Reflective writing

Writing reflectively: it is about you – putting the 'I' in reflection.

Reflective writing gives you an opportunity to think deeply about something you've learned or an experience you've had.

Watch the video below for a quick introduction to reflective writing. The video includes an example of reflecting on practice, but the approach is equally useful when reflecting on theory.

Video tutorial

An explanation and example using the DIEP model in reflective writing.

Reflecting on practice

Reflective writing may ask you to consider the link between theory (what you study, discuss and read about at university) and practice (what you do, the application of the theory in the workplace). Reflection on practical contexts enables you to explore the relationship between theory and practice in an authentic and concrete way.

Examples

  • Education reflection on a placement class
  • Reflection on an Environmental Sustainability class
  • Reflection on medical placement

Reflecting on theory

Some reflection tasks are purely theoretical, where you are asked to consider texts you have read, or ideas you may have discussed in tutorials, and reflect on them.

Example

  • Theoretical response paper

Using the DIEP model

When writing reflectively for the first time, it's not uncommon to produce a summary or description of the event or experience without deeply reflecting on it.

Reflective writing needs to go beyond simply summarising what happened. Your reader needs to gain an insight into what the experience meant to you, how you feel about it, how it connects to other things you've experienced or studied and what you plan to do in response.

To be sure you don't leave out any of these critical elements of reflection, consider writing using the describe, interpret, evaluate, plan (DIEP) model to help.

Tip

You can and should refer to yourself in your reflection using personal pronouns, e.g. I, we...

DIEP:

  • Describe
  • Interpret
  • Evaluate
  • Plan

Example

  • Engineering internship reflection

Editing

Ask yourself:

  1. Have I based my reflection on a specific incident, activity, idea or example?
  2. Have I sufficiently critically analysed the situation?
  3. Have I integrated theory in a meaningful way? Can I elaborate further to demonstrate the relevance of the idea and my understanding of it?
  4. Are my plans specific enough? Can I be more concrete?

Tip

When editing your draft, try colour coding each element of DIEP to be sure you have a balance of elements.

Two people looking over study materials

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