Helpful phrases for reflective writingThe following are a few suggestions for words and phrases that might be useful in reflective writing. Using anyof these words and phrases will help you to describe or analyse an event or experience for your assignment.The phrases are set out according to a three-part structure for a reflective writing piece: Description,Interpretation & Outcome. This is just a suggested structured approach to reflective writing. Always check yourassignment marking guide for your lecturer’s requirements.1. Description (the short bit): What happened? What is being examined?When describing the specific event or experience, there is a range of possible words and phrases you canuse. But remember that when describing an idea, for example a theory or model, it is usually best to use thepresent tense e.g. ‘Social interdependence theory recognises…’ (not ‘recognised’). Events or experiences arenearly always described using the past tense.2. Interpretation (probably the most important bit): What is most important / interesting / useful /relevant about the object, event or idea? How can it be explained e.g. with theory? How is it similar to anddifferent from others? aspect(s)element(s)meaningfulexperience(s)was/weresignificantissue(s)For me, the [most]relevantideas(s)importantusefularose fromlearninghappened whenresulted from ___________________________________________________________ Previously,thought (did not think)…,At the time,felt (did not feel)…At first,Iknew (did not know)…Initially,noticed (did not notice)…Subsequently,questioned (did not question)…Later,realised (did not realise)… ___________________________________________________________ might bebecause of…[Alternatively,]Thisis perhapsdue to…[Equally,]could beexplained by…is probablyrelated to… ____________________________________________________________ is similar to…Thisis unlike…because… _____________________________________________________________ [Un]Like…thisreveals…demonstrates… Writing Skills November, 20153. Outcome: What have I learned from this? What does this mean for my future responses? read…feel…experienced…think…Havingapplied…I nowrealise…discussed…wonder…analysed.question…learned…know… ___________________________________________________________ [Additionally,][Furthermore,]I have learned that…[Most importantly,] ___________________________________________________________ I havesignificantlydevelopedmy skills in…slightlyimprovedmy understanding of…my knowledge of…However, I have not[sufficiently]my ability to… ______________________________________________________________This means that…This makes me feel…____________________________________________________________________ isessentialto me as a learner [because…]This understandingcould beimportantto me as a practitioner [because…]This skillwill beuseful ____________________________________________________________________ did not…have not yet…Because Ido not yet know…I will now need to…am not yet certain about…am not yet confident about…do not yet understand… _____________________________________________________________________As a next step, I need to…Text extracted from: University of Portsmouth (2015). Reflective writing: A basic introduction. Retrieved from http://www.port.ac.uk/media/contacts-and-departments/student-support-services/ask/downloads/ Reflective-writing—a-basic-intro.pdfWriting Skills November, 2015
