{"id":245016,"date":"2024-07-11T09:20:42","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T13:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.sta.uwi.edu\/fac_test\/cetl\/?page_id=245016"},"modified":"2025-07-07T10:41:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T14:41:58","slug":"reflective-writing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sta.uwi.edu\/cetl\/resources\/teaching-and-learning\/reflective-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflective Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]\n<h3>Reflective Writing\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Reflective Writing in the Higher Education Context<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\">Reflective writing is a process of examining an experience, exploring how it affected you and what you learned from it.\u00a0 Thus, reflective writing is not only an activity of focus on the past but also in shaping future actions. It can deepen your reflection by writing down your thoughts and feelings. More importantly, &#8220;writing reflectively involves critically\u202fanalysing\u202fan experience, recording how it has impacted you and what you plan to do with your new knowledge&#8221;. (Cambridge University Libraries, 2024).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;2_5,3_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\">Your writing approach is different to other forms of writing in that it is situated as part of reflective practice.\u00a0 Therefore, instead of simply describing what happened, reflective writing requires you to analyse the reasons and implications of an experience. By doing so you continually question the meaning and significance of your experience.\u00a0 Think about it, when we write, it forces us to think. More importantly, you can reflect more deeply by writing about your experience and how it made you think and feel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #333300\">A short Youtube video from the University of Hull\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #333300\"><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=&#8221;https:\/\/youtu.be\/QoI67VeE3ds&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\">Generally, reflective writing is characterized by self-awareness(reflection), provision of evidence and coherent narrative written in a style that values your own voice and agency.\u00a0\u00a0 You are encouraged to own the text, the experience and the demonstration of evidence and for this reason, this will be an opportunity to write in first person, &#8220;I&#8221; for example. I know you may have been taught against this style of writing but for sharing your reflective account, this is generally accepted and encouraged.\u00a0 Reflective writing in academia goes a step further by using theories and other sources to support an argument or viewpoint. More importantly, the writer also relates their learning objectives or aims to their own story of how they learned from the experience and how it changed their thinking or outlook. This is a metacognitive and evaluative element of the reflective turn that brings relevance to the academic reflective writing. The key to reflective writing is to be analytical rather than descriptive. Always ask why rather than just describing what happened during an experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]\n<h2>Interested in more?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\">We have designed a tutorial to help you develop critical thinking and self-awareness through reflective writing techniques. Whether you&#8217;re new to reflective writing or looking to enhance your skills, we believe this tutorial will offer valuable insights and tools. Take a moment to explore the tutorial content by clicking below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/uwicetl.org\/coursescatalog\/reflective-writing-in-the-higher-education-context\/&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;Complete Full Tutorial&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;View Our Services&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;a42a9e9b-848b-4b5c-9d33-b7d226bf46ab&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;1.6em&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#256597&#8243; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#xf4c4;||fa||900&#8243; button_icon_placement=&#8221;left&#8221; button_on_hover=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0%||0%||true|true&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;5%||5%||false|true&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;5%|0px|5%|0px|false|true&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;12px|50px|10px|60px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;12px|50px|10px|60px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;|30px||50px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; button_icon_color_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; button_icon_color_phone=&#8221;&#8221; button_icon_color_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset3&#8243; box_shadow_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.11)&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-af6c37f3-b595-4466-8ac0-5a14f5219d20%22:%91%22button_bg_color%22,%22button_bg_color%22,%22button_bg_color%22%93,%22gcid-0eeae8d7-5b35-4602-a35c-d9477503c009%22:%91%22button_bg_color%22,%22button_bg_color%22,%22button_bg_color%22%93}&#8221; transform_styles__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_scale__hover=&#8221;105%|105%&#8221; transform_translate__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_rotate__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_skew__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; transform_origin__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; button_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|hover&#8221; button_text_color__hover=&#8221;#181B26&#8243; button_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|hover&#8221; button_bg_color__hover=&#8221;#EEBC50&#8243; transform_scale__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; button_icon_color__hover=&#8221;#181B26&#8243; button_icon_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|hover&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reflective Writing\u00a0 &nbsp; Reflective Writing in the Higher Education Context Reflective writing is a process of examining an experience, exploring how it affected you and what you learned from it.\u00a0 Thus, reflective writing is not only an activity of focus on the past but also in shaping future actions. It can deepen your reflection by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"parent":244323,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"difl_page_category":[],"class_list":["post-245016","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\r\n<title>Reflective Writing - Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sta.uwi.edu\/cetl\/resources\/teaching-and-learning\/reflective-writing\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Reflective Writing - Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Reflective Writing\u00a0 &nbsp; Reflective Writing in the Higher Education Context Reflective writing is a process of examining an experience, exploring how it affected you and what you learned from it.\u00a0 Thus, reflective writing is not only an activity of focus on the past but also in shaping future actions. 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