Reflective Practice Writing Guide

Vocabulary aid

The following are just a few suggestions for words and phrases that might be useful for prompting
reflective writing (adapted from Hampton, 2010).

event(s)
aspect(s)

important { idea(s)
experience(s)
issue(s)
{ was (were)

{
meaningful
For me, the [most] significant activities
relevant happened when...
useful

{ {
resulted from…
learning arose from…
began after…
became relevant for…
developed my understanding of…

I have
{ improved
enriched
upgraded
{ my knowledge of…
my ability to…
my skills in…
analysed… feel…
applied… know…

Having
{ discussed…
experienced…
learned…
{ I now
{ question…
realise…
think…
read… wonder…

{ { {
This knowledge is essential
This understanding could be important to me in the workplace because...
This skill will be useful
did not...
have not yet...

Because I
{ am not yet certain about...
am not yet confident with...
do not yet know...
{ I will now need to...

do not yet understand...

thought (did not think)...
Previously,

{ {
felt (did not feel)...
Initially,
I noticed (did not notice)...
Subsequently,
questioned (did not question)...
Later,
realised (did not realise)...
might be because of...
Alternatively, this
Equally, this { is perhaps
could be
is probably
{ due to...
explained by...
related to...

Hampton, M. (2010). Reflective writing: a basic introduction. Accessed 7 August 2014,

http://www.port.ac.uk/media/contacts-and-departments/student-support-services/ask/downloads/Reflective-writing---a-basic-introduction.pdf