1. You need to complete this task in strict accordance with the detailed Requirements/Guidelines.
Michelle_Michy
How-to-Write-a-Reflective-Journal.pdf
How to Write a Reflective Journal School of Professional Studies Page 1 of 5
What is a Reflective Journal?
Journals or reflective writing assignments are designed to help recognize and clarify the
important connections between what you already know and what you are learning in
your course work. It is a way of helping you to become an active, aware and critical
learner.
A journal is a form of reflective writing and IS:
x Your response to experiences, opinions, events or new information
x Your response to thoughts and feelings
x A way of thinking to explore your learning
x An opportunity to gain self-knowledge
x A way to achieve clarity and better understanding of what you are learning
x A way of making meaning out of our course study
A journal is NOT:
x A conveyance of information, instruction or argument
x Pure description, though there may be descriptive elements in your journal
x Straightforward decision or judgement (i.e., good vs bad; right vs. wrong)
x A summary of the article
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Outline for Journal (Reflective Writing)
Your reflective journal must follow the following format:
I. Summary
II. New Learning
III. Personal Reflection
IV. Action to Be Taken The following details the process of writing a reflective journal not to exceed 3 pages.
1. Summarized what you read – do not describe everything – be selective. Be sure
to include the article title, author’s name
2. New Learning: Contemplate the following before you begin to write:
What did I learn that was new to me?
What insights did this new knowledge give to me?
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Did it help me see something in a new light?
Did it help me understand something that I didn’t understand before?
How do I think this might be useful (in my work practice, in my studies, in my
life)?
3. Personal Reflection: Contemplate the following before you begin to write:
How did I feel about what I read?
Did it affect me emotionally and if so how?
What did I like or enjoy the reading and why?
What did I dislike and why?
What did I find easy to do or understand and why?
What did I find difficult or challenging to do or understand and why?
4. Action to be taken: Is there any action that I will take as a result of what I read?
Do I need to plug further gaps in my knowledge?
Do I want to investigate or research further?
Helpful Journal Writing Hints: Reflect Early Write your thoughts down soon after you read the article you are reflecting on –
don’t wait a long time and try to catch up later or rely on memory.
Be Specific – Not General!
BE SPECIFIC, NOT GENERAL
Try to give as many specific examples as possible. These examples should show
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your personal reaction. Instead of writing vague, general statements such as
‘....after reading, this article will improve my communication skills’, be more
specific: ‘....knowledge gained from this article will help me improve my
presentation in class next week as I know have a greater understanding of the
topics’.
Show the Value of Your Reflection
By reflection, you should emphasize the link between what you read and learned
and its usefulness in your specific area of study or work. Explain, with examples
how it will help you in your work and in understanding ideas. In other words show
the practical and theoretical value of seeing or doing something.
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Excerpt from King's College Online Writing Site
