Reflection writing is a chance to connect your experiences with your learning. In academic settings, a reflection should go beyond simply describing what happened. It should also show how you are thinking about the experience, what you have learned, and how this learning might influence your future actions.<\/p>\r\n
This guide will help you move from descriptive writing to more analytical writing, while maintaining a clear, personal style.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n
Reflections are personal. Use \u201cI\u201d statements to show ownership of your learning. This is different from essays or reports where third-person writing is more common.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Example (Descriptive, This Will Not Receive Full Credit):<\/strong> \u201cThe group decided to use pictures instead of words.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t Example (Analytical, First Person):<\/strong> \u201cI realized that using pictures instead of words helped us focus on universal meanings. This made me think about how I might use visuals in my future presentations.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n Reflection is not just about the past. It is also about what comes next. Show how you will apply your learning in new situations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Example (Descriptive, This Will Not Receive Full Credit):<\/strong> \u201cWe used symbols to explain the problem.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t Example (Forward-Looking):<\/strong> \u201cI now understand how symbols can be powerful when words are not enough. In future projects, I will consider whether visuals might help my audience understand my message more clearly.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n Descriptions tell the reader what happened. Analysis explores why it mattered<\/em> and what it means<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Descriptive Writing<\/strong> (This Will Not Receive Full Credit) <\/strong>focuses on facts: what you did, saw, or heard.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t Analytical Writing<\/strong> looks for insights: why it worked, how it connects to broader ideas, what it means for your growth.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n Questions to push your writing into analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n What did I learn from this?<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t Why was this important?<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t How does this connect to what I already know?<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t How might I act differently next time?<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n Both are important, but they should work together. Description sets the scene, while analysis shows your thinking.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Weak Reflection (Only Description (This Will Not Receive Full Credit) ):<\/strong> Stronger Reflection (Description + Analysis):<\/strong> Keep your writing personal and authentic.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t Show your thought process, not just the outcome.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t Use concrete examples, then explain what they mean for you.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t End with forward-looking statements: how will you use this learning?<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n You can structure a reflection in three parts:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Description (This Will Not Receive Full Credit) <\/strong>: What happened?<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t Analysis (this in conjunction with Application will receive full credit)<\/strong>: Why does it matter? What did I learn?<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t Application<\/strong>: How will I use this in the future?<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","rendered":" Reflection writing is a chance to connect your experiences with your learning. In academic settings, a reflection should go beyond simply describing what happened. It should also show how you are thinking about the experience, what you have learned, and how this learning might influence your future actions.<\/p>\n This guide will help you move from descriptive writing to more analytical writing, while maintaining a clear, personal style.<\/p>\n Reflections are personal. Use \u201cI\u201d statements to show ownership of your learning. This is different from essays or reports where third-person writing is more common.<\/p>\n Example (Descriptive, This Will Not Receive Full Credit):<\/strong> \u201cThe group decided to use pictures instead of words.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Example (Analytical, First Person):<\/strong> \u201cI realized that using pictures instead of words helped us focus on universal meanings. This made me think about how I might use visuals in my future presentations.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Reflection is not just about the past. It is also about what comes next. Show how you will apply your learning in new situations.<\/p>\n Example (Descriptive, This Will Not Receive Full Credit):<\/strong> \u201cWe used symbols to explain the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Example (Forward-Looking):<\/strong> \u201cI now understand how symbols can be powerful when words are not enough. In future projects, I will consider whether visuals might help my audience understand my message more clearly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Descriptions tell the reader what happened. Analysis explores why it mattered<\/em> and what it means<\/em>.<\/p>\n Descriptive Writing<\/strong> (This Will Not Receive Full Credit) <\/strong>focuses on facts: what you did, saw, or heard.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Analytical Writing<\/strong> looks for insights: why it worked, how it connects to broader ideas, what it means for your growth.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Questions to push your writing into analysis:<\/strong><\/p>\n What did I learn from this?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Why was this important?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n How does this connect to what I already know?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n How might I act differently next time?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Both are important, but they should work together. Description sets the scene, while analysis shows your thinking.<\/p>\n Weak Reflection (Only Description (This Will Not Receive Full Credit) ):<\/strong> Stronger Reflection (Description + Analysis):<\/strong> Keep your writing personal and authentic.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Show your thought process, not just the outcome.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Use concrete examples, then explain what they mean for you.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n End with forward-looking statements: how will you use this learning?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n You can structure a reflection in three parts:<\/p>\n Description (This Will Not Receive Full Credit) <\/strong>: What happened?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Analysis (this in conjunction with Application will receive full credit)<\/strong>: Why does it matter? What did I learn?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Application<\/strong>: How will I use this in the future?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"author":1171,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"back-matter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-1715","back-matter","type-back-matter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/1715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/back-matter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1171"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1715"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/1715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1747,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/1715\/revisions\/1747"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/1715\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"back-matter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter-type?post=1715"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1715"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicationstrategies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\r\n\r\n2. Forward-Looking Style<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n \t
\r\n\r\n3. Moving from Description to Analysis<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n \t
\r\n \t
\r\n\r\n4. Balancing Description and Analysis<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n \t
\u201cWe drew arrows to show the order of events. We added expressions on the faces to show emotion.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
\u201cWe drew arrows to show the order of events and added expressions to highlight emotion. This helped me see that sequencing and emotion are universal tools for communication. I now realize that in my professional work, I need to think about both logic and emotion when presenting information.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n5. Tips for Effective Reflection<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n \t
\r\n\r\n6. A Simple Formula to Try<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n \t
\n1. Writing in First Person<\/h2>\n
\n
\n2. Forward-Looking Style<\/h2>\n
\n
\n3. Moving from Description to Analysis<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n4. Balancing Description and Analysis<\/h2>\n
\n
\u201cWe drew arrows to show the order of events. We added expressions on the faces to show emotion.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\u201cWe drew arrows to show the order of events and added expressions to highlight emotion. This helped me see that sequencing and emotion are universal tools for communication. I now realize that in my professional work, I need to think about both logic and emotion when presenting information.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n5. Tips for Effective Reflection<\/h2>\n
\n
\n6. A Simple Formula to Try<\/h2>\n
\n