text assignment submission in Brightspace .
• Creating a Discussion Forum in Brightspace  

Preparing Students

It is important to start out with a clear understanding of what you mean by reflection as well as the process involved. Be able to clearly articulate the key elements of a reflective assignment, providing guidance on how students can engage in the reflective process, and set out clear criteria used to assess performance. Keep in mind that reflective writing will be unfamiliar to most students, and it can be helpful to set aside time in a class to enable students to discuss their understanding of reflection as well as the requirements for the assessment. Initially, short and structured reflective activities might help students to become more familiar with the idea of reflection. As students become accustomed to reflective approaches to learning, more complex assignments can be used to deepen their reflective practice. 

Clarify your expectations in terms of indicative word count for reflective pieces -this will also be important in terms of lecturer’s grading workload.

Learn More  

The following are some key resources that are currently available if you would like to learn more about this key assessment type.

• Learning Journals and Logs
• Reflective practice models
• UCD IT Services Bongo Video Assignment Setup
• University of Edinburgh Reflection Toolkit
• Bracken, R. C., A. Major, A. Paul and K. Ostherr (2021). " Reflective Writing about Near-Peer Blogs: A Novel Method for Introducing the Medical Humanities in Premedical Education. " Journal of Medical Humanities : 1-35 .
• Moon, J (1999) Reflection in Learning and Professional Development, Kogan Page, London
• Rivera, Roja  (2017) The reflective writing continuum: Re-conceptualizing Hatton & Smith’s types of reflective writing  International Journal of Research Studies in Education , Volume 6 Number 2, 49-67

2018 Presentations (Communicative Events)

Reflection Journals - Examples of using this powerful tool to help students synthesize course content

Marquart, Matthea S. ; Counselman Carpenter, Elisabeth A.

For new and experienced online instructors, or those who work with them, this interactive session will share examples of well received reflection journal assignments from online courses at Columbia University. The presenters will open by touching on research on the value of reflection journals, sample uses of reflection journal assignments, and how to provide instructor feedback and grading to deepen student work on future journal entries while maintaining a feasible instructor workload. Next, the presenters will share examples of reflection journal assignment instructions, grading rubrics, and lessons learned from two online courses. Finally, the presenters will facilitate a chat-based discussion to encourage the session participants to share their experiences, advice, and questions. Most learning management systems, including Blackboard and Canvas, include a journal tool. This session will help instructors share and spark ideas of ways to use this tool effectively in their own online courses, regardless of the course topic or academic discipline. The presenters will be Beth Counselman Carpenter, Assistant Professor, Southern Connecticut State University's School of Health and Human Services; and Matthea Marquart, Director of Administration, Online Campus, and Lecturer, Columbia University School of Social Work.

• Web-based instruction
• Critical thinking
• Teaching--Methodology
• Columbia University

Also Published In

More about this work.

Presented at the Excellence in Higher Education 2018 Conference on September 24, 2018 CITATION: Marquart, M., and Counselman-Carpenter, B. (2018, September 24). Reflection Journals - Examples of using this powerful tool to help students synthesize course content. Workshop presented at Columbia Southern University’s Excellence In Higher Education: Innovation In Theory And Practice Virtual Conference, Online via Adobe Connect.

• DOI Copy DOI to clipboard

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Reflection through Journaling

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How do I reflect on who I am?

There are many ways one can explore who you are. Some may choose journaling, some may choose mind mapping, some may choose talking to others. Here are some tips to dig deeper and get to know who you are through journaling .

WHY: Journaling can be an awesome tool for reflection. This allows you to write out what is in your head, heart, mind and spirit. InsideThenOut, owned by the JHU alum, Nya Jones, shares that journaling can be “Effortless tools for meaningful growth.” Literature shares that reflective journaling helps develop critical thinking 12 , a NACE core competency 3 .

HOW: Journaling can be done on your own, with others or even shared publicly. It can be guided or free flowing. It can be digital or on paper. It can be with words or imagery. You get to choose how you want to produce your own thoughts in the form of journaling.

TOOLS / EXAMPLES : Below are some resources that can be helpful to support you in reflecting on who you are.

Guided Journaling Resources:

• Prompts from the Life Design Educator, Clifton Shambry (1.5 min Video)
• Michelle Obama’s Becoming Journal
• InsideThenOut Journals (A JHU Alum’s business)

Examples of Published Reflections

• Student Reflection on the Career Closet
• Student Reflections: Student Biotech Trek Reflection 1 | Student Biotech Trek Reflection 2
• Alumni Reflections: Alum Biotech Trek Reflection1 | Alum Biotech Trek Reflection 2
• Clifton’s 5 lessons learned and reminders in leading
• Clifton’s Living Your Best Life Lessons Learned

CALL TO ACTION

Take time to reflect (write, think or draw) on one of the prompts in this video (1.5 min video).

Footnote/References

1 Schuessler, J. B., Wilder, B., & Byrd, L. (2012). Reflective Journaling and Development of CULTURAL HUMILITY IN STUDENTS.  Nursing Education Perspectives, 33 (2), 96-9. https://proxy1.library.jhu.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/reflective-journaling-development-cultural/docview/1009642647/se-2

2 NACE Core Competencies website. https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/#panel3v