Critical Reflection
Referencing: The Harvard Referencing System must be used.
A Critical Reflection (also called a reflective essay) is a process of identifying, questioning, and assessing our
deeply-held assumptions – about our knowledge, the way we perceive events and issues, our beliefs,
feelings, and actions. When you reflect critically, you use course material (lectures, readings, discussions,
etc.) to examine our biases, compare theories with current actions, search for causes and triggers, and
identify problems at their core. Critical reflection is not a reading assignment, a summary of an activity, or
an emotional outlet. Rather, the goal is to change your thinking about a subject, and thus change your
behaviour.
Writing a critical reflection happens in two phases.
Analyse: In the first phase, analyse the issue and your role by asking critical questions. Use free
writing as a way to develop good ideas. Don’t worry about organised paragraphs or good grammar
at this stage.
Articulate: In the second phase, use your analysis to develop a clear argument about what you
learned. Organize your ideas so they are clear for your reader.
Guidelines
The following is a suggested structure that can help you work through your assignment:
1. Introduction – A clear introduction with a thesis statement (answer to the question or response to the task) and
a well-defined structure.
2. Main body – Logically structured body paragraphs which include supporting evidence from academic sources.
3. Conclusion – A clear conclusion which summarise key points, restate the thesis and make a recommendation /
suggestion / prediction.
Font
You can use any font style available (as long as it is legible). Once you have chosen a style be
consistent, do not change to another.
The standard font size for written assignments is 12 pt. The size of section headings is left to your
discretion but should not be unduly large.
Appropriate description of context/critical
incident/experience/conflict
This section will set the stage for the
reader and give the required context for
the rest of the essay. The writer has
incorporated enough details for the
reader to understand the experience that
is the foundation for the reflection.
Analysis
The reflection goes beyond description of
experience to an analysis of how the
experience informs the reflectors’ selfunderstanding, others, and/or course
concepts
Clarity
The language is clear, and a reader is able
to picture the situation described.
Abstract concepts are explained
accurately. Both the situation and the
concepts are assessable to an uninformed
audience.
Evidence of criticality/Recognising
competing perspectives/Use of theoretical
literature
Reflectors should be critical of multiple
aspects in their reflections. They should be
critical about their own actions and
assumptions. You are required to
incorporate literature/theory to support
your reflections, or if your actions are
based on theory, the reflector should be
critical of that literature. A good reflective
account will accept that there are multiple
perspectives to a situation and use this
information to get the deepest learning.
Structure/Length/Presentation/Referencing
and good academic practice
The assignment is structured and in
keeping with the requirement stated in
the assignment brief. It incorporates both
in text references and a reference list in
accordance with Harvard
Referencing Guide.
Last Completed Projects
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