Successful reflections...

• can situate an assignment into the larger conversation by placing it in either a personal or intellectual context.
• can raise more questions than it answers as the learner pushes the boundaries of learning and understanding.
• should elaborate on points made, provide examples, explain reasons for stating something.
• should make connections between work or topics in a course, work or topics in several courses, work, situations, or topics happening outside of school, or potential future work or situations.

Successful reflections don't...

• evaluate the instructor.
• evaluate the course.
• evaluate the assignment.
• bash group members.
• stop at "I learned a lot."
• argue that effort level or time invested equals a specific grade.