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How to Write a Reflection Paper on a Movie: 4 Easy Steps

Nov 22, 2023 | Articles

Writing a reflection paper is one of those rare cases when you get to reflect on your own feelings, ideas, and opinions. Often when you write academic papers, you have to do a lot of research work, but you should use your own opinions to a minimum. Of course, you can use your thoughts in an argumentative essay, but first you must rely on some facts, research, patterns, and so on. When you write a reflection paper, you have the opportunity to express yourself and your attitude to some problem or object of art, in this case, to a film. Writing a reflection paper on a movie is not just about describing how well the movie was shot, or how well the actors performed, or how you liked the movie plot. Therefore, we have prepared a detailed article on how to write a reflection paper on a movie and hope that after reading it you will be able to cope with this task quickly and efficiently.

If, however, you don’t have enough time to deal with a reflection paper on a movie no matter how many great tips you get, it may be the right moment to address trustworthy writing services such as WriteMyPaperHub. You pay someone to process your “ write my paper ” request, you get an experienced author to write, format and edit your essay within a given deadline.

Step #1 Choosing a Movie for Your Reflection Paper

There are three options. The first option, from our point of view, is the most unsuccessful. This is when you have one specific assigned movie for which you need to write a reflection paper, and you cannot change this movie to some other one. There is no choice here, you will simply try to do the maximum in describing the film, even if it is completely uninteresting to you. And the second option is when the teacher gives you several films to choose from, and you just need to choose from this list. Because you roughly understand the direction of all these films and can decide what you think will be the most interesting to reveal in your reflection paper. You can select absolutely any film, often on a specific topic, or with a specific problem, and write a reflection paper on this film. It’s even a little more difficult, because the choice is very large. We advise you not to waste a lot of time, but to take on the first film that seems deep enough and fascinating to you. When deciding a film for a reflection paper, remember that the main thing is not how well its plot develops and how you like the actors, but how easy it will be for you to analyze it and whether it contains enough material to write a high-quality and fascinating essay. An exciting film is not always an interesting option for academic work.

Step #2 Watching the Chosen Movie with Intent

We are sure that trying to teach people to watch films may seem quite strange, because there is nothing complicated about it. The idea is that you just watch the movie from start to finish, you can make some notes, and then you write what you think about it. But we want to talk about how to watch a movie so that later there is no need to return to it again and immediately write a rather deep and successful reflection paper on a movie. First, be sure to watch the movie with a notebook and take lots of notes. We recommend using an old school notebook, that is, pen and paper. Because if you take notes on your phone, you will definitely be distracted by some notifications, social networks and the like. For the same purpose, we advise you to watch the film not at once, but to divide it into two or three significant pieces, such as the beginning, the climax, and the conclusion. Or simply divide the viewing time into half an hour. Because it’s very difficult to focus for two or two and a half hours. It is much better if you watch the film very intently, but in less time. This way you can see more interesting twists, write down more quotes, and it will be easier for you to write a reflection paper on a movie efficiently and quickly.

Step #3 Preparing to Write a Reflection Paper on a Movie

How quickly and efficiently you write an essay depends on how well you prepare for it. At this stage, write down the main ideas of the key insights and messages that you want to reflect in this reflection paper. Do a little research about the film, such as the background of the director, screenwriter, and producer. See if this film has any adaptations for Indian or Korean cinema. Read, maybe this film is based on real events, or based on some book. You don’t need to watch all the adaptations, or read the book. But the received information will help you write a deeper essay and will give you fascinating ideas that you can implement in this reflection paper. During the preparation process, be sure to take notes with references. This will help you quickly structure the work cited page for this essay and add citations inside the paper.

Step #4 Structuring and Writing a Reflective Essay on a Movie

When structuring your essay, you should first summarize what the movie is about in a few sentences. Present a clear thesis statement that outlines the focus of your reflection. Then you need to divide the analysis into several parts that will cover themes, personnel connections and key turning points in the film. If you describe these three parts, you can consider that you already have a fairly high-quality and deep essay. When you write this analysis, you must understand that in the end it must correspond to your primary thesis statement. You once again rewrite this thesis statement as conclusions, based on the analysis you did above. Do not try to invent some new structure for a reflection essay on a movie, because your professor expects from you exactly the same sequence that we have now described.

Don’t forget to leave time for final polishing, namely proofreading and editing. We advise you to make the most of available services on the Internet, such as Grammarly or Hemingway. This will help you avoid mistakes that can detract from the grade of a well-written essay despite good content.

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How to Write a Reflection Paper on a Movie

Students have to write a great variety of academic papers. They have various purposes, and it makes them unique. A certain piece may become your favorite assignment of the worst nightmare. Some students struggle with writing a reflection paper on a movie. It demands to clearly explain the main purpose and the general atmosphere of a certain piece of cinematography. You should focus on a certain motif that has provoked certain feelings and emotions in you. The task is surely interesting.

In the meanwhile, students may not be able to clearly reflect their thoughts on paper. Even if they understand everything, they struggle, and it inevitably leads to a loss of vital grades. Some folks request professional help from custom writing websites whose experts may write papers for you . For sure, you will need to find and pay someone online. However, you should not consider this solution as the common way out. It can be used when you don’t have any other possibility to handle this and other academic tasks. Therefore, we propose to read this informative guide attentively. It describes how to write a flawless reflection paper on a movie.

Treat It as a Literature Piece

You have surely written multiple reflection papers on books, literary analyses, book reports, and reviews. They are quite similar to a reflection paper on a movie. You should reconsider everything you have seen on the screen. However, a reflection project differs a bit. You should not retell the entire plot. The main task is to choose one theme and stick to it.

For example, you have chosen to reflect Joan Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The movie involves various themes, and the theme of love is one of them. You can choose it as your topic. The theme of love is regularly met in most literature pieces and movies. It is “eternal,” and people always discuss how and why it appears, as well as what does it mean. According to the movie, the love of Harry’s mother had rescued his life when he was only 1 year old. It has destroyed the body of an evil wizard called Voldemort. As Harry turned 11, he faced the wizard once again, and though his mother died, her love rescued him again. The evil wizard felt no love at all, and it was his greatest weakness that did not allow him to prevail. You can reflect on the feelings and emotions you felt when the theme of love appeared in the movie.

Of course, you ought to watch the movie at least once. It’s good if you are allowed to choose what movie to describe. You may choose any well-known piece because you know everything about it. In case you are assigned a movie, you should find time to watch it.

It’s not easy to comprehend everything from a single review. If you have additional time, watch it at least twice. Focus on a concrete topic and develop it in your reflection paper.

Take Notes Instantly

A smart student always takes instant notes on the matter. Not all students have a good memory , and even the best of us may forget about something vital. The outcomes may be adverse, and the lacking element may deprive you of many grades. Therefore, take notes while you watch the movie.

Sometimes it is very hard to remember what feelings you experienced during the review. Their brightness withers away, and your reflection may lack reality and fullness. If you record them instantly, you will avoid this problem

Gather All the Possible Facts on the Topic

It’s vital to do some research. This common rule is applied to any scientifically-based project. However, a movie reflection paper is not a reflection of the entire story. Some unknown facts may shed more light on the motif you have chosen. Give heed to –

The cast; Historic events; Locations; Characters of the main heroes; Critics, etc.

Perhaps one actor refused to play the role, and his substitute wasn’t convincing. Thus, you may write: “If Anthony Hopkins played this role, the movie would have been much better because he perfectly shows empathy.” You may also write something like this: “Due to the historical period the movie involved, I’m not convinced that the motif of racial equality suits the plot.”

