Reflective Writing

a) Definition of a reflective
A reflective tells or narrates personal story or experience. It may be something that changes ones
attitude, opinion or behavior. However, it may be also be about an ordinary experience or the
daily routines that is memorable.

b) Tips on writing a reflective

What the event/person
Why the changes it made
When time of the incident
How it happened the beginning of the incident
How it resolved the ending that resulted the change

Features in Writing Task

When you write, it is important for you to pay attention to the following:

I. Tense
II. Cohesiveness
III. Plot
IV. Characterization

I. Tense
A narrative usually describes events or happenings in the past. Thus, the Past Tense forms are
usually used in narrative writing. Other tenses are also used but not as frequently.

II. Cohesiveness
The flow of the story is important as it sets the mood of the storyline. Events should be
arranged logically and systematically. This can be done by using connectors and suitable
linkers.

III. Plot
The plot is the story framework. It is the storyline of, for example, how a character changes or
how a mystery is solved or how an enemy is defeated. To be interesting, as story must have a
good plot.
IV.Characterization
The event in the story usually happens to the main character and how he/she solves a problem
or overcomes challenges thrown towards him. Thus, characterization should include the
description, the characteristics as well as clear incidents that show his utmost outstanding
personality.

A Sample of a Reflective Essay

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Describe how a friend helped you in a difficult time.
 A friend in need is a friend indeed. In this world, there are many people need a friend in
their life. So, we have to be carefully on choosing a friend. We cant choose a friend that have many
problems such as involved in vandalism and always do not go to school. We have to choose a friend
that always by our sides and kind.
Like me, I also have a friend. Her name is Salwani but I called her for a short name, Wani.
She is very talkative, polite and loving. She is an apple of the eyes of her parents. She is 17 years
old same like me. We are neighbours, because of that we know each other and we came be a very
closed. We also study on the same school.
On sunny morning, we recycled went to school together. In the school, everyone like her
include a teacher. Everyone like her because she is very kind and like to helped who need a help.
She is also a monitor in our class. She is very responsibility and a teacher very like her. Like other
say, she is a backbone on the pupils in our class.
At home, on the evening, we always set a time to go the playground for our discussion or
anything. If I have a problem, I always shared my problems to her. She gave me some advised and
helped me if she can help. She always be my sides. She is like my sister. If I want to do something,
she always gives me an advice first before I do it. She doesnt want me face with a problem. She is
a friend that always helped me in a difficult time. She also said that let bygones, be bygones to me.
At the time that she companies me, we wake up on the morning and make some breakfast
together. After we had some breakfast, we cleaned my house and prepared some for cooked for our
lunch. After three days that my parents not at home, on the Saturday evening, my parents arrived at
KLIA. After that, they went back home. When they arrived at home, Amani also back to her house.
She gave some regards to my parents. My parents also like her. I told my parents that I felt like over
the moon when Amani company me when they were not home because she treated me like her little
sister.
In conclusion, we have to be careful on choose and find a friend. I hope I will be like her.

Useful Words & Phrases to Describe Emotions and Reactions

Emotio Facial Expressions Body Gesture Feeling

n
Happy Smiled from ear to ear Danced want to fly
Blushed cheeks Jumped feel like hugging everyone
 Tears of joy singing tell the whole world
Sad heart missed a beat or slumped shoulders do not want to face anyone
two head bowed anymore
jumped out of my skin heart breaks into want the ground to open to
eyes nearly popped out pieces swallow (you)
want the world to end
Angry stared dagger slammed the door want to stab
flaring nose clutching fists want to struggle
started calling kicked whatever in turn to lion
names/cursing sight
Afraid gritted teeth trembling it was a dream
pale-white face sweat to disappear
legs nailed to the to be invisible
ground

