Keep a devising log and write reflective documentation, including what to record, how to reflect rather than describe, and how to explain and evaluate creative decisions

What this dot point is asking

SEAB wants you to keep a devising log and write reflective documentation: to know what to record across the process, to reflect rather than merely describe, and to explain, justify and evaluate your creative decisions. You should be able to state the purpose of the log, list what a strong log contains, and write reflectively about a choice by giving the reasoning, the intended effect, an evaluation and what was learned. The central insight is that the log is not a diary of events but a record of decisions and reasons, and reflective writing - which keeps asking why and so what, not just what - is what turns that record into the evaluation of process that the coursework rewards.

The answer

The purpose of the log

A devising log documents the process of making an original piece. Its purpose is threefold: to capture decisions, intentions and reasoning as the work happens; to provide the raw material for the reflective commentary the coursework requires; and to help the group remember and build on its choices. The finished performance shows what the group made, but the log shows how and why they made it, which is exactly what the assessment of devising values. A good log makes the thinking behind the piece visible.

What to record

A strong log records the whole journey. It captures the stimulus and the group's first responses, the dramatic intention and how it developed, the techniques used and the material they generated, what was kept or cut and why, the structural decisions, the rehearsal experiments and the problems and solutions met along the way, the contributions of the group, and the individual performer's own choices and their intended effect on the audience. The log should be kept continuously, entry by entry as the work happens, not written in a rush at the end, because a real, ongoing record is far richer and more honest than one reconstructed from memory.

Describing versus reflecting

The single most important skill is the difference between describing and reflecting. Description simply states what happened: "we made a still image of the family". Reflection explains why a choice was made, what its intended effect was, whether it worked, and what was learned or changed as a result. A log full of description is weak, because it only narrates; a reflective log evaluates the work. The reflective writer keeps asking why (why this choice) and so what (what effect, did it work, what next), turning a record of events into an analysis of decisions.

How to write reflectively about a decision

To reflect on a creative decision, work through several elements. State the decision, then the reasoning behind it, linking it to the dramatic intention. State the intended effect on the audience: what the choice was meant to make them think or feel. Evaluate whether it achieved that effect, honestly, using evidence from rehearsal or performance. And explain any change made in response, and what was learned. This pattern - decision, reason, intended effect, evaluation, learning - turns a single line of description into a paragraph of genuine reflection that demonstrates understanding of the craft.

Honesty and evaluation

Reflective documentation rewards honesty, including about what did not work. Recording a dead end, a disagreement, or a choice that failed and was changed shows real engagement with the process and an ability to evaluate. A log that claims everything went perfectly is less convincing than one that shows problems being met and solved. The aim is not to present a flawless story but to demonstrate thoughtful decision-making, the ability to judge the work against its intention, and the capacity to learn and adapt, which is what the reflective commentary is designed to assess.

Examples in context

Example 1. Description versus reflection. A weak entry reads only "We decided to use a narrator." A reflective entry explains that the narrator was added to link the episodic scenes and guide the audience through the time shifts, that the intended effect was clarity without losing pace, that in rehearsal the narration at first felt heavy, and that the group cut it back, learning that less narration kept the audience engaged. The second entry evaluates; the first only states.

Example 2. Honesty about a dead end. A log records that the group spent a session improvising a subplot that never connected to the intention, and that they cut it after testing it on its feet. Recording this dead end, and the reasoning for cutting it, shows the examiner genuine decision-making and the ability to judge material against the intention, which a tidied-up story of constant success would not.

Try this

Q1. State the purpose of a devising log. [3 marks]

• Cue. The devising log documents the process of making the piece, capturing decisions, intentions and reasoning as the work happens, and provides the material for the reflective commentary that explains how and why the piece was made.

Q2. Explain the difference between describing and reflecting in a log. [3 marks]

• Cue. Description simply states what happened, while reflection explains why a choice was made, its intended effect on the audience, whether it worked, and what was learned, so reflection evaluates the work rather than just narrating it.

Q3. Describe the elements of a strong piece of reflective writing about a creative decision. [4 marks]

• Cue. State the decision, give the reasoning behind it linked to the dramatic intention, state the intended effect on the audience, evaluate honestly whether it achieved that effect using evidence, and explain any change made in response and what was learned, following the pattern of decision, reason, intended effect, evaluation and learning.