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A reflective essay asks you to examine an experience and show what you learned from it. It's common in nursing, education, social work, and business courses. The challenge is staying analytical — markers want insight and links to theory, not just a diary entry. A reflective model gives you that structure.
1. Check which reflective model is required
Your brief may specify a model: Gibbs' Reflective Cycle (the most common), Kolb's Learning Cycle, or Driscoll's "What? So what? Now what?". If none is specified, Gibbs is a safe, widely accepted choice. This guide uses Gibbs.
2. Choose a meaningful experience
Pick a specific event that genuinely challenged you or changed your thinking — a clinical placement situation, a group project conflict, a presentation. Specific beats generic: one focused incident gives you more to analyse than a vague overview.
3. Structure with Gibbs' six stages
- Description — What happened? (Briefly and objectively.)
- Feelings — What were you thinking and feeling at the time?
- Evaluation — What was good and bad about the experience?
- Analysis — Why did it happen this way? Bring in theory and evidence here.
- Conclusion — What did you learn? What could you have done differently?
- Action plan — What will you do next time?
Keep description short — the marks live in analysis, conclusion, and action plan.
4. Write in the first person, but stay analytical
"I felt anxious because…" is appropriate. The trick is to follow feelings with reasoning: why did you feel that, and what does a model or theory say about it? This is what separates reflection from a personal anecdote.
5. Link your experience to theory
In the analysis stage, connect what happened to relevant frameworks or literature — communication theory, a professional code, leadership models. Cite sources just as you would in any academic essay (Harvard or APA).
"During the group project I avoided raising a concern, and the task slipped. Reflecting through Tuckman's stages, the group was still in the 'storming' phase, where unspoken conflict is common. Had I voiced the issue early, we might have reached 'norming' sooner — a lesson I now apply by setting expectations at the first meeting."
6. Edit for balance and flow
Re-read to check you spent most of your words on analysis and learning, that feelings are linked to reasoning, and that your action plan is concrete. Proofread for tense and clarity.
Common mistakes
- Writing a long description and a tiny analysis.
- Being purely emotional with no theory or evidence.
- A vague action plan ("I'll do better next time").
- Ignoring the model the brief asked for.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write in the first person?
Yes — reflective essays use "I". Keep the tone analytical and still link points to theory or evidence.
What is Gibbs' Reflective Cycle?
A six-stage model — Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, Action Plan — that structures reflection from describing an event to learning from it.
How is it different from a normal essay?
A standard essay argues a thesis with external evidence; a reflective essay examines your own experience and learning, usually via a model, while still linking to theory.
Want help structuring your reflective essay around the right model? Our experts can guide you from outline to final draft.
Get reflective essay helpRelated guides: How to write a thesis statement · How to write a nursing case study · Harvard referencing guide.