Folio 1
PERSONAL
REFLECTIVE WRITING
Learning Intentions and Success Criteria
LI: 1. Gain an understanding of what reflective writing is
and the expectations from the SQA.
2. Understand how effective reflective writing is created.
SC:
1. Identify elements of effective reflective writing.
2. Develop skills and techniques of writing with emotion
and using the senses.
3. Apply to your own writing.
I can create a convincing impression of my personal
experience and reflect on my response to the changing
circumstances to engage my reader. ENG 4-30a
Folio 1 Piece
This is writing that CAN go home, but I need to see a
plan first.
 Your goal for this period is to complete a plan for
your first folio piece.
 This should have some detail so we can discuss
where your writing is going.


I need to see a plan by first thing on Thursday (8th) if not
finished today.
I will give you the 2 periods on Thursday to write it, but after
that it becomes homework due on the Monday 26th October.
Personal Reflective Essay Prompt
Write a personal reflective essay using a concrete
object as stimulus (photograph, memento, piece of
jewellery, souvenir, keepsake, item of clothing).
Describe the object then use it as a stimulus to discuss
its deeper significance in your life.
Warm-up: What is important to you?
Take 5 minutes to think about items that are
important to you or have significance in your
life.
2. Create a list in your jotters of as many as you can.
3. Add to the list with your reasons why these are
important.
1.
Have at least one item and a reason that you
can share back to the class. Keep these in
mind during the rest of the activities.
What is personal reflective writing?
 True personal experience
 Writer’s personality
 Feelings about what happened at the time and now
 Contemplation about events
 Does not just recall an event (e.g: my favourite
holiday…)
 Still creatively written
SQA: It will concern itself, usually, with a single idea,
insight or experience and will include some reflection on
knowledge, thoughts or feelings created by this.
A Good Example?
Read both of these extracts and decide which one you
think is a better example of personal reflective writing.
Write down at least 2 reasons why.
 I was planning on meeting my friends at seven o’clock
after football to get some chips. I left the pitch at half
six and walked to the bus stop. I had to wait twenty
minutes because the bus was late. Eventually I made it
to the chipper.
 I was drained by the time I had finished practice, but I
set out to meet my friends at the agreed time. My
stomach growled as I thought of warm greasy chips
waiting for me. As luck would have it the bus was late
– this of all days!
Objects and Emotions
Think back to your objects from the warm up.
H0w do they make you feel?
 Write down at least one emotion for each object.
Emotions
Describing your emotions is crucial to personal
reflective writing. ‘Mad’ won’t cut it. Don’t just tell
emotions, show them.
2. ‘My hands
1. ‘I was
really
mad!’
curled into two
tight fists. I could
feel my face turn
bright red as I
glared at my
brother. I could
hold it in no
longer as I threw
the letter in his
face and stormed
up the stairs.’
What makes this second version more effective?
Writing Emotion Practice
How are these people feeling?
1. Tell the reader how you feel (in the first person).
‘I’m really….’
2. Then show the reader how you feel using the example. Be
descriptive. Describe your actions and emotions in 3-4 sentences.
1.
2.
As you listen, decide what you think is effective about your classmates’
examples.
Sentence Variety
Using a variety of sentence types helps make your writing more
interesting for the reader.
1. I’m running and my chest is tight and sore. I can hear my breath
rasping and whistling in my lungs. As I run the branches whip against
my face and brambles tear at my legs and arms. I can hear a voice
screaming out loud. The screaming sound rips through the trees and I
realise that it is my voice I am hearing.
Use a variety of sentence lengths, from short and punchy, to more
complex:
2. I’m running. My chest is tight and sore. Breath rasping and
whistling in my lungs. Branches whip against my face. Brambles tear
at my legs and arms. There is a voice screaming. Out loud. The sound
ripping through the trees, screaming and screaming. It’s my voice.
What makes the second example more interesting? What effect
does it have on you as a reader?
Personal Reflective Essay Prompt
Write a personal reflective essay using a concrete
object as stimulus (photograph, memento, piece of
jewellery, souvenir, keepsake, item of clothing).
Describe the object then use it as a stimulus to discuss
its deeper significance in your life.
Being Reflective
Ask yourself:
 What did I learn from this?
 Why was this so important to me?
 Did I, perhaps change as a result of this?
 Did this affect how I felt about someone or
something that was important to me?
 Was I pleased or disappointed with what happened?
 Has time made a difference to how I feel about my
experiences?
First Step
Think back to the very first activity when you
brainstormed objects that were significant to you.
1. Pick one of these or think of another that you could
use to reflect on why it is important in your life.


You might have learnt a lesson, something about yourself or
about life. It might remind you of an important event that you
could reflect on.
Remember that you are not just telling a story.
2. Once you have decided you can begin planning
your essay.
Some Advice
At some points you may have to describe the details
(what, why, where, when, who).
But, this should not be the focus of your essay. You
must not just “tell a story”.
You should only use this information as a basis to
explore your thoughts, feelings and reactions!
Personal Reflective Planning
Success criteria
 What you might have learnt or how
you have changed
Content
Layout
Description of an object that means
something to you:
 No more than 1000 words
 Descriptive and figurative language  Introduction, development of ideas
and resolution
 Makes use of the five senses
 Interesting title
 ‘Hooks’ the reader with an
interesting introduction
Why the object is meaningful:
Style
 Event/person/experience it reminds  Variety of sentence types to create
you of
the mood
 Show why this is significant
 Descriptive and figurative language
Your thoughts and feelings:
 Shows rather than tells emotions
 Your thoughts and feelings at the
time
 How your thoughts and feelings have
changed now
Plan Outline
What object are you going to describe?
2. What elements of the description will you focus on?
3. Why is the object meaningful?
4. What will you reflect on?
1.
Some Reflective Phrases
Looking back
On reflection
With hindsight
In retrospect
I learned
I realise
I understand
I should have
I could have
I wish I had
Because of this I am
Since this happened, I
At the time
When I think back on this
Thinking about it now, I feel
Now that I have been through this
This experience has shaped me by
I am glad this happened because
Introductions
Ways you can ‘hook’ your reader:
1. Ask a rhetorical question.
Have you ever felt like you couldn’t make it through the day?
2. Make an outrageous statement that makes the
reader intrigued.
The wall came crashing down and my heart hammered in my
chest.
3. Describe.
It isn’t the crimson red bonnet or shiny new wheels, but the roar
of the engine that is cemented in my mind.