Do Not Repeat the Story

Many students repeat the same error – they retell the whole movie plot. We remind once again – a reflection paper on a movie focuses on a certain theme and does not retell the plot entirely. You can mention the scenes that are closely related to the chosen issue. You should not –

Retell the plot from the beginning to the end;

Pay attention to costume design;

Dwell upon music supervision;

Mention the lighting, visual support, etc.

Remember that you should avoid critique of the entire piece.

Have a Plan and Follow the Structure

It’s logical and effective to create an outline of your project. It makes you disciplined and organizes the whole process of writing.

The typical outline includes:

Introduction . The part where you familiarize your reader with the movie and explain why you have chosen a certain theme.

Main body. It develops the thesis statement, provides concrete examples from the movie, and justifies your choice.

Conclusion . Summarizes the job done and interprets the outcomes.

Additional tip: Set strict deadlines to control your time.

Edit and Proofread

The last stage of your reflection paper on a movie is to revise it several times. Thus, you increase the chance to avoid unwanted mistakes. A revision stage helps to check:

Grammar; Spelling; Punctuation; Style; Word choice; Plot development; Clearness of delivery; Readability, etc.

Keep in mind the tips and tricks we have mentioned in our informative guide on writing a reflection paper . They are universal and will surely suit whatever movie you need to reflect. Use them wisely, and you will sufficiently increase your chances to enjoy success and get an A+ grade.

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Lights, Camera, Reflect: The Art of Crafting Movie Summaries

Introduction

In our fast-paced world, filled with an abundance of visual narratives and stories, reflection papers stand as a beacon of deeper understanding and personal connection. Think about the countless movies you've watched, the books you've read, the interviews you've encountered, and the academic courses you've undertaken. Each of these experiences can leave an indelible mark on one's soul, but how often do we truly stop and reflect on them? That's where the art of reflection writing comes in, allowing both students and film review professionals to bridge the gap between passive consumption and active introspection. From academic assignments in film and theater studies to personal reflection projects on a poignant movie or a transformative course, reflection papers have found their unique niche in the realm of academic writing, film analysis, and beyond.

Reflection Paper Definition

What is a reflection paper.

A reflection paper is a unique blend of personal experience and academic tone. Unlike mere summaries or reviews, reflection papers typically dive deep into an individual's emotional and intellectual response to a topic, whether it's a movie plot, a course topic, or a book's core idea. It's an opportunity to relate personal experience, alter beliefs or thoughts, and evaluate the strong and weak points of the subject matter.

How is it different from regular reviews or summaries?

While reviews often hinge on evaluating the quality or effectiveness of a piece, using criteria set by viewer attitude or professional standards, reflection papers incorporate the student's point of view and personal experiences. Summaries, on the other hand, focus solely on providing a concise overview of the material. In contrast, reflection papers go beyond the surface, often delving into how the material influenced the main idea or evoked personal feelings.

Why Write a Reflection Paper on a Movie?

Movies are more than just a source of entertainment; they are a reflection of society, a mirror to our souls, and a powerful medium that can subvert genre expectations and provoke thought. When we watch a film, we aren't just passive observers; we engage, relate, and often see fragments of our own stories within the narrative. Writing a reflection paper on a movie provides an avenue to articulate these connections, to explore the intricacies of character development, plot twists, and overarching themes. It pushes one to not just appreciate the artistry of filmmaking but to critically analyze and reflect upon its impact on our beliefs, emotions, and worldview. In essence, it transforms a casual viewer into a reflective critic, fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of the world of cinema.

Writing Tips for an Effective Reflection Paper

Reflection papers offer a unique blend of personal insight and academic analysis. Crafting a well-written reflection paper involves introspection, critical thinking, and clear articulation of thoughts. While the essence of the paper should be genuine and personal, there are certain guidelines and writing tips that can elevate your reflective essay writing. Here's a roadmap to guide you:

Start Your Reflection Paper

Setting the right tone from the outset is pivotal to drawing your readers into your world of reflection. Here's how you can kickstart your reflective journey:

• Engage with a Hook: Begin with a compelling anecdote, question, or observation related to the movie or topic you're reflecting on. This should capture the essence of your reflection.
• Relate Personal Experience: Highlight a personal connection or emotion tied to the movie plot or character. This offers a window into your unique perspective.
• Outline Your Main Idea: Clearly state the core idea or the main takeaway you want the reader to grasp by the end of your paper.

Reread, Rewrite, Edit

An effective reflection paper is not just about pouring your thoughts onto paper, but ensuring those thoughts are clear, concise, and well-articulated:

• Reread for Flow: Once your initial thoughts are down, read through your paper to ensure ideas cross smoothly from one to another.
• Rewrite for Clarity: Reframe sentences or paragraphs that seem convoluted or detract from your main point.
• Edit for Precision: Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and writing style. A polished paper not only reflects your thoughts but showcases your dedication to the writing process.

Subverting Genre Expectations

Cinema is an evolving art form, and sometimes movies subvert genre expectations, challenging our preconceived notions. Addressing these nuances in your reflection can offer a deeper layer of analysis:

• Identify the Unexpected: Note moments or elements in the movie that seemed out of place for its genre or challenged typical conventions.
• Analyze the Purpose: Reflect on why the filmmaker might have chosen to deviate from the norm. Was it to create a specific emotional response, convey a unique message, or perhaps offer a critique?
• Connect to Personal Reflection: Relate how these unexpected elements influenced your perspective or emotions. Did they enhance your viewing experience, confuse you, or prompt deeper thought?

By incorporating these tips into your writing process, you'll be well on your way to crafting a reflective paper that resonates with readers and offers a rich analysis of your chosen topic.

Reflection Paper Format

When it comes to crafting a reflection paper, it's essential to maintain a structured approach while allowing room for personal insights. Here's a standard format to guide your reflection writing:

• Introduction: Begin with a brief overview of the subject – be it a movie, a book, or any other topic. Share a hint about your personal reaction or main takeaway.
• Personal Reaction: Detail your immediate reaction or feelings after engaging with the subject.
• Analysis: Dive into the reasons behind your reactions. Discuss the elements of the movie plot or themes of the book and relate them to your personal experiences.
• Evaluation: Critically assess the work. Were there strong or weak points? How did it alter or confirm your beliefs or thoughts?
• Conclusion: Sum up your reflections, drawing connections to the broader context. Maybe relate it to a larger theme, societal issues, or personal growth.

How to Write a Reflection Paper: Step-by-Step

Crafting an impactful reflection paper involves a thoughtful process. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate through it:

Choose a Topic

Every reflection starts with an experience or a subject. Whether you're focusing on a current film, an academic course, an interview, or even a book, ensure that it's something that resonated with you or sparked a significant reaction.

Write a Reflection Paper Outline

Organizing your thoughts can make the writing process smoother and more coherent. Here's a basic template to help:

• Subject of reflection
• Personal initial reaction
• Personal Experience: How you relate to the subject
• Analytical Thoughts: Dissecting the topic, drawing parallels, critiquing aspects
• Broader Connections: Linking to broader themes or societal observations
• Personal growth or future reflections

Drafting the Reflection

With your outline as the backbone, start fleshing out your thoughts:

• Be Genuine: Reflective essay writing thrives on authenticity.
• Be Descriptive: Paint a vivid picture of your experiences and reactions.
• Maintain Academic Tone: While personal, strive for a balance between casual narration and academic writing.

