How to write your….

REFLECTION STATEMENT

What is a reflection statement? 0 It’s an analysis of your narrative. You need to read through your own

narrative AND the visual image and analyze the main narrative and language / visual forms and features that you have used to develop and show :

0The “concepts of discovery” in the narrative (the concept / values)

0The aspects of discovery which are experienced / explored by the characters

0The plot-line / action which develops the concepts of discovery

0The changing emotion/ mood or tone of the process of discovery

0The time-sequence of events / action

HOW did you develop and show the ideas, attitudes, characters and action which represent the concepts of discovery in your

narrative and your visual image?

literary devices = • language forms and

features • narrative conventions • poetic devices• figurative language

techniques

“HOW” ? = “what literary devices” did you use to show values, ideas, attitudes, characters and action in your narrative?

What narrative conventions (& Language Forms

and Features*) did you use in your narrative (story) AND your visual image? and… why? 0 Genre0 Narrative voice0 Linear / non-linear narrative structure0 Characterisation0 Setting (time and place)0 Language techniques * 0 Tone (emotive language)0 Symbolism

language techniques include…FACTUAL LANGUAGE:

• Real names of real people and places

• Real historical events

• Statistics

• Exact distances and time periods

• Scientific words

• “Provable” or objective information

Following… is an example of reflection statement

0You need to pay close attention to:0 The sentence structure – short, clear and “specific” sentences0 The punctuation… use it!0 The use of the technical names for language techniques and narrative

conventions0 The accurate and fully-explained effect of the language techniques and the

narrative conventions in how they “show” the images/ smells / touch / sounds etc….0 The use of speech techniques – rhetorical’ questions / personal pronouns / clear

structure / repetition / etc… 0 The effect of the key techniques in the visual image which represent the

concept of discovery. 0 The inclusion and analysis of relevant quotes from ‘your’ narrative and

scenes/quotes from GBTWYCF.0 Linking and ‘cohesive’ vocabulary to express the:

0 Similarities between the concepts of discovery in your narrative and GBYWYCF0 Differences between the concepts of discovery in your narrative and GBYWYC0 How GBTWYCF has influenced (or challenged) the concepts of discovery in your narrative

To help you get started… and to help you develop your reflection statement… try using these sentence starters…NOTE: the following sentences are simply a few suggestions… there are, of course, other options which you may need to consider – depending on your narrative.

• I chose the title “____________” because my narrative explored the concepts of…

• I chose to write the narrative as a short story and, consequently, I limited characterization to two contrasting

characters….

• Whilst GBTWYCF uses documentary film techniques and episodes to represent the concept that__________________....

[insert title of your narrative] uses written narrative conventions to represent similar concepts / to challenge the

concepts that….,

• I chose to write in 3rd person narrative / dual narrative / framed narrative because it positions the responder to be….

• Being a short story, the plot unfolded in one setting in approximately ___ minutes. This is effective because….

• The plot involved…

• I developed the two characters by using … direct speech? / choice of names? / figurative language? /

• I emphasized the intimidating torment of the _______________________________________ in the simile

“______________________________” and in the personification “ _________________________________”. ..

• The direct speech developed the action in ______________________________________ ….

• The repetition in “________... _______.... _____” illustrates …

• To give a deep emotional atmosphere to the narrative, I attempted to use...

• I used alliteration of a silence which would contrast with the deafening screams and action of the final scene.

• I structured the narrative into ________________________ sections / paragraphs to show….

I chose the title “Impossible Choice” because my narrative explored the concept of the impact of life-changing discoveries being

forced upon individuals – leading to new perceptions of self and socieety. I wanted to show how – in an instant – an unexpected and

unwanted discovery can forever change an individual’s perceptions and their very lives I chose to write the narrative as a short

story and, consequently, I limited characterization to two contrasting characters: the prisoner, a young single mother of two

small children; and a Nazi guard, a tall, uniformed man. Being a short story, the plot unfolded in one setting in approximately 6

minutes. The plot involved a young mother being forced to choose which one of two her children would be sent to the gas chamber.

I developed the two characters by using direct speech and “close-up” imagery. I attempted to show the Nazi guard as being taller

and more powerful than the smaller, weaker mother. I emphasized the power of the Nazi guard with close-up images of his Nazi

uniform in the simile “______________________________” and in the metaphor “ _________

_________”. The direct speech also developed the action and the plot. The repetition in the direct speech “I can’t choose… I can’t

choose… don’t make me choose” and “You must choose!... if you don’t choose” illustrates the terrible difficulty that the mother is

experiencing in having this impossible choice forced upon her. To give a deep emotional atmosphere to the narrative, I attempted

to use sound imagery. The opening of the narrative is very quiet and still. I used alliteration of “whispering… wistful… wretched”

to create a silence which would contrast with the deafening screams and action of the final scene. The onomatopoeia of

“NOOEEEAAARGH!….” and “EEEAAEEIIIAARRGHHHHHH!!!... REEAYYAAAAH!” in the final gut-wrenching blood-curdling screams of the

mother and child develops an even more painful reaction because it follows the previous silent stillness of the narrative. Finally, I

structured the narrative into three short paragraphs. The first paragraph sets up the choice that is being forced on the mother.

The second paragraph is mostly direct speech and develops the shock and torture that is being experienced by the mother. The

final paragraph is intentionally short to more powerfully illustrate the final and horrific consequence of the “Impossible Choice”.

(ONLY 371 words) THIS IS ONLY A NO-FRILLS EXAMPLE – IT IS SIMPLY TO GIVE YOU ‘DIRECTION’.

NOTE: This example DOES NOT sustain a thesis about concepts of discovery… YOURS WILL!

This example DOES NOT REFER TO ( INTEGRATE CONCEPTS OF DISCOVERY IN) A PRESCRIBED TEXT – YOURS

WILL!!!