English language and literature students' perceptions of reflective writing, its effects on engagement in writing and literature

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of the reflective writing process on English Language and Literature students’ engagement with writing and literature and their demonstrated engagement level in the reflective writing process. This study was conducted over a period of nine weeks with six students from the English Language and Literature Department in Cumhuriyet University in Sivas. Students read excerpts from literary works of different genres and following discussion sessions on these works, wrote reflective responses. Their responses were analyzed using a reflective writing evaluation framework, developed by the researcher from the related literature to investigate the effects of reflectivity on students’ engagement with writing and literature. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant in order to gain an in-depth understanding of their perceptions of the reflective writing process. The findings found that the reflective writing process significantly increased the students’ engagement levels with writing and literature, and that they gained a positive attitude towards reflective writing. The results of the study may help primarily instructors of writing courses and lecturers in literature departments in contributing to students’ engagement with writing and literature by making use of reflective writing in the form of a voluntary extra-curricular activity.