Revise and Finalize

Even the most experienced writers don't get it perfect the first time:

• Proofread: Look for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
• Review for Flow: Ensure ideas transition smoothly and maintain a cohesive narrative.
• Seek Feedback: If possible, have someone read your paper to get an external perspective. Their insights might help you see areas for improvement.

Remember, reflection papers are as much about the journey of introspection as they are about the final piece. Embrace the process, and your genuine insights will undoubtedly shine through.

Reflection Paper Examples

Navigating the landscape of reflection papers becomes simpler when you have examples to guide your way. Here are some samples to illuminate the process:

Free Reflection Paper Example

Movie: The Shawshank Redemption

After watching The Shawshank Redemption , my initial reaction was an overwhelming sense of hope. The film, set against the backdrop of a prison, beautifully captures the essence of friendship, resilience, and redemption. What stood out to me was Andy Dufresne's unwavering spirit. Even in the darkest corners of Shawshank, he found ways to breathe life and hope, be it through music or his secret escape plan. The movie serves as a poignant reminder that freedom is a state of mind.

Reflection Movie Review Samples

Horror: Get Out

Jordan Peele's Get Out is not just a horror film; it's a chilling commentary on racism. The movie subverted my genre expectations, using horror tropes to emphasize the real-life terror of racial prejudice.

Romantic Comedy: Crazy Rich Asians

Reflecting on Crazy Rich Asians , I'm struck by its dual narrative. On one hand, it's a delightful rom-com with lavish parties and heartwarming moments. Yet, it also delves into the cultural clashes and the burden of family expectations.

Varieties of Reflection Papers

Reflection papers aren't just confined to movies. Their versatility spans across books, interviews, courses, and more.

Reflection Paper on a Book

When writing reflections on books, it's vital to combine your emotional responses with an analysis of the plot, characters, and themes. Relate personal experiences that resonate with the book's events or messages.

Reflection Paper on an Interview

Whether you've conducted a personal interview or watched a famous one, your reflection should capture the essence of the dialogue, the emotions evoked, and any newfound insights or learnings.

Reflection on a Course

Reflecting on academic courses involves summarizing the content while weaving in personal experiences. Discuss the course's impact, its strong and weak points, and its influence on your academic or personal growth.

Critical Reflection Paper

A critical reflection goes beyond surface-level observations. It delves deep into analytical thought, questioning assumptions, and challenging established norms. It's about viewing the subject from multiple angles and offering a well-rounded perspective.

Self-Reflection Papers

Distinct from other reflection papers, self-reflection papers focus inward. They're introspective examinations of personal experiences, growth, and future aspirations. Such papers allow you to contemplate life events, decisions, and milestones, offering a platform for self-awareness and growth.

Reflection papers, whether on movies, books, or personal experiences, offer a powerful medium for introspection and analysis. They're not just summaries; they're personal journeys interspersed with analytical thought. Whether you're reflecting on a blockbuster movie or an

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How to Write a Reflective Essay: Easy Guide with Pro Tips

Defining What is a Reflective Essay: Purpose + Importance

Being present is a cornerstone of mindfulness and meditation. You must have often heard that staying in the moment helps you appreciate your surroundings, connects you with people and nature, and allows you to feel whatever emotions you must feel without anxiety. While this is helpful advice as you become more focused and avoid getting lost in thought, how can you truly appreciate the present without reflecting on your past experiences that have led you to the current moment?

We don't say that you should dwell on the past and get carried away with a constant thought process, but hey, hear us out - practice reflective thinking! Think back on your previous life events, paint a true picture of history, and make connections to your present self. This requires you to get a bit analytical and creative. So you might as well document your critical reflection on a piece of paper and give direction to your personal observations. That's when the need for reflective essays steps in!

In a reflective essay, you open up about your thoughts and emotions to uncover your mindset, personality, traits of character, and background. Your reflective essay should include a description of the experience/literature piece as well as explanations of your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. In this article, our essay writer service will share our ultimate guide on how to write a reflective essay with a clear format and reflective essay examples that will inspire you.

How to Write a Reflective Essay with a Proper Reflective Essay Outline

To give you a clear idea of structuring a reflective essay template, we broke down the essential steps below. Primarily, the organization of a reflective essay is very similar to other types of papers. However, our custom writers got more specific with the reflective essay outline to ease your writing process.

Reflective Essay Introduction

When wondering how to start a reflective essay, it is no surprise that you should begin writing your paper with an introductory paragraph. So, what's new and different with the reflection essay introduction? Let's dissect:

• Open your intro with an attention-seizing hook that engages your audience into reflective thinking with you. It can be something like: 'As I was sitting on my bed with my notebook placed on my shaky lap waiting for the letter of acceptance, I could not help but reflect, was enrolling in college the path I wanted to take in the future?'
• Provide context with a quick overview of the reflective essay topic. Don't reveal too much information at the start to prevent your audience from becoming discouraged to continue reading.
• Make a claim with a strong reflective essay thesis statement. It should be a simple explanation of the essay's main point, in this example, a specific event that had a big impact on you.

Reflective Essay Body Paragraphs

The next step is to develop the body of your essay. This section of the paper may be the most challenging because it's simple to ramble and replicate yourself both in the outline and the actual writing. Planning the body properly requires a lot of time and work, and the following advice can assist you in doing this effectively:

• Consider using a sequential strategy. This entails reviewing everything you wish to discuss in the order it occurred. This method ensures that your work is structured and cohesive.
• Make sure the body paragraph is well-rounded and employs the right amount of analysis. The body should go into the effects of the event on your life and the insights you've gained as a consequence.
• Prioritize reflecting rather than summarizing your points. In addition to giving readers insight into your personal experience, a reflective stance will also show off your personality and demonstrate your ability to handle certain challenges.

Reflective Essay Conclusion

The goal of your reflective essay conclusion should be to tie everything together by summarizing the key ideas raised throughout, as well as the lessons you were able to take away from experience.

• Don't forget to include the reasons for and the methods used to improve your beliefs and actions. Think about how your personality and skills have changed as well.
• What conclusions can you draw about your behavior in particular circumstances? What could you do differently if the conditions were the same in the future?

Remember that your instructor will be searching for clear signs of reflection.

Understanding a Reflection Paper Format

The format of reflective essay greatly differs from an argumentative or research paper. A reflective essay is more of a well-structured story or a diary entry rife with insight and reflection. You might be required to arrange your essay using the APA style or the MLA format.

And the typical reflection paper length varies between 300 and 700 words, but ask your instructor about the word length if it was assigned to you. Even though this essay is about you, try to avoid too much informal language.

If your instructor asks you to use an APA or MLA style format for reflective essay, here are a few shortcuts:

Reflective Essay in MLA Format

• Times New Roman 12pt font double spaced;
• 1" margins;
• The top right includes the last name and page number on every page;
• Titles are centered;
• The header should include your name, your professor's name, course number, and the date (dd/mm/yy);
• The last page includes a Works Cited.

Reflective Essay in APA Style

• Include a page header on the top of every page;
• Insert page number on the right;
• Your reflective essay should be divided into four parts: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References.

Reflective Essay Writing Tips

You may think we've armed you with enough tips and pointers for reflective writing, but it doesn't stop here. Below we gathered some expert-approved tips for constructing uncontested reflection papers.

