Reflective Writing

Reflective Writing• Reflective writing is a type of writing in which the writer

recalls an experience / writes about a topic that has had a personal impact on him / her.

• As this type of writing focuses on the writer’s personal experience, attention should be given to your thoughts, feelings and reactions to different events and ideas that are introduced.

• You should also ensure that you reflect on these events and ideas – explain how the ideas you write about have caused you to reconsider your opinion on certain issues.

Reflective Writing – Assessment CriteriaAn effective piece of reflective writing should do the following:Content• Pay attention to the purpose of the piece of writing.• Show a grasp of the reflective genre.• Introduce and develop themes.• Explore ideas / feelings / experiences with a clear sense of reflection / self-

awareness / involvement / insight.• Show evidence of “creative qualities”.• Express your personality as a writer.Style• Make effective use of language techniques in order to create impact.• Be technically accurate (spelling, punctuation, expression, etc.)• Be effectively structured.Your essay should also be between 650 and 1300 words long.

Example Reflective Essay – “The Crowd”

• Once you have read the reflective essay titled “The Crowd”, you should do the following:

• Consider its strengths as a reflective essay: – what has the writer done well?

• Consider areas in which it could be developed as a reflective essay: – what could the writer improve upon?

Reflective Writing Task

Carol Ann Duffy’s “Mrs Midas” is a dramatic monologue in which Mrs Midas recalls an event which has had a significant impact on her life – her husband’s discovery that he can turn anything he touches into gold.

Write a reflective essay, in which you recall an event / series of related events that has / have had a significant impact on your life.

Reflective Writing Process

1. Generate ideas for your writing.2. Create an Outline Plan.3. Produce a First Draft.4. Produce a Final Draft.

1. Generating Ideas

1. Brainstorm the topic in your jotter, writing down as many significant memories from your life as you can. Bear in mind that the term “significant” can be very subjective.

2. Select a few of the best ideas upon which to base your writing.

3. In small groups, share these ideas. You should discuss each person’s ideas, helping them to decide which ones would make the best subject matter for your writing.

2. Planning Your Essay

• Planning your essay is extremely important, as it will help with the following:– Ensuring that you have enough ideas before you start to

write.– Ensuring that you don’t forget any of your ideas while you

write.– Ensuring that your ideas are organised effectively, and

that your essay is well-structured.• Remember also that it is important that the exam board can

access not only your final draft, but different stages of the planning process of your essay.

• With this in mind, it is vital that you create a plan for your essay before you start to write it.