A reflective journal is most effective when you maintain it for the entire duration of your class. It can be hard to keep a journal going beyond the initial few weeks, so set a journal-writing schedule to ensure you always make time for entries. Try using an easy goal such as two entries per week and choose two days to serve as writing days. This will make it much easier to stay on track.
If your course involves learning new terms or phrases, incorporate them in your journal. Using unfamiliar phrases will help you develop a better understanding of those phrases and increase the ease with which you use them. Writing with new vocabulary also helps to cement new words into your mind, improving your rate of retention.
While writing your reflective journal, you may have the desire to quote certain passages from a textbook or copy information you found on a website. Use these as jumping off points or examples while you explore a thought, but make a note of where you found the information. Citations are helpful for your teacher if your journal has to be turned in, but will also make it easy for you to find your favorite passages if you revisit the journal.
It is easy to worry about the content of your journal or whether you feel you are doing it right. Stress related to writing your journal could make it intimidating and difficult. Instead of worrying about your grade or how smart you will sound, simply start writing. A reflective journal should be honest and open. If you sit down and write your thoughts you will get a lot more out of it than if you wait until you have the perfect thing to say. Think of writing as a process that starts rough and gets refined later.