• Be as detailed as possible while writing. To make your reflective essay writing come to life, you should employ several tactics such as symbolism, sentence patterns, etc.
• Keep your audience in mind. The reader will become frustrated if you continue writing in the first person without taking a moment to convey something more important, even though you will likely speak about something from your own perspective.
• Put forth the effort to allow the reader to feel the situation or emotion you are attempting to explain.
• Don't preach; demonstrate. Instead of just reporting what happened, use description appropriately to paint a clear picture of the event or sensation.
• Plan the wording and structure of your reflective essay around a central emotion or subject, such as joy, pleasure, fear, or grief.
• Avoid adding dull elements that can lessen the effect of your work. Why include it if it won't enhance the emotion or understanding you wish to convey?
• There must be a constant sense of progression. Consider whether the event has transformed you or others around you.
• Remember to double-check your grammar, syntax, and spelling.

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Reflective Essay Topic Ideas

As a reflective essay should be about your own views and experiences, you generally can't use someone else's ideas. But to help you get started, here are some suggestions for writing topics:

• An experience you will never forget.
• The moment you overcame a fear.
• The most difficult choice you had to make.
• A time your beliefs were challenged.
• A time something changed your life.
• The happiest or most frightening moment of your life so far.
• Ways you think you or people can make the world a better place.
• A time you felt lost.
• An introspective look at your choices or a time you made the wrong choice.
• A moment in your life you would like to relive.

You may find it convenient to create a chart or table to keep track of your ideas. Split your chart into three parts:

• In the first column, write key experiences or your main points. You can arrange them from most important to least important.
• In the second column, list your response to the points you stated in the first column.
• In the third column, write what, from your response, you would like to share in the essay.

Meanwhile, if you're about to enroll in your dream university and your mind is constantly occupied with - 'how to write my college admissions essay?', order an academic essay on our platform to free you of unnecessary anxiety.

Reflective Essay Sample

Referring to reflective essay examples can help you a lot. A reflective essay sample can provide you with useful insight into how your essay should look like. You can also buy an essay online if you need one customized to your specific requirements.

How to Conclude a Reflective Essay

As we come to an end, it's only logical to reflect on the main points discussed above in the article. By now, you should clearly understand what is a reflective essay and that the key to writing a reflective essay is demonstrating what lessons you have taken away from your experiences and why and how these lessons have shaped you. It should also have a clear reflective essay format, with an opening, development of ideas, and resolution.

Now that you have the tools to create a thorough and accurate reflective paper, you might want to hand over other tasks like writing definition essay examples to our experienced writers. In this case, feel free to buy an essay online on our platform and reflect on your past events without worrying about future assignments!

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How to Write a Reflection Paper

Last Updated: March 27, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Alicia Cook . Alicia Cook is a Professional Writer based in Newark, New Jersey. With over 12 years of experience, Alicia specializes in poetry and uses her platform to advocate for families affected by addiction and to fight for breaking the stigma against addiction and mental illness. She holds a BA in English and Journalism from Georgian Court University and an MBA from Saint Peter’s University. Alicia is a bestselling poet with Andrews McMeel Publishing and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including the NY Post, CNN, USA Today, the HuffPost, the LA Times, American Songwriter Magazine, and Bustle. She was named by Teen Vogue as one of the 10 social media poets to know and her poetry mixtape, “Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately” was a finalist in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,804,837 times.

Reflection papers allow you to communicate with your instructor about how a specific article, lesson, lecture, or experience shapes your understanding of class-related material. Reflection papers are personal and subjective [1] X Research source , but they must still maintain a somewhat academic tone and must still be thoroughly and cohesively organized. Here's what you need to know about writing an effective reflection.

Things You Should Know

• Write an introduction that outlines the expectations you had and provide a thesis statement in the last sentence.
• State your conclusions in the body paragraphs of the paper. Explain how you arrived at your conclusions using logic and concrete details.
• Conclude the paper with a concise summary of your overall experience.

Sample Outline and Paper

Brainstorming

• These sentences should be both descriptive yet straight to the point.

• For lectures or readings, you can write down specific quotations or summarize passages.
• For experiences, make a note of specific portions of your experience. You could even write a small summary or story of an event that happened during the experience that stands out. Images, sounds, or other sensory portions of your experience work, as well.

• In the first column, list the main points or key experiences. These points can include anything that the author or speaker treated with importance as well as any specific details you found to be important. Divide each point into its own separate row.
• In the second column, list your personal response to the points you brought up in the first column. Mention how your subjective values, experiences, and beliefs influence your response.
• In the third and last column, describe how much of your personal response to share in your reflection paper.

• Does the reading, lecture, or experience challenge you socially, culturally, emotionally, or theologically? If so, where and how? Why does it bother you or catch your attention?
• Has the reading, lecture, or experience changed your way of thinking? Did it conflict with beliefs you held previously, and what evidence did it provide you with in order to change your thought process on the topic?
• Does the reading, lecture, or experience leave you with any questions? Were these questions ones you had previously or ones you developed only after finishing?
• Did the author, speaker, or those involved in the experience fail to address any important issues? Could a certain fact or idea have dramatically changed the impact or conclusion of the reading, lecture, or experience?
• How do the issues or ideas brought up in this reading, lecture, or experience mesh with past experiences or readings? Do the ideas contradict or support each other?

Organizing a Reflection Paper

• Verify whether or not your instructor specified a word count for the paper instead of merely following this average.
• If your instructor demands a word count outside of this range, meet your instructor's requirements.

• For a reading or lecture, indicate what you expected based on the title, abstract, or introduction.
• For an experience, indicate what you expected based on prior knowledge provided by similar experiences or information from others.

• This is essentially a brief explanation of whether or not your expectations were met.
• A thesis provides focus and cohesion for your reflection paper.
• You could structure a reflection thesis along the following lines: “From this reading/experience, I learned...”

• Your conclusions must be explained. You should provide details on how you arrived at those conclusions using logic and concrete details.
• The focus of the paper is not a summary of the text, but you still need to draw concrete, specific details from the text or experience in order to provide context for your conclusions.
• Write a separate paragraph for each conclusion or idea you developed.
• Each paragraph should have its own topic sentence. This topic sentence should clearly identify your major points, conclusions, or understandings.

• The conclusions or understandings explained in your body paragraphs should support your overall conclusion. One or two may conflict, but the majority should support your final conclusion.

As You Write

• If you feel uncomfortable about a personal issue that affects the conclusions you reached, it is wisest not to include personal details about it.
• If a certain issue is unavoidable but you feel uncomfortable revealing your personal experiences or feelings regarding it, write about the issue in more general terms. Identify the issue itself and indicate concerns you have professionally or academically.

• Avoid dragging someone else down in your writing. If a particular person made the experience you are reflecting on difficult, unpleasant, or uncomfortable, you must still maintain a level of detachment as you describe that person's influence. Instead of stating something like, “Bob was such a rude jerk,” say something more along the lines of, “One man was abrupt and spoke harshly, making me feel as though I was not welcome there.” Describe the actions, not the person, and frame those actions within the context of how they influenced your conclusions.
• A reflection paper is one of the few pieces of academic writing in which you can get away with using the first person pronoun “I.” That said, you should still relate your subjective feelings and opinions using specific evidence to explain them. [8] X Research source
• Avoid slang and always use correct spelling and grammar. Internet abbreviations like “LOL” or “OMG” are fine to use personally among friends and family, but this is still an academic paper, so you need to treat it with the grammatical respect it deserves. Do not treat it as a personal journal entry.
• Check and double-check your spelling and grammar after you finish your paper.

• Keep your sentences focused. Avoid squeezing multiple ideas into one sentence.
• Avoid sentence fragments. Make sure that each sentence has a subject and a verb.
• Vary your sentence length. Include both simple sentences with a single subject and verb and complex sentences with multiple clauses. Doing so makes your paper sound more conversational and natural, and prevents the writing from becoming too wooden. [9] X Research source

• Common transitional phrases include "for example," "for instance," "as a result," "an opposite view is," and "a different perspective is."

