How to Write a Reflective Essay (Using Gibbs’ Cycle)
Quick answer: A reflective essay analyses a personal experience and what you learned from it. The most common UK framework is Gibbs’ reflective cycle: describe the experience, explore your feelings, evaluate what went well and badly, analyse why, conclude what you learned, and set an action plan. Write in the first person and link your reflection to theory.
What is a reflective essay?
A reflective essay turns an experience — often a placement, project or critical incident — into learning. Unlike most academic writing, it is written in the first person and values honest self-analysis, but it should still link to theory and evidence.
Gibbs’ reflective cycle
- Description — what happened?
- Feelings — what were you thinking and feeling?
- Evaluation — what was good and bad about the experience?
- Analysis — why did it happen; what does theory say?
- Conclusion — what did you learn; what else could you have done?
- Action plan — what will you do differently next time?
Other reflective models
- Driscoll: What? So what? Now what?
- Rolfe et al.: a similar What / So what / Now what structure with deeper questioning.
- Kolb: experiential learning cycle (experience, reflection, conceptualisation, experimentation).
Writing tips
- Use the first person (‘I felt...’, ‘I realised...’).
- Be honest — reflecting on what went wrong shows insight.
- Link your analysis to theory and evidence, with citations.
- Keep description brief; spend most words on analysis and learning.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use ‘I’ in a reflective essay?
Yes — reflective writing is expected to be in the first person, unlike most academic essays.
Which reflective model should I use?
Gibbs is the most common in UK nursing and education, but Driscoll, Rolfe and Kolb are also accepted — use whichever your module specifies.
Do reflective essays need references?
Usually yes — the analysis stage should link your experience to theory and evidence with citations.
How much should be description?
Keep description short. Markers reward the analysis, conclusion and action plan far more than a retelling of events.
What is a ‘critical incident’?
A specific, significant event you reflect on in depth — often used in nursing, teaching and social work reflective writing.