Reflective Writing:

A basic introduction
 REFLECTIVE
Click to edit Master title style WRITING
 Objectives:

 Understand reflective writing

 Write and present academic papers (reaction paper) using

appropriate tone, style, conventions and reference styles.

 Write an explanation essay using appropriate tone, styles,

conventions and references styles;

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What isedit
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Reflective writing is evidence of reflective thinking. In an
academic context, reflective thinking usually involves:

1. Looking back at something (often an event, i.e.

something that happened, but it could also be an idea or
object).
2. Analyzing the event or idea (thinking in depth and from
different perspectives, and trying to explain, often with
reference to a model or theory from your subject).
3. Thinking carefully about what the event or idea means for
you and your ongoing progress as a learner and/or
practicing professional.
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Reflective writing is thus more personal than

other kinds of academic writing. We all think
reflectively in everyday life, of course, but
perhaps not to the same depth as that expected
in good reflective writing at university level.

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Try to bear Master
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the following four key points (all of which were made by
course instructors who set and mark reflective work) :

 Reflection is an exploration and an explanation of events –

not just a description of them.

 Genuinely reflective writing often involves ‘revealing’

anxieties, errors and weaknesses, as well as strengths and
successes. This is fine (in fact it’s often essential!), as long as
you show some understanding of possible causes, and
explain how you plan to improve.

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 It is normally necessary to select just the most significant

parts of the event or idea on which you’re reflecting. If you
try to ‘tell the whole story’ you’re likely to use up your words
on description rather than interpretation.

 It is often useful to ‘reflect forward’ to the future as well as

‘reflecting back’ on the past.

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A possible Master title style
of reflective writing
 1. Description (keep this bit short!)
What happened?
What is being examined?

Specific tasks were shared out amongst members of my

team. Initially, however, the tasks were not seen as equally
difficult by all team members.

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2. Interpretation
 What is most important / interesting / useful / relevant about the
object, event or idea?
 How can it be explained e.g. with theory?
 How is it similar to and different from others?

Cooperation between group members was at risk because of

this perception of unfairness. Social interdependence theory
recognizes a type of group interaction called ‘positive
interdependence’, meaning cooperation (Johnson & Johnson, 1993,
cited by Maughan & Webb, 2001), and many studies have
demonstrated that “cooperative learning experiences encourage
higher achievement” (Maughan & Webb, 2001).
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3. Outcome
 What have I learned from this?
 What does this mean for my future?

Ultimately, our group achieved a successful outcome, but

to improve our achievement, we perhaps needed a chairperson
to help encourage cooperation when tasks were being shared
out. In future group work (on the course and at work), I would
probably suggest this.

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Vocabulary aid

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1. Description title style
(the short bit!)
 I am not suggesting specific vocabulary for any descriptive
elements of your reflective writing, because the range of
possible events, ideas or objects on which you might be
required to reflect is so great.

 Do remember, though, that if describing an idea, for example a

theory or model, it is usually best to use the present tense e.g.
‘Social interdependence theory recognises…’ (not ‘recognized’).

 Events, of course, are nearly always described using the past

tense.
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2. Interpretation (probablytitle style
the most important bit)

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3. Outcome

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Example No. 1

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Example No. 2

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Click to edit MasterESSAY
THE EXPLANATION title style
 Test your knowledge of facts by answering the following trivia
questions:
 Why are plants green?
 Why is traffic heavy in cities?
 Why can’t a man become pregnant?
 Why do we celebrate the coming of a new year?
 Why does Swiss cheese have holes?

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 Addressing ‘why’ questions means providing explanations for

phenomena. An explanation essay is one such example of a
written piece of work that addresses ‘why’ questions. It
explains a particular topic to its readers. Since it is meant to
inform or educate the readers, the essay should present
convincing and adequate support for the explanations.


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 Before reading the text, look up the meanings of the following words
and phrases that are used in the selection
 Lingua Franca
 Linguistic nationalism
 Cultural chauvinism
 Conversant
 Siloed cubicles
 Crème de la crème
 Mano-a-mano
 Bourgeois stories
 Batting an eyelash

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 The following reader selection is an explanation essay which
attempts to answer some ‘why’ questions similar to those
similar to those in the opening activity above. Note how the
topic is presented, explained, and supported. Note as well how
the essay ended.

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lingua
language

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Thank you!

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