• For instance, if reflecting on a piece of literary criticism, you could mention how your beliefs and ideas about the literary theory addressed in the article relate to what your instructor taught you about it or how it applies to prose and poetry read in class.
• As another example, if reflecting on a new social experience for a sociology class, you could relate that experience to specific ideas or social patterns discussed in class.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.csuohio.edu/writing-center/reflection-papers
• ↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/assignments/reflectionpaper
• ↑ Alicia Cook. Professional Writer. Expert Interview. 11 December 2020.
• ↑ https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/how-guides/how-write-university/how-approach-any-assignment/how-write-reflection-paper
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
• ↑ https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/writing-assessment/reflective-writing/reflective-essays
• ↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvoice/sentencestructure

About This Article

To write a reflection paper, start with an introduction where you state any expectations you had for the reading, lesson, or experience you're reflecting on. At the end of your intro, include a thesis statement that explains how your views have changed. In the body of your essay, explain the conclusions you reached after the reading, lesson, or experience and discuss how you arrived at them. Finally, finish your paper with a succinct conclusion that explains what you've learned. To learn how to brainstorm for your paper, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Reflective Essay Fast and Easy

So, you’re here to learn how to write a reflective essay. Great!

There’s something special in this paper: While it remains formal because of its academic nature, a reflection essay is also about the author’s thoughts and emotions, which makes it less formal than other essay types. With that in mind, it’s critical to find and support that “formality” balance when writing.

In this article, we’ll reveal the types of reflection papers, explain their formatting rules, and describe how to organize the process of reflective essay writing step by step.

What is a Reflection Paper?

A reflection paper is an essay where you express, analyze, and evaluate your thoughts on a particular topic.

The purpose is to train and demonstrate your critical thinking and analytical skills. When a teacher asks you to write a reflection essay, they expect you to develop the ability to express thoughts and emotions by analyzing them.

Topics are different:

You can write a reflective essay on a book, article, or movie. Or, feel free to share your reflections on a person or an event that has influenced you. You may also want to analyze your previous works in a reflective essay, to evaluate them and specify the ways for improvement.

The types of reflection papers are two:

• Personal , aka experiential. It’s about the reflections on your personal experiences and their transformations to the learning ones.
• Reading , aka critical. Here you share reflections on other materials, such as books , films, articles, music, any other work of art, etc.

Reflection Paper Format: Before Writing

• Choose a topic
• Create a mind map
• Write an outline

The process of reflective essay writing consists of several steps, three of which relate to a pre-writing stage. What does it mean?

Before you sit and write a draft, it’s critical to choose a promising topic (if you didn’t get any particular pre-assigned), come up with a reflection question you’ll address, and write a detailed outline so it would be fast and easy to write a reflective essay step by step.

Ready? Let’s begin the journey!

Still in doubt or have no time to examine all the details?

1 — Choosing a Topic for a Reflection Essay

When students ask how to write a good reflective essay, they forget that a properly chosen topic equals around 70% of success.

In school or college, teachers often assign particular topics for reflection papers. If nothing assigned, it’s you who chooses a subject to describe, analyze, and evaluate your thoughts and emotions on it.

Brainstorm topic ideas:

Think of a material (a book, a movie, etc.) or an event that could become the topic for your essay. Remember that you will need to analyze it, not only describe it: Do your best to choose topics of your interests. Consider the following questions:

• What experience would you like to share?
• What have you learned from it?
• Why has it influenced you so much? What impressed you most?

The goal is to brainstorm several possible topics with short summaries of your experience on each. Thus you’ll see which topic sounds most promising and thesis-friendly.

What can become a topic for your reflective essay?

• A significant place where you’ve been
• Some one-time experience you had
• Any repeated experience of yours
• Life-changing events: a special day, a time when you failed, the moment when you overcame a fear, a memory, a conversation, etc.
• Something you’ve heard, seen, read, or watched
• A person who influenced you: a parent, siblings, a friend, a teacher (life coach), you name it!

2 — Mind Mapping Your Future Essay

Now that you have a topic, it’s time to create a mind map for your future essay: That’s when you decide on a reflection question. How will you organize and connect ideas into a clear thesis and cohesive picture?

First, write a thesis.

Now, identify the main arguments you’ll use to support it for readers to understand the evolution of your experiences and thoughts. Group the arguments into the future paragraphs of your reflective essay; decide on their logical sequence.

Such a map will help you better understand the structure of your future essay and ensure it will have all five components required for reflection papers: DEEAA .

• Description: What happened
• Emotions: Your reaction to that experience
• Evaluation: How valuable it was for you, the influence of that experience
• Analysis: Lessons you’ve learned
• Action: What you’re going to do with that experience

Mention all five in your essay’s mind map so you won’t miss anything when writing.

3 — How to Write a Reflective Essay Outline

To make the writing process easier, prepare a reflective essay outline beforehand. It’s like a plan for your future work: It mentions all the elements so you won’t forget any critical information while writing.

Below is a template you can use. (Sure thing, you’ll need to adjust it to your topic, paper type, and statements you’ll describe and analyze.) As well as most other college papers, reflective essays consist of an introduction, 2-4 body paragraphs, and a conclusion:

Reflection paper format:

Before writing, it would also help to know how to format a reflection paper. While your teacher may prescribe different requirements you’ll need to follow, the general format rules for reflective essays are:

• Length: between 300 and 700 words
• Text size: 12 points
• Margins: 1 inch
• Fonts: Times New Roman or Arial (Calibri sometimes)
• Citation: APA or Chicago
• Spaces: Double

How to Write a Reflective Essay

• Introduction

The pre-writing stage is finally over! Now it’s time to write a draft of your reflective essay. Below are your practical tips on crafting its every part:

1 — How to Start a Reflective Essay

An introduction paragraph of your reflective essay consists of three parts: a hook, background information on the topic, and a thesis statement. If you have a fear of a blank page or don’t know how to start your essay, it’s okay to write a body first: When you’ve covered the main part, it will be easier to craft a compelling introduction for your work.

How to start a reflective paper:

• Make your introduction catchy yet informative. Start with a hook to get people interested in reading your work: ask a question, share a surprising fact, make a controversial statement, etc.
• After the hook, write one or two sentences describing your topic and providing the audience with some background information: what you’ll discuss, your expectations, etc.
• Finish your introduction with a thesis statement. It’s a core element of every essay; reveal your position on the topic and tell how you’ll explain it throughout the paper.

2 — Writing a Reflective Essay Body

A reflective essay body is 2-4 paragraphs where you explain, analyze, and evaluate your thoughts and feelings regarding the topic. Here you’ll use arguments (one per paragraph) and supporting evidence to prove your thesis statement.

The must-mention elements of your essay’s body:

• Evaluation: What did you like or dislike about the experience you describe in the essay?
• Analysis and criticism: What you’ve learned from the experience; what alternative opinions do you disagree with?
• Explanation: What causes and effects led you to such reflection; how may it influence the future you?

3 — How to Conclude a Reflective Paper

A final paragraph of a reflective paper is about summarizing the points, restating the thesis, and reflecting on your knowledge gaps.

Mention the core aspects of your essay body, say what you still don’t know about the topic, and write your ideas on how to change that. Be concise: A reflective essay conclusion is a paragraph of 3-5 sentences, so craft it in the best way possible.

Dos and Don’ts of Reflection Essay Writing

As you already know, we ask our professional writers for practical advice on most topics we cover on this blog. This time, we asked them to share some dos and don’ts for students to consider when writing a reflection essay.

