How to Write the ABPG1203 Reflective Essay and Journal Entry (OUM)

To write the ABPG1203 reflective essay and journal entry, define each concept briefly, state your own position early, support it with two or three real experiences linked to named theories, then reflect honestly on how the belief affects your emotions and thinking. Cite at least four APA sources per question, and keep the tone personal but academic.

Students on the Open University Malaysia History and Philosophy of Psychology course often find this task unusual, because it asks for opinion and evidence at once. If you are working on other OUM briefs too, our OUM assignment support page lists the kinds of coursework we cover.

What the ABPG1203 assignment asks

For the September 2026 semester, the assignment has two parts. Part I contains two reports worth 20% each: a reflective essay on free will and determinism, and a journal entry on the nature of consciousness. Part II is e-forum participation worth 10%, where you answer questions on Descartes and William James. The written work is 2,500–3,000 words excluding references, and it is submitted online in a single file by the stated deadline.

Each report follows the same three-part logic. First, define and explain the concept and state what you believe. Second, justify your belief using experiences, observations and theory. Third, reflect on how that belief affects your emotions, thoughts or view of psychological research. The wording in the official brief is the final authority, so check it against this summary.

You can see how similar briefs are phrased on the Open University Malaysia question hub.

Step-by-step approach

1. Decode the criteria. The rubric gives equal weight to the introduction and to each of the three content criteria, and half weight to the conclusion and to referencing. Divide your word count accordingly instead of writing 1,000 words of background.
2. Choose a position before you write. Hard determinism, libertarian free will and compatibilism are all acceptable. What matters is that you can defend your choice. A balanced view is easier to support than an extreme one.
3. Collect three real moments. Pick situations where you felt free and others where you felt pushed by habit, family, money or culture. Specific, small examples work better than dramatic ones.
4. Attach a theory to each moment. For example, habit loops relate to Skinner’s behaviourism, while careful deliberation relates to compatibilism.
5. Write the emotional reflection honestly. Explain how the belief changes guilt, pride, anxiety or motivation, then note the intellectual consequence.
6. Support with literature. Use reputable journals and books, not blogs. Aim for more than four APA citations per question, since that is the top band for citation quality.
7. Close with a synthesis. Restate your position, summarise the reasons, and avoid introducing new evidence.
8. Proofread and format. Check APA style, word count and the single-file submission requirement.

For a worked illustration, read our ABPG1203 sample answer extract, which is for reference only and should not be submitted as your own work.

Comparing the main positions

How to structure the journal entry

A journal entry gives you more freedom of voice than an essay, but it is still marked against the same rubric. A practical layout is a dated opening line, a short definition of consciousness, a compact survey of two or three theoretical perspectives, your stated belief, the reasons behind it, and a closing reflection on research. Using first-person sentences such as “I now read studies differently because…” keeps the tone personal while still showing analysis.

Avoid turning the entry into a diary of your day. Every paragraph should earn a criterion. If a sentence does not define, compare, justify or reflect, cut it. A tight 1,200 words with six solid citations will usually outperform a longer, looser piece.

Time management matters as well. Because the task is worth half of your course marks overall, plan one session for reading, one for outlining both reports, one for drafting, and a final one for APA checks and the forum screenshots. Starting early also lets you capture your forum postings on distinct days, which the brief asks you to evidence.

Mark-maximising checklist

• State your belief in the first third of each answer, not only in the conclusion.
• Use at least two personal examples that show contrast, one of choice and one of constraint.
• Name the theory next to every example.
• Include a short paragraph on emotional implications and another on intellectual ones.
• Mention one limitation or counter-argument to your own view.
• Cite more than four sources in correct APA 7th format for each question.
• Use first person in the reflective parts, but keep a formal register.
• Keep your five forum postings distinct, each with a claim, evidence and a question for peers.

Common mistakes

• Writing a textbook summary. The brief asks for your beliefs, so a neutral literature review scores poorly on the personal criteria.
• Claiming science has disproved free will. Libet et al. (1983) is widely discussed, but its interpretation is contested, and Libet (1985) himself allowed for conscious veto.
• Treating belief-manipulation findings as settled. Vohs and Schooler (2008) is frequently cited on belief and cheating, yet later replication attempts have been mixed, so word your claim carefully.
• Ignoring the emotional criterion. Many answers explain theory well and then give one line on feelings.
• Weak referencing. Fewer than four APA citations falls into the lowest citation band.
• Forum postings that only agree. Add a new point or a respectful challenge.

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Student pain points

Searches around this kind of task tend to circle the same worries. Students ask how to write a reflective essay on free will without sounding like an encyclopaedia, whether personal opinions are really allowed in a psychology assignment, and how many references a reflective piece needs. Others ask how to cite Descartes or James when the originals are old, and whether a journal entry should be written as a diary. The short answers are: use your own examples, yes opinions are expected if justified, and follow the rubric’s citation bands.

A tutor who has seen many reflective tasks can shorten this process. If you want a second pair of eyes on structure, our report writing support and essay writing service pages explain how guidance works, and the about us page shows who is behind the service.

Frequently asked questions

Can I write in Malay or English?

The brief allows either language. Choose the one in which you can reason most precisely, and keep it consistent throughout the file.

Do I have to pick a side on free will?

You must state a personal belief, but it can be a nuanced one such as compatibilism. What matters is that you justify it with experiences and theory.

Is a journal entry different from an essay?

Slightly. The journal entry can use a more personal voice, yet the rubric still expects definitions, perspectives, reasons, implications and citations, so keep it structured.

How many references do I need?

The rubric describes more than four correctly formatted APA citations as excellent. Aim for five or six per question to stay safely inside that band.

How do I cite Descartes and William James?

Use the date of the edition you read, with the original year noted. For example, Descartes (1641/1996) for a Cottingham translation, and James (1890) for The Principles of Psychology.

What should a strong forum posting contain?

A clear claim about Descartes or James, one or two sources, a short reasoned example, and a question that invites replies. Keep a screenshot showing your name, title, day, date and time.

About the expert

Psychology questions like this are covered by Nabilah Azman, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Malaya and lists abnormal, social and developmental psychology among her specialisms. Her profile shows 2,500 completed orders. If you prefer broader university-level support, see our university assignment help page.

References

Baars, B. J. (1988). A cognitive theory of consciousness. Cambridge University Press.

Chalmers, D. J. (1995). Facing up to the problem of consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2(3), 200–219.

Descartes, R. (1996). Meditations on first philosophy (J. Cottingham, Trans.). Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1641)

James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology (Vol. 1). Henry Holt and Co.

Libet, B. (1985). Unconscious cerebral initiative and the role of conscious will in voluntary action. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 8(4), 529–539. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X00044903

Libet, B., Gleason, C. A., Wright, E. W., & Pearl, D. K. (1983). Time of conscious intention to act in relation to onset of cerebral activity (readiness-potential): The unconscious initiation of a freely voluntary act. Brain, 106(3), 623–642. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/106.3.623

Skinner, B. F. (1971). Beyond freedom and dignity. Alfred A. Knopf.

Vohs, K. D., & Schooler, J. W. (2008). The value of believing in free will: Encouraging a belief in determinism increases cheating. Psychological Science, 19(1), 49–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02045.x