From the Editor’s Desk
8th May 2023
Students taking the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme will encounter reflections in nearly all aspects of their course. For example, students must write reflections during the entire process of writing their Extended Essay, after undertaking their presentation for Theory of Knowledge, and for their compulsory Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) portfolio. Writing reflections is an integral skill which IB students need to score the maximum number of points.
The objective of writing a reflection is not to test a student’s knowledge of a particular subject, but rather to prove that the student has earnestly attempted the activity by allowing the student to share some of the learning points he/she has taken away from his/her attempt.
The following guiding questions or format can be used for writing reflections:
I. What was the activity or project I attempted to undertake?
II. What objective did I have in mind when attempting the task?
III. Did I achieve my objective? Why or why not?
IV. What positive experiences did I have from this activity?
V. What negative experiences did I have from this activity?
VI. After the conclusion of the activity, what are the key learning points I took away?
The above format can be applied generally to all the aforementioned projects which require reflections. Students who are lost or stumped as to what to write can pick several (or all) of the guiding questions and craft their reflection in their own words. Students should remember that writing reflections is highly different from writing an academic essay, and they should draw on their own personal experiences instead of citing sources.
Admittedly, it requires some creativity to write reflections as they are more of a personal anecdote rather than a well-researched essay. However, these guiding questions can help students who lack the time to be creative in their approach to quickly and succinctly write reflection essays which will no doubt impress their respective readers.