Here they go:

And here go some more tips on how to write a successful reflective essay:

• Share your experience, be honest and sincere
• Provide details, use your narration skills
• Analyze and evaluate your experience
• Illustrate your points with examples
• Stick to the topic and remain concise: Remember you have up to 700 words only
• Maintain a professional tone

Now that you know how to write a good reflective essay for a university, it’s time to go and craft one for your professor to get wowed and give you the highest grade! Follow the tips from this guide, and you’ll write an essay fast.

Sure thing, reflective papers aren’t about academic or college life only. We all share reflections and opinions on social media or personal blogs, so we believe this post has come in handy for every active online user.

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How to Write a Reflective Essay?

07 August, 2020

17 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

A reflective essay is a personal perspective on an issue or topic. This article will look at how to write an excellent reflexive account of your experience, provide you with reflexive essay framework to help you plan and organize your essay and give you a good grounding of what good reflective writing looks like.

What is a Reflective Essay?

A reflective essay requires the writer to examine his experiences and explore how these experiences have helped him develop and shaped him as a person.  It is essentially an analysis of your own experience focusing on what you’ve learned.

Don’t confuse reflexive analysis with the rhetorical one. If you need assistance figuring out how to write a rhetorical analysis , give our guide a read!

Based on the reflective essay definition, this paper will follow a logical and thought-through plan . It will be a discussion that centers around a topic or issue. The essay should strive to achieve a balance between description and personal feelings.

It requires a clear line of thought, evidence, and examples to help you discuss your reflections. Moreover, a proper paper requires an analytical approach . There are three main types of a reflective essay: theory-based, a case study or an essay based on one’s personal experience.

Unlike most academic forms of writing, this writing is based on personal experiences and thoughts. As such, first-person writing position where the writer can refer to his own thoughts and feelings is essential. If the writer talks about psychology or medicine, it is best to use the first-person reference as little as possible to keep the tone objective and science-backed.

To write this paper, you need to recollect and share personal experience . However, there is still a chance that you’ll be asked to talk about a more complex topic.

By the way, if you are looking for good ideas on how to choose a good argumentative essay topic , check out our latest guide to help you out!

The Criteria for a Good Reflective Essay

The convention of an academic reflective essay writing will vary slightly depending on your area of study. A good reflective essay will be written geared towards its intended audience. These are the general criteria that form the core of a well-written piece:

• A developed perspective and line of reasoning on the subject.
• A well-informed discussion that is based on literature and sources relevant to your reflection.
• An understanding of the complex nuance of situations and the tributary effects that prevent them from being simple and clear-cut.
• Ability to stand back and analyze your own decision-making process to see if there is a better solution to the problem.
• A clear understanding of h ow the experience has influenced you.
• A good understanding of the principles and theories of your subject area.
• Ability to frame a problem before implementing a solution.

These seven criteria form the principles of writing an excellent reflective essay.

Still need help with your essay? Handmade Writing is here to assist you!

What is the Purpose of Writing a Reflective Essay?

The purpose of a reflective essay is for a writer to reflect upon experience and learn from it . Reflection is a useful process that helps you make sense of things and gain valuable lessons from your experience. Reflective essay writing allows you to demonstrate that you can think critically about your own skills or practice strategies implementations to learn and improve without outside guidance.

Another purpose is to analyze the event or topic you are describing and emphasize how you’ll apply what you’ve learned.

How to Create a Reflective Essay Outline

• Analyze the task you’ve received
• Read through and understand the marking criteria
• Keep a reflective journal during the experience
• Use a reflective framework (Schon, Driscoll, Gibbs, and Kolb) to help you analyze the experience
• Create a referencing system to keep institutions and people anonymous to avoid breaking their confidentiality
• Set the scene by using the five W’s (What, Where, When, Who and Why) to describe it
• Choose the events or the experiences you’re going to reflect on
• Identify the issues of the event or experience you want to focus on
• Use literature and documents to help you discuss these issues in a wider context
• Reflect on how these issues changed your position regarding the issue
• Compare and contrast theory with practice
• Identify and discuss your learning needs both professionally and personally

Don’t forget to adjust the formatting of your essay. There are four main format styles of any academic piece. Discover all of them from our essay format guide!

Related Posts: Essay outline | Essay format Guide

Using Reflective Frameworks

A good way to develop a reflective essay plan is by using a framework that exists. A framework will let help you break the experience down logical and make the answer easier to organize. Popular frameworks include: Schon’s (1983) Reflection in action and reflection on action .

Schon wrote ‘The Reflective Practitioner’ in 1983 in which he describes reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action as tools for learning how to meet challenges that do not conform to formulas learned in school through improvisation.  He mentioned two types of reflection : one during and one after. By being aware of these processes while on a work-experience trail or clinical assignment you have to write a reflective account for, you get to understand the process better. So good questions to ask in a reflective journal could be:

<td “200”>Reflection-pre-action <td “200”>Reflection-in-action <td “200”>Reflection-on-Action<td “200”>What might happen? <td “200”>What is happening in the situation? <td “200”>What were your insights after?<td “200”>What possible challenges will you face? <td “200”>Is it working out as you expected? <td “200”>How did it go in retrospect?<td “200”>How will you prepare for the situation? <td “200”>What are the challenges you are dealing with? <td “200”>What did you value and why?<td “200”>  <td “200”>What can you do to make the experience a successful one? <td “200”>What would you do differently before or during a similar situation?<td “200”>  <td “200”>What are you learning? <td “200”>What have you learned?

This will give you a good frame for your paper and help you analyze your experience.

Kolb’s (1984) Learning Cycle

Kolb’s reflective framework works in four stages:

• Concrete experience. This is an event or experience
• Reflective observation. This is reflecting upon the experience. What you did and why.
• Abstract conceptualization. This is the process of drawing conclusions from the experience. Did it confirm a theory or falsify something? And if so, what can you conclude from that?
• Active experimentation. Planning and trying out the thing you have learned from this interaction.

Gibb’s (1988) Reflection Cycle

Gibbs model is an extension of Kolb’s. Gibb’s reflection cycle is a popular model used in reflective writing. There are six stages in the cycle.

• Description. What happened? Describe the experience you are reflecting on and who is involved.
• Feelings. What were you thinking and feeling at the time? What were your thoughts and feelings afterward?
• Evaluation. What was good and bad about the experience? How did you react to the situation? How did other people react? Was the situation resolved? Why and how was it resolved or why wasn’t it resolved? Could the resolution have been better?
• Analysis. What sense can you make of the situation? What helped or hindered during the event? How does this compare to the literature on the subject?
• Conclusion. What else could you have done? What have you learned from the experience? Could you have responded differently? How would improve or repeat success? How can you avoid failure?
• Action plan. If it arose again what would you do? How can you better prepare yourself for next time?

Driscoll’s Method (1994) and Rolfe et al (2001) Reflexive Learning

The Driscoll Method break the process down into three questions. What (Description), So What (Analysis) and Now What (Proposed action). Rolf et al 2001 extended the model further by giving more in-depth and reflexive questions.

