How To Write a First Class Reflective Essay in 5 Simple Steps

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses how to write a strong reflective essay using the 5R framework, which includes reporting, responding, relating, reasoning, and reconstructing. They break down each step, emphasizing critical thinking, engagement with personal experiences, and how to incorporate relevant literature. The video is geared toward students, especially those in fields like nursing and media, and highlights common mistakes, such as failing to include academic references or future action plans. The speaker offers practical advice for enhancing the depth of reflective writing while stressing its academic rigor.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video focuses on writing a reflective essay, with the speaker providing tips on how to do this effectively.
• 📦 The speaker has recently moved, which explains the change in background and potential echo in the video.
• ✍️ Reflective essays involve critically analyzing a past event to extract learning points and plan future actions.
• 🔑 The 5R Framework for reflection is introduced as a useful structure for writing reflective essays.
• 📚 The 5R Framework includes Reporting, Responding, Relating, Reasoning, and Reconstructing.
• 📖 Reporting involves setting the scene by describing the event and context without giving personal interpretations.
• 🤔 Responding requires reflecting on personal thoughts and feelings about the event, using phrases like 'I thought' or 'I felt'.
• 🔗 Relating the experience to prior knowledge or relevant literature is crucial to link it with theoretical understanding.
• 💡 Reasoning is key to higher marks, involving deeper critical thinking and using literature to explain the event's outcome.
• 🎯 Reconstructing involves creating an action plan for future situations based on what was learned from the reflection.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is how to write a reflective essay using the 5R framework for reflection.

What is a reflective essay?

A reflective essay is a type of essay where the writer critically analyzes a past experience or event, reflecting on it to draw conclusions, improve, and learn from it.

What does the 5R framework stand for?

The 5R framework stands for Reporting, Responding, Relating, Reasoning, and Reconstructing.

Why is the 5R framework helpful for writing a reflective essay?

The 5R framework is helpful because it guides writers through each step of reflection, helping them critically engage with their experience, connect it to relevant literature, and plan for future improvements.

What should be included in the 'Reporting' section of the essay?

In the 'Reporting' section, the writer should provide context about the experience or event, explaining what happened, where it took place, who was involved, and their role in the situation.

How should feelings be incorporated into the reflective essay?

Feelings should be incorporated in the 'Responding' section, where the writer reflects on how they felt during the event and shares their thoughts and emotions.

What is the purpose of the 'Relating' section?

The 'Relating' section allows the writer to connect their experience to previous knowledge, skills, or literature, showing how the current event relates to past experiences or academic studies.

How can a writer strengthen the 'Reasoning' section of their reflective essay?

The 'Reasoning' section can be strengthened by using theoretical frameworks and literature to explain why events occurred as they did and to explore different perspectives on the situation.

What is expected in the 'Reconstructing' section of the reflective essay?

In the 'Reconstructing' section, the writer should outline how they will use the lessons learned from the reflection to improve their future actions, creating an action plan for similar situations.

What common mistakes do people make when writing reflective essays?

Common mistakes include focusing too much on describing the event without critically analyzing it, not incorporating enough literature, and failing to provide a concrete plan for future actions.