Before reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone students look at the video JK Rowlings Ten Rules for Success. Visit my blog for a more indepth look at the activity http://thecanswedian.edublogs.org/2017/09/05/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone-pre-reading-activity-jk-rowling-advice-for-success/#.WdzZMFt-rIU

1. Writing a Reflection Paper
JK Rowling’s Ten Tips for Success

2. Reflective Writing:
• When you write a reflection, you write your
thoughts about something. IT IS NOT a
summary or description
• Don’t only look BACK look FORWARD. How
can you learn from this? How can you use
this in your real life?
• The reader should have a good
understanding of how yo ufeel or what you
think about

3. Step 1: Introduce the rule you choose
Possible questions to answer in your first paragraph
• What rule did you choose?
• Why did you choose it? How does it relate to your life?
• Did you learn anything about JK Rowling?
Example: “I chose “persevere” because I can relate most to that one. I’m very
shy, I don’t like to talk in front of people, and I had to do that for the first time
in middle school. I was scared and I thought that everyone would laugh at
me if I did anything wrong. But I did it, and I’m glad I did even if I was
scared.“

4. Step 2: Give examples
• Was there a time in life where you followed this rule? Were you afraid, shy, nervous,
happy, struggling? Write about it
• Was there a time in life where something happened and you didn’t follow that rule,
but wish you did? Write about it
I’m always afraid when I’m talking in front of my class, because I always think that some people are better
than me, and that’s true, some people are better than me, but what I’m scared of is that those people are
going to say or think like “oh, she’s so bad” or “she can’t speak English”.
When I’m doing a presentation in front of the class, in English especially, I’m very nervous. My body is shaking
and my voise is different, only because I’m so nervous, but then I always have to think positively and convice
myself that it will go well. I’m always thinking “you should treat people as you want to be treated”, and then
I’m thinking that others also should think like that. And then it’s better.
•

5. Step 3: What can you learn?
• What have you learned from you experience, and how can you apply
it for the future?
• Be honest with yourself!
So when I’m going to talk in front of people, I have to persevere, and I
think that everyone should do that, because it will help you in the end.
If you try, you’ll be so much better at whatever it is in the end.