• What is the problem/ difficulty/reason for being stuck/reason for feeling bad?
• What was my role in the situation?
• What was I trying to achieve?
• What actions did I take?
• What was the response of others?
• What were the consequences for the patient / for myself / for others?
• What feeling did it evoke in the patient / in myself / in others?
• What was good and bad about the experience?
• So, what were your feelings at the time?
• So, what are your feelings now? Are there any differences? Why?
• So, what were the effects of what you did or did not do?
• So, what good emerged from the situation for yourself and others? Does anything trouble you about the experience or event?
• So, what were your experiences like in comparison to colleagues, patients, visitors, and others?
• So, what are the main reasons for feeling differently from your colleagues?
• Now, what are the implications for you, your colleagues and the patients?
• Now, what needs to happen to alter the situation?
• Now, what are you going to do about the situation?
• Now, what happens if you decide not to alter anything?
• Now, what will you do differently if faced with a similar situation?
• Now, what information would you need to deal with the situation again?
• Now, what methods would you use to go about getting that information?

This model is mostly used for clinical experiences in degrees related to medicine such as nursing or genetic counseling. It helps to get students comfortable thinking over each experience and adapting to situations.

This is just a selection of basic models of this type of writing. And there are more in-depth models out there if you’re writing a very advanced reflective essay. These models are good for beginner level essays. Each model has its strengths and weaknesses. So, it is best to use one that allows you to answer the set question fully.

This written piece can follow many different structures depending on the subject area . So, check your assignment to make sure you don’t have a specifically assigned structural breakdown. For example, an essay that follows Gibbs plan directly with six labeled paragraphs is typical in nursing assignments. A more typical piece will follow a standard structure of an introduction, main body, and conclusion. Now, let’s look into details on how to craft each of these essay parts.

How to Write an Introduction?

There are several good ways to start a reflective essay . Remember that an introduction to a reflective essay differs depending on upon what kind of reflection is involved. A science-based introduction should be brief and direct introducing the issue you plan on discussing and its context.

Related post: How to write an Essay Introduction

For example, a nursing student might want to discuss the overreliance on medical journals in the industry and why peer-reviewed journals led to mistaken information. In this case, one good way how to start a reflective essay introduction is by introducing a thesis statement. Help the reader see the real value of your work.

Do you need help with your thesis statement? Take a look at our recent guide explaining what is a thesis statement .

Let’s look at some reflective essay examples.

‘During my first month working at Hospital X, I became aware just how many doctors treated peer-views journal articles as a gospel act. This is a dangerous practice that because of (a), (b) and (c) could impact patients negatively.’

The reflective essay on English class would begin differently. In fact, it should be more personal and sound less bookish .

How to Write the Main Body Paragraphs?

The main body of the essay should focus on specific examples of the issue in question. A short description should be used for the opener. Each paragraph of this piece should begin with an argument supporting the thesis statement.

The most part of each paragraph should be a reflexive analysis of the situation and evaluation . Each paragraph should end with a concluding sentence that caps the argument. In a science-based essay, it is important to use theories, other studies from journals and source-based material to argue and support your position in an objective manner.

How to Write the Conclusion?

A conclusion should provide a summary of the issues explored, remind the reader of the purpose of the essay and suggest an appropriate course of action in relation to the needs identified in the body of the essay.

This is mostly an action plan for the future. However, if appropriate a writer can call readers to action or ask questions. Make sure that the conclusion is powerful enough for readers to remember it. In most cases, an introduction and a conclusion is the only thing your audience will remember.

Reflective Essay Topics

Here are some good topics for a reflective essay. We’ve decided to categorize them to help you find good titles for reflective essays that fit your requirement.

Medicine-related topics:

• Write a reflective essay on leadership in nursing
• How did a disease of your loved ones (or your own) change you?
• Write a reflection essay on infection control
• How dealing with peer-reviewed journals interrupts medical procedures?
• Write a reflection essay about community service
• Write a reflective essay on leadership and management in nursing

Topics on teamwork:

• Write a reflective essay on the group presentation
• What makes you a good team player and what stays in the way of improvement?
• Write a reflective essay on the presentation
• Write about the last lesson you learned from working in a team
• A reflective essay on career development: How teamwork can help you succeed in your career?

Topics on personal experiences:

• Write a reflective essay on the pursuit of happiness: what it means to you and how you’re pursuing it?
• Write a reflective essay on human sexuality: it is overrated today? And are you a victim of stereotypes in this area?
• Write a reflective essay on growing up
• Reflective essay on death: How did losing a loved one change your world?
• Write a reflective essay about a choice you regret
• Write a reflective essay on the counseling session

Academic topics:

• A reflective essay on the writing process: How does writing help you process your emotions and learn from experiences?
• Write a reflective essay on language learning: How learning a new language changes your worldview
• A reflective essay about a choice I regret

Related Posts: Research Paper topics | Compare&Contrast Essay topics

Reflective Essay Example

Tips on writing a good reflective essay.

Some good general tips include the following:

As long as you use tips by HandMade Writing, you’ll end up having a great piece. Just stick to our recommendations. And should you need the help of a pro essay writer service, remember that we’re here to help!

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8 Tips For Writing A Great Reflective Essay (With Examples)

Memories, hopes, disappointments, and curiosity run through your life.

By writing a reflective essay, you can capture some of these ephemeral emotions and make sense of who you are. Below, I share eight tips (and a few examples) that will help you do it in a better way. You may have to write a reflective essay as a part of an academic assignment or a college paper. Or perhaps you want to create it for yourself and never show it to anyone. Regardless of the reason, after reading this article, you will hopefully become better at it. They helped a lot of students over the years, so you may check them out.

Here’s how to write a great reflective essay:

1. first, what is a reflective essay.

A reflective essay is a piece of writing in which you analyze your personal experience, reflect on how it changed your life, and what conclusions for the future can you draw from what you’ve learned. It’s a “know thyself” type of essay. The goal here is getting self-knowledge, by stopping to think about your memories, your values, and where you want to go from the present moment onward. By writing your thoughts down, you pursue some kind of deeper truth, about yourself and the world.

2. The power of writing introspectively

Many great men and women (like Charles Darwin or Frida Kahlo ) had a habit of keeping a journal. This seems to be forgotten these days as we record everything through our mobile devices. But the habit of introspective writing and journaling helps you get in touch with your inner self and even improves your mental health. The reflective essay serves a similar purpose. It lets you search for meaning in your life and lets you discover the underlying causes of your actions.

“Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forwards.” – Søren Kierkegaard

3. How do you start your essay?

You may start with an introduction of experience, an event, or a memory on which you’ll reflect. If your topic is “a life-changing incident you had when you were a child,” you could start with: I used to live on a sunny farm with my parents and grandparents when I was young. A few days after I turned six, something happened that would alter the course of my life forever. I’m fifty-two as I’m writing this…

This beginning has certain elements that make it effective:

• Introducing the setting and putting the experience in context.
• Hooking the reader by building curiosity and a story.

Here’s another way to start (this excerpt is taken from Didion’s “ On self-respect ”): Once, in a dry season, I wrote in large letters across two pages of a notebook that innocence ends when one has stripped of the delusion that one likes oneself. In reflective writing, you don’t have to follow any strict guidelines or rules. Follow your heart, put some emotion into it, and you’ll create something of value for yourself and others. Start at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end – as long as it’s coherent, you’ll be fine.

“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” – Ralph Ellison

4. Learn how to structure your essay

In terms of length, it all depends on your assignment, but usually, the reflective essay has between 300 and 700 words . It has a rather informal structure and the use of language. After all, you’re drilling into your personal experiences, and often, this requires a poetic turn of the phrase. You’re more than welcome to use a wide range of advanced vocabulary .

Introduction

In this part, you set the tone for your reflection. You implicitly or explicitly say what will you reflect on, and what prompted you to do that. If you’re writing an academic paper , you’ll have to be more direct and for example, say: “What follows, are my reflections on what I’ve learned about life during the first year of college”.

