So now it’s time to write the Reflection Statement…
It’s been a long haul. You’ve been thinking, writing, filming, reading, changing, crying, and repeating all of the aforementioned. The last leg of the journey is ticking the boxes for the final Reflection Statement. There’s a lot of things to cover in your Reflection Statement, which is tricky because they don’t give you a formula, structure or scaffold to use. So although you have a lot of freedom, you have a lot of restrictions. The checklist below is designed to be a way of checking your work against the requirements of BOSTES. This is essentially a rewording of the requirements found on their website here, put in a nice checklist form for your convenience!
Minimum of 1000 words, maximum of 1500 words.
A4 page, with pages numbered.
Font size 12, Arial or Times New Roman, double spaced, black font.
Does not identify you as the student/composer except for a student number and school number (check this, and then double check this, to make sure this simple detail is correct).
Summarises the intention of the Major Work.
Summarises the relationship the Major Work has with the extensive independent investigation.
Outlines the intended audience
Identifies the purpose for its composure (not because the course requires it of you)
Explains the relationship that your Major Work has with the English (Advanced) and English Extension 1 course (this can include the preliminary course)
Explains the relationship between concept and the technical and language features and conventions.
Explains the relationship between structure and the technique and language features and conventions.
Explains the development of concepts as you moved from the stage of investigation, to the process of writing, and then editing? How has your concept developed?
Indicates how you, as a student and composer, realised the concepts in the final product.
Think of it like this: The Reflection Statement is a time to show a written testament to your hard work throughout the year. You want to bring the most clever (and proudest) parts of your work forward by explaining them in the Reflection Statement. You want to draw attention to how skilfully you developed your concept through research and execution!
You have the opportunity to be creative, or very formal, in your tone and arrangement of ideas. Don’t be afraid to use isolated quotes from your Major Work! Be daring but sophisticated with language. Make sure your grammar is immaculate! Don’t underestimate the importance of Microsoft Word’s spell check – and be sure to make sure that you are editing in English (Australian) and not English (US).
The NSW State Library provides a bunch of exemplar Reflection Statements for your viewing pleasure here.
Want to chat about your Reflection Statement? Head over here and we can flesh out any questions!
You can download my 47/50 Major Work and Reflection statement for free here if you sign in with your ATAR Notes account.
