Personal / Reflective Writing Moving towards reflective writing

Personal Writing Will probably be a memory of something that has happened to you Will probably be a memory of something that has happened to you Will include thoughts and feelings Will include thoughts and feelings Written in 1 st person Written in 1 st person

Reflective writing Includes reflection: analysis of the impact of the incident you are writing about Includes reflection: analysis of the impact of the incident you are writing about Doesn’t have to be a memory – could be something you feel strongly about Doesn’t have to be a memory – could be something you feel strongly about If it is a memory – goes beyond thoughts and feelings to analyse how the incident changed or impacted on you If it is a memory – goes beyond thoughts and feelings to analyse how the incident changed or impacted on you

Interesting openings An interesting opening is crucial to gain a 1 at Standard Grade An interesting opening is crucial to gain a 1 at Standard Grade What is an interesting opening? What is an interesting opening? Lets look at some examples… Lets look at some examples…

This essay is going to be about rock climbing – why it is important to the writer, what he gets out of the sport and the feelings he has… 1. Generalise: 1. Generalise: Most people need at least one element of danger intheir lives. Some people take drugs, others get a high out of rock concerts, some are hooked on fast cars or bikes. For me it is rock climbing. Most people need at least one element of danger intheir lives. Some people take drugs, others get a high out of rock concerts, some are hooked on fast cars or bikes. For me it is rock climbing.

2. Stand back and see from others perspectives From where Liz and John were, I must have looked in complete control. They could not have seen the imperceptible tremor in my heel, or the thoughts racing through my mind. Panic can be like that. From where Liz and John were, I must have looked in complete control. They could not have seen the imperceptible tremor in my heel, or the thoughts racing through my mind. Panic can be like that.

2. Begin in the middle of an exciting moment… The rock began to crumble underneath my foot. I didn’t dare to breathe as I tried desperately to readjust my footing, praying my hands didn’t betray me by sweating. The rock began to crumble underneath my foot. I didn’t dare to breathe as I tried desperately to readjust my footing, praying my hands didn’t betray me by sweating.

4. Stand back and see the situation from now… When you make crucial decisions so much depends on what you have to lose. From my perspective now, as a teenager, there is no doubt in my mind what decision I would make. But then things were different. When you make crucial decisions so much depends on what you have to lose. From my perspective now, as a teenager, there is no doubt in my mind what decision I would make. But then things were different.

5. Compare with the experience of others… I’d read an account of a fall, where all that could be remembered was the letting go and the attempt to get up afterwards. I too can remember nothing about the freefall in the middle. I’d read an account of a fall, where all that could be remembered was the letting go and the attempt to get up afterwards. I too can remember nothing about the freefall in the middle.

6. Contrast with what might have been… The rope held. It was days before I could bring myself to think of what would have happened if it hadn’t. The rope held. It was days before I could bring myself to think of what would have happened if it hadn’t.

7. Bring in knowledge of research… There are around 600 accidents each year involving climbers. The day I became a part of that statistic could have had far more serious consequences. There are around 600 accidents each year involving climbers. The day I became a part of that statistic could have had far more serious consequences.

8. Bring in a reference to film, tv, songs etc… What seems impossible for films such as ‘The Eiger Sanction,’ to communicate is the sense of exposure, that sense of being above the void. What seems impossible for films such as ‘The Eiger Sanction,’ to communicate is the sense of exposure, that sense of being above the void.

Anything but… A leisure activity I am good at is… A leisure activity I am good at is… Appearances are very important to me … Appearances are very important to me … This essay is about my feelings about graffiti… This essay is about my feelings about graffiti…

Task Choose 1 of the following topics, or choose an event from your life, that you feel fits the personal / reflective criteria and write an essay on it Choose 1 of the following topics, or choose an event from your life, that you feel fits the personal / reflective criteria and write an essay on it Work in stages: Work in stages: Stage 1- plan: mindmap / brainstorm / list ideas Stage 1- plan: mindmap / brainstorm / list ideas Stage 2 – number ideas to organise paragraphs Stage 2 – number ideas to organise paragraphs Stage 3 – write essay Stage 3 – write essay

Choice of Topics 1. ‘Practise makes perfect.’ Write about a leisure activity which gives you pleasure because you are good at it. 1. ‘Practise makes perfect.’ Write about a leisure activity which gives you pleasure because you are good at it. 2.’Keeping up appearances.’ Write about the importance of this in your life. 2.’Keeping up appearances.’ Write about the importance of this in your life. 3. ‘Some people say graffiti is just a means of expressing yourself.’ Write about what you do to express your thoughts and feelings, do you agree with this statement? 3. ‘Some people say graffiti is just a means of expressing yourself.’ Write about what you do to express your thoughts and feelings, do you agree with this statement?