This document provides guidance on structuring an essay for reflecting on an experience. It recommends examining the question, identifying the experience, and noting details like what happened, who was involved, and how you felt. The writer should identify issues, relate them to literature, and discuss how their insights connect theory and practice. The essay should have an introduction summarizing the experience. The body section compares the experience to prior knowledge, analyzes it, and discusses implications. A conclusion restates the main points and suggests an appropriate course of action.

1. Structuring the essay
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Examine the essay question
Read the marking criteria
Identify the event or experience on which you will reflect
Ensure you maintain anonymity & confidentiality of patients and institutions involved
Find answers to what, where, when, who, how, why to set the scene
Note the main issues you have been able to identify in relation to the experience
Think of ways you can relate these main issues to the literature (sources)
Jot down further notes to demonstrate your understanding and insights gained
(compare and contrast, cause and effect etc)
9. Relate your insights to literature
10.Make notes as to how you will make the connection between theory and practice clear
11. Note down how you will discuss your personal and professional learning needs
SECTION
DESIGN
DESCRIPTION
Introduction Provide a brief summary. Write a
narrative of your experience with the
topic upon which you are reflecting.
Detail factual information, as well as
your feelings and impressions.
What the essay is about
What exactly the essay focuses on
Why it is important to analyze this
How it will be developed (definitions,
reflective model)
Body
Description of the event/experience
and your feelings at the time
Evaluation of the event/experience
(what was good or bad about it)
Analysis of the event/experience
(cause and effect, compare and
contrast)
Compare your experience with your
prior knowledge. Introduce any ideas
that you had encountered. Point out
why you feel the concept pertains to
the experience. For instance, if you
are reflecting on a lesson plan you had
taught, you could discuss articles that
you have read on writing and teaching
lesson plans. Make sure you develop
all the ideas of the introductory
paragraph.
Implications Analyze your experience according to
the theoretical concept. Illustrate the
ways in which your experience
diverged from what the theory expects
as well as how closely it conformed to
theoretical expectations. Discuss why
you feel the theory either described or
did not describe your experiences.
Are the implications for you, your
colleagues?
What needs to happen to alter the
situation?
What are you going to do about the
situation?
What happens if you decide not to
alter anything?
What might you do differently if faced
with a similar situation again?
What information do you need to face
a similar situation again?

2. What are your best ways of getting
further information about the situation
should it arise again?
Conclusion
Edit your reflection paper. Look for the
thesis of your paper. Adjust your paper
to keep a consistent focus on that
thesis. Check for grammatical and
stylistic errors
Provide a summary of the issues
explored
Remind the reader of the purpose of
the essay
Suggest an appropriate course of
action in relation to the needs
identified in the body of the essay