Writing Reflection Statements
last updated 12/10/2007

   As you know, the heart of the portfolio is found in your statements written as reflections on your work.  These statements are located on the seven pages in the objectives section of your portfolio that contain links to your artifacts.  When CATA faculty grade your portfolio during your last semester in college, it is primarily the reflection statements that will determine your evaluation.  It is in the reflections statement that you describe how an "artifact" you have included in the portfolio demonstrates your competency in meeting the learning objective you have indicated it shows.  (It may be helpful to review the "categories of evidence" page from Johns Hopkins to focus your thoughts on the kinds of materials contained in portfolios.)

   The CATA faculty will evaluate your portfolio largely on the basis of how well your reflection statements demonstrate   1) your understanding of the major goals and   2) how convincing your reflections are in persuading us that you have met our goals and that you understand and can explain what is "good work" in communication.  The evaluation rubric should be your guide in writing reflection statements.

Some things to consider in preparing reflection statements

1. First, examine the "Objectives" page in your portfolio and consider the layout.  Be sure that the reader can readily identify the objective you are showing that you have met.  Be sure that the links take the reader to the artifacts described in your reflection statement for the seven categories.  Be sure that reader can open the link to your artifacts discussed in your reflection IN A NEW WINDOW.
    

2. Review the "evaluation rubric" for portfolios that the CATA faculty has prepared. Be sure you understand the terms and concepts used in the rubric description and what the faculty are seeking in your reflection statement.
    

3. Begin the reflection statement for each section (group of artifacts) with your explanation of what you are illustrating in terms of your knowledge and abilities in the reflection that follows.  Be sure you make it clear at all points what artifact you are discussing and which of the portfolio requirements (e.g. "library research paper," etc.) the artifact illustrates.  Do not assume your reader knows what you are intending to show or what the point of each artifact is.  Analyze your audience and do not expect them to read your mind.
    

4. In beginning your reflection statement, you may want to provide an explanation of why you selected the artifacts for inclusion in your portfolio being clear as to what requirement the artifact meets.  Normally, you will also need to provide some context describing how each artifact came to be as you discuss that artifact.  Perhaps you may wish to describe the process by which the artifact was created. For example, you may need to describe the course and assignment the artifact is based on, or you may need to explain the nature of work at your internship site where the artifact was generated, the kind of course assignment that the artifact was created for, etc.
    

5. Following the introductory material in the reflection statement, carefully describe how the artifact (or the experience it illustrates) documents that you have met the learning goal. This is essentially a persuasive essay that shows how a group of artifacts illustrates your competency as a communication major. The reflection statement is where you make your case (that is, where you present the reasons) for your abilities in Message Creation, or Knowledge of your field or Application of your Knowledge or your Skillfulness in Communicating.  The artifacts are the support material for the assertions (case) you are making.
   
      Be sure you discuss each of the elements in the listed in the rubric description for the appropriate goal in relation to your artifacts, explaining how the artifacts show you have met the standard. It would be most unfortunate if you write reflection statements that appear to contain few references to the concepts you have studied in your CATA courses. When CATA faculty members read your reflections what we will want to know is, does the statement indicate that you understand what good work is.
    

6. Feel free to discuss both strengths AND weaknesses of your work.  What will you do differently in the future?  Remember, we are interested in what you have learned.  We are not expecting that all of your work is perfect.  Reflecting on what you learned from a project may be as important an indicator of how well you have met our goals as the absolute quality of the artifact itself.
     Some things that do not help to have in a reflection statement are "arguments" such as, "This is a good paper because I worked really hard on it." or "Everyone liked my speech." or "I really enjoyed doing this."  You should describe the kinds of standards that CATA faculty members or other professionals in the field would use to evaluate the artifacts. Simply asserting that you have accomplished the objective is not enough (e.g. "This artifact shows I can create effective mediated messages.").  You must give reasons why and how the artifact illustrates the goal you are discussing, reasons that sound like the kinds of things professionals in communication would say.  Take a look at Kelsey Graham's reflections in her portfolio from last year.  While not perfect, it gives an example of an approach that matches what we are looking for.