Problem
Phase I: Analyze
In the first phase, analyze the issue and your role by asking critical questions. Use free writing to develop good ideas. Don't worry about organized paragraphs or good grammar at this stage.
A popular method for analyzing is the three-stage model: What? So What? Now What?
A. What? Describe the issue, including your role, observations, and reactions. Use the questions below to guide your writing during this stage.
a. What happened?
b. What did you do?
c. What did you expect?
d. What was different?
e. What was your reaction?
B. What? stage helps you make initial observations about what you feel and think. At this point, there's no need to look at your course notes or readings.
C. In the second So What? Try to understand on a deeper level why the issue is significant or relevant. Use information from your first stage, your course materials (readings, lessons, discussions) -- as well as previous experience and knowledge to help you think through the issue from a variety of perspectives.
D. Below are three perspectives you can consider:
a. Academic perspective: How did the experience enhance your understanding of a concept/theory/skill? Did the experience confirm your understanding or challenge it? Did you identify strengths or gaps in your knowledge?
b. Personal perspective: Why does the experience matter? What are the consequences? Were your previous expectations/assumptions confirmed or refuted? What surprised you and why?
c. Systems perspective: What were the sources of power and who benefited/who was harmed? What changes would you suggest? How does this experience help you understand the organization or system?
E. Now What? In the third Now what? Explore how the experience will shape your future thinking and behaviour.
F. Use the following questions to guide your thinking and writing:a. What are you going to do because of your experiences?b. What will you do differently?c. How will you apply what you learned?
Phase II: Articulate
After completing the analysis stage, you probably have a lot of writing, but it is not yet organized into a coherent story. You need to build an organized and clear argument about what you learned and how you changed. To do so, develop a clear argument to help your reader understand what you learned.
A. Make an outline
B. Once you have a clear argument for your essay, build an outline.
C. Below is a straightforward method to organize your essay.
1) Introduction
A. Background/Context of Reflection
B. Argument
2) Body
A. Paragraph/Section A
a. Introduce theme A
b. Writer's past position/thinking
c. Moment of learning/change
d. Writer's current/new position
B. Paragraph/Section B
a. Introduce theme B
b. Writer's past position/thinking
c. Moment of learning/change
d. Writer's current/new position
C. Paragraph/Section C
a. Introduce theme C
b. Writer's past position/thinking
c. Moment of learning/change
d. Writer's current/new position
D. Conclusion
a. Summarize learning
b. Discuss significance of learning for self and others
c. Discuss future actions/behaviour.