Self-Expression and Reflection through Communication

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, definitions, principles, and steps of self-expression, reflective writing, diary and journal forms, and writing self-assessment.

Self-Expression and Reflection through Communication

The practice of using communication as an inward-focused tool to clarify thoughts, explore emotions, understand oneself, strengthen personal identity, and convey ideas with purpose.

Diary Writing (Prasanna, 2024)

An intimate and informal form of personal expression in which an individual records thoughts, experiences, or events in a diary in any preferred language.

Journal Writing

A reflective practice in which individuals record events, ideas, and personal responses in a dated and sequential manner to foster self-knowledge, critical thinking, and personal growth.

Written Journal Form

A journal form primarily expressed through words, which may also include drawings, diagrams, or multimedia.

Dated Journal Form

A journal form where entries are clearly marked with dates and sometimes times to provide context and show the progression of thought.

Informal Journal Form

A journal form that is conversational in tone, prioritizing the exploration of ideas over strict adherence to grammar or structure.

Flexible Journal Form

A journal form adaptable in format, style, and purpose, allowing for varied content and audiences.

Private Journal Form

A journal form intended mainly for personal use, though some contexts involve selective sharing or public posting.

Archival Journal Form

A journal form capable of being preserved as a historical or personal record, valuable for both immediate reflection and future reference.

Writing is Thinking

A foundational principle of journal writing stating that journals serve as a thinking space to freely explore ideas, record insights, capture quotations, and develop background knowledge rather than serving as a final step for fully formed ideas.

Practice Builds Fluency and Motivation

A foundational principle of journal writing stating that sustained and purposeful writing improves fluid writing without over-editing early on, helping uncover unexpected ideas in a low-pressure environment.

Integration Increases Value

A foundational principle of journal writing stating that journals are most valuable when intentionally woven into a course framework to contribute directly to learning objectives.

Reflective Writing (University of Exeter, 2025)

A personal and subjective form of writing focused on one's own thoughts, feelings, and experiences, combining description (what, when, who) with analysis (how, why, what if) while remaining clear and logical.

Description (Reflective Writing)

The short initial part of a basic reflective piece that outlines the experience, explaining what happened and what is being examined.

Interpretation (Reflective Writing)

The section of a reflective piece that outlines what is most important, interesting, useful, or relevant about an experience, often connecting it with theory or literature.

Outcome (Reflective Writing)

The section of a reflective piece covering what was learned from an experience and what it means for future application.

Self-Assessment in Writing (Angelis, 2022)

The practice of reviewing one's own work to identify changes and patterns over time, recognizing that quality relies on personal context and comparison rather than a universal standard.

Evolutionary Patterns

Patterns of change over time that become evident when comparing one piece of writing to another.

Reference Point

The baseline established in writing self-assessment by comparing current work against past work of the same type.

Compare (Self-Assessment Step)

The first step in self-assessing writing, involving the review of current work alongside previous works of the same type or focusing on shared aspects like vocabulary or tone.

Judge (Self-Assessment Step)

The second step in self-assessing writing, where precise observations are made to identify specific patterns of change over time.

Understand (Self-Assessment Step)

The third step in self-assessing writing, involving the analysis of reasons behind improvement and connecting overall writing changes to specific influences.

Implement (Self-Assessment Step)

The fourth step in self-assessing writing, where lessons from assessment are applied to future work to decide which areas to strengthen or maintain.