Useful Vocabulary & Sentence Patterns

I. The Sky
The blazing sun was shining through the cloudless sky (a hot mid-day)
The sun rose, slowly and majestically, over mountains (early morning)
The sun appeared over the horizon, giving out rays of faint yellow light. (dawn/sunrise)
Everything looked radiant in the early morning sun.
II. The Beach/Sea
Tall coconut palms swayed gracefully to the sounds of the sea waves (beach)
The gentle waves rolled endlessly towards the white sparkling beach (beach)
The whispering breeze and slashing waves gently rocks me to sleep.
The wind caresses my cheeks and ruffles your hair as I relish the tickling sensation of the
waves crashing at my feet.
III. A Storm
The sky darkened and it threatened to rain but the weather held (gloomy with no rain)
Lightning streaked across the sky
There was a flash of lightning followed by a rumble of thunder.
The wind shrieked. The wind howled.
A peal of thunder boomed in the distance.
IV.A village
The village houses were hurdled together, surrounded by lush green shrubs and trees
As it was a fruit season, the wind carried the strong fruity aroma, tantalizing all who came
across it.
Behind the quaint little huts, thick green forests and hills lends a majestic surrounding to the
village.
The garden was a kaleidoscope of colour as red, pink and orange flowers danced gracefully
in the gentle breeze.
V. Day/Night
The dark night was slowly crawling by and the dawn was approaching
As the moon makes a retreat, the sun rises in all its radiance and slendour.
A new day is born.
The night crawled by slowly.
 The stars twinkled in the black sky like thousands of fireflies
The cry of million cicadas broke the silence of the night
In the dead of the night, came the sound of the banging of a door.

The sense of sight

The white sand.

The tiny pink shells.
The way the sea is the same blue as the sky, making it hard to tell where one ends and the
other begins.
The rocks still wet from high tide.

The sense of smell

Screeching gulls and waves breaking on pebbles

His heels clicking on the marble
The jangle of loose change in his pocket.

The sense of taste

When a character arrives at the coast, the usual thing would be to have them smell the sea.
Instead, you could have them taste the salty breeze.
When a young boy captures a frog at the bottom of the garden, have him lick it.
When a character is returning to his childhood home, have him taste his mothers roast
chicken and gravy when he is still 100 miles away.
It is the first icy day of winter and it starts to snow. A character looks up and tries to catch
the flakes on her tongue.
Further down the street, her younger brother, tortured by curiosity, licks a metal pole.

The sense of touch

Like the feel of cool cotton sheets

Like being head butted in the nose
A greasy stove
A characters cracked lips
A cold, sweaty handshake

Idiomatic Expressions and Phrasal Verbs

Idiomatic Expressions Meanings

To face the music To take the punishment or scolding
To live from hand to mouth To live in hardship
To sit on the fence To take no sides in debate/a quarrel
To be in the same boat To be in the same circumstances
In hot water In trouble
Have green fingers Good at gardening
Burn the midnight oil Study until late at night
Once in a blue moon Seldom
At the eleventh hour At the last minute
Bear in mind Remember
Turn over a new leaf To change for the better
To paint the town red To enjoy oneself
Raining cats and dogs Raining heavily
Keep an eye Look after
In high spirits Happy
Getting on my nerves Making me annoyed/irritated
Out of the blue Unexpectedly
Not my cup of tea Not to my liking
Eye catching Attractive
Around the corner Coming soon
By hook or by crook By all means
To keep ones fingers crossed To hope for the best
Keep your word Keep your promise
Where theres a will, theres a way When you are determined, you will succeed
Lend a hand Help
I am all ears I am listening
A close shave A narrow escape
Flying colours Good grades
To believe your ears To believe what you hear
Not kidding Not joking
Bow ones trumpet To boast
Down to earth Humble/Honest
Caught red handed Caught in the act
In a twinkling of an eye Very quickly
Under the weather Slightly ill
Too to heart Be upset by
Bad blood Feeling of strong dislike
Throw in the towel Give up
Easier said than done Easier to talk about an idea than carry it out
Count me in Include me
Dont lose heart Dont be discouraged
Practice makes perfect You will be good if you do it often
Drive me up the wall Make me very angry
The early bird catches the worm Those who are early will benefit
Let the cat out of the bag Let a secret out
Black sheep Person who is an embarrassment
A white elephant Useless possession
Drop a line write
Put your mind to it Concentrate
A bookworm One who likes to read

Phrasal Verbs Meanings

Run into Meet
Put off Postponed
Call on Visit
Watch out Be careful
Close shave Narrow escape
Turn up Attend/Arrive
Look out Be careful
Look into Investigate
Get through Pass
Cut down Reduce
Look forward Expect with pleasure
Look after Take care of
Break/Broke into Enter/Entered by force
Break/Broke down Stop/Stopped because of a fault
Hold/Help up Delay/Delayed
Give up Stop trying
Rely on Depend on
Set off Start the journey
Take after Looks like/Behaves like
Come across Find by chance
Throw up Vomit
On and off Sometimes
Drop in Make a visit
Come up Happen
Passed away Died
Deal with Handle
Get over Recover
Carry on Continue
Get along with Be friendly with
Running out Lacking
Put in To spend time or energy/contribute
Map out Plan
Get ready Hurry
Look out Look for/Search
Crash into Hit
Look up to Respect
Make up Compensate
Tag along Accompany
Round up Gather
Ages ago Long ago