Ready to use in your classroom, this presentation is an introduction to writing reflectively. This is the how, what, when and why of writing a reflection. It provides definitions and questions for students to answer in order to write an effective reflection. Writing reflections will enhance your students' learning.

1. How to Write
Reflectively in
Secondary School
and College
What do I think about what I
read and learned?

2. The What, How, When and
Why of Writing a Reflection
An Introduction to Reflection Writing for Secondary and
College level students

3. What is a Reflection?
 Your response to experiences, opinions, events
or new information
 Your response to thoughts and feelings

4. What is a Reflection? Cont.
 A way of thinking to explore your learning
 An opportunity to gain self-knowledge
 A way to achieve clarity and better understand of
what you are learning

5. What is a Reflection? Cont.
 A chance to develop and reinforce writing skills
And MOST importantly:
 A way of making meaning out of what you study

6. How does a reflection help me?
 It provides me with an opportunity to think about
what I just studied.
 A reflection is another way to solidify what I just
learned by putting it into my own words

7. Ok, so…How do I write one?
 Use paragraph format and answer questions like the
following:
 First, assume your reader does not know anybody or
anything about what you read. Do NOT use pronouns.
Use the person’s name. What did I just learn/read?
Write a couple of sentences summarizing (but only a
couple because remember this is NOT a summary!)
 Why is what I learned/read important to me?
 How will I use what I learned/read?
 When might I use what I learned/read?
 How does it apply to me?

8. Sample Article to Cite

9. How to write a reflection, cont.
 Provide specific details from what you read
along with where you read it, then REMARK ON
IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS
 For example: “The Smithsonian Institute states
that they are opening an exhibit detailing the
contributions of Indian Americans in the United
States. This will enhance learning for our school
students in America and around the globe.”
What
Article
Says

10. When and Why should I write a
Reflection?
 Reflections will be part of your secondary and
college life, so get used to writing good ones
now
 They will be used by instructors to gauge how
well you have comprehended what was taught
 Reflections provide more insight for your teacher
than a simple test

11. Resources
"Reflective Writing." The Learning Centre, UNSW Australia. The
University of New South Wales, 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.
"Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation."
Www.si.edu. Smithsonian Institute, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2014.

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