In this part, you talk about your actual experiences, memories, and important events in your life. But the purpose is not just to say what happened – that’s a descriptive essay’s job. The true goal here is to ponder the significance of your experiences and think about how they changed you and what you’ve learned from them. Here you can share concrete examples of changes that took place in your life.

Here, you sum up your essay and leave your audience with a final thought. Look ahead into the future and write about how your experiences are going to affect your life from now on. What’s the direction you’re going to take? What is there to look ahead to? You may also look backward and see how different you were in the past, compared to now. “I think it’s good for a person to spend time alone. It allows them to discover who they are and to figure out why they are always alone.” – Amy Sedaris

5. Create an outline for your essay

As with most writing assignments , the work begins with ideation and then creating some sort of outline . Here’s a simple process you can use to get everything ready before you start writing: a) Scan your mind in search of powerful experiences, meaningful memories, and thoughts about your past. This will serve as a raw material from which you’ll sculpt a piece of prose. b) Consider the attractiveness of your topic from the reader’s point of view. You certainly don’t want to bore anyone, so pick something interesting, but important. c) Organize your essay and divide it into a couple of paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain one important idea. d) Decide in which sequence you would like to share your ideas. Put some logic and chronology behind it. e) Jot down any side notes included in the essay. It’s always better to have an overabundance of material.

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – C.G. Jung

6. The essay-writing process

The best piece of advice on that is to avoid cliches. It might be hard to do this at first, but decide to speak your truth. Talk about things and feelings unique to you and your life. It’s easy to regurgitate what someone else had said before because it’s a safe territory. Your goal is to open doors to which only you have the keys.

Once you have the idea, you can follow a simple process:

• Write the first draft as quickly as you can (no editing or looking back here)
• Reorganize the first draft if necessary
• Edit for clarity (throw out everything unnecessary)
• Accept that it will not be perfect, and publish it (or keep it to yourself)

7. How to pick the right topic for your essay

If you’re writing an assignment, you’ll probably receive the prompt from your professor. If that’s the case, follow it diligently. This may be something like: a) Reflect on what you learned during your first year of high school. b) Think about your favorite book and how it changed your life . c) How did your writing skills change over the years? And why? Or it might be something really specific like Write a two-page reflection paper on the Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Here, it’s not only about your personal experience, but about your interaction with a specific text, event, play, or movie and the effect it had on you. But what if you want to write an essay on your own? Which topic would you choose then? First, pick something meaningful to you. Second, pick something that you know well. Third, pick something that you want to explore and get deep into.

Here’s some more inspiration in the area of topics:

Personal reflection:.

• What was the hardest thing you’ve ever done and how did it change you?
• How has your relationship with your parents changed over the years?
• What did you use to do a lot in the past, but aren’t doing now?
• What was the most creative act you’ve ever done?
• What was your favorite game or toy when you were a child?
• What did you want to become when you were small?
• How did you overcome your limits?
• What was your biggest failure and how did you come back on your feet?
• What are the things from the past that are still haunting you?
• What gives you the biggest sense of joy in life?
• What is your passion and how has it shaped your life?

Reflection on life and meaning:

• What is the meaning of friendship?
• What is to be done with the time you have in your life?
• What are the values that make up a good life?
• Is it possible to find the ultimate truth about anything?
• Can you know thyself?
• What should every human do during their lifetime?

Reflection on events:

• What was your most exciting trip and why?
• Have you ever had a mystical or psychedelic experience?
• How did World War 2 change the collective psyche of humanity?
• What was your favorite musical concert and why?
• Was there any rite of passage you went through? What was the meaning of it?

You may also consider other great essay topics submitted by the users of Quora.

“Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens

8. Learn from the masters

Montaigne was the father of the essay as a literary form. He was the first writer to use informal tone, colloquial language, and rather prosaic themes to get to the deeper truth about human nature.

I recommend you check his essays for inspiration, along with other masterworks:

• The Essays – by Montaigne
• Shooting an Elephant – by George Orwell
• On Self Respect – by Joan Didion
• Meditations – by Marcus Aurelius (it’s a philosophical work, rather than an essay, but the quality of “Meditations” is too high to be overlooked).
• Once more to the lake – EB White

And here are a few books filled with great reflective essays:

• A room of one’s own – Virginia Woolf
• Walden – Henry David Thoreau
• A collection of essays – George Orwell
• Arguably – Christopher Hitchens
• Consider the Lobster and Other Essays  – David Foster Wallace

And here you may find a huge list of 450+ essay books on Goodreads.

“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” – Albert Einstein

Example #1 of a reflective essay:

The misgivings about the high school football.

Football (soccer) was on the pedestal during my high school years in Poland. You were not judged by the color of your skin (because everyone was roughly the same color) nor by the contents of your character. The worth of a human being is measured by the ability to score goals. Each player had to find their niche in the dominant hierarchy of the pitch. It all started with the selection of players. The gym master would choose two captains at the beginning of the match, and they would choose their teammates. One by one, the best players got picked, and as we went down the line, we were left with the wretched souls, the worst, the smallest guys, or the fat ones, whose self-esteem was shattered from the beginning, simply because they were picked last. But there was a ladder within a ladder. Some players, perhaps in the lower echelons would be defenders, some would be proud midfielders, pushing the ball forward and creating “situations”. Some were the goalkeepers who were chosen for the job because they couldn’t play ball, or because they were specialists, sporting keeper gloves, and getting admired for their technical skills. But the true apex of the hierarchy was occupied by the attackers. The guys who could push through others and ram the ball through the goalkeeper were the true heroes of the field. This self-generated order of youthful self-worth and self-concept was brutal, as it was instructive. Each football match was a psychology class and a lesson in the ways of the world that outweighed math, history, or geography by orders of magnitude. We could witness the natural constellation of humanity based on their genetic makeup and their willingness to face their fears.

Here’s a second, shorter sample of a reflective essay:

The sources of love for instrumental music..

There’s a question I can’t quite answer. Why do I love instrumental music so much? And why, and I’m especially enamored with the music of the East? The Persian, the Indian, the Afghan, the Japanese, the Turkish, the Kurdish, the Arabic? Since I first discovered these musical notes, my life was never been the same. Recently I watched a great documentary about Quincy Jones where he said he touched his first piano at twelve, and these first few taps of fingers defined the rest of his life. Isn’t that strange, that in reality, we don’t choose things? The things choose us. Where do these natural inclinations come from? It must be our environment, our personality, our natural talent. But the other part seems mysterious, like some sort of cosmic accident. I first heard about the Oud when reading “My Name is Red” by Orhan Pamuk. I instantly went online to hear this instrument and from there on, I discovered dozens of beautiful instruments such as tar, setar, sitar, buzuq, sarod, tabla, rebab, shakuhachi, quin, biwa, to the goddamn gamelan drums. Hearing the esraj in a tower of the ancient Indian fort in Jodhpur melted my heart. It was as if this melody was constructed just for me like I’d heard it before. Perhaps in another life.

Looking backward, moving forward

There are certain milestones in your life: finishing high school, falling in love for the first time, your first journey abroad, the first kiss, the first psychedelic trip, graduating from the university, getting your first job, getting married, having children… Each of these brings something new and unexpected and makes you grow as an individual. But you can run through life and never reflect on how it all changed , how silly and incompetent you were just a few years ago. And how you’ll think the same thing about the present in a few years. Perhaps you should compose a reflective essay and think about all of this, and about what’s coming. Next up, you may want to explore a list of the best essays of all time .

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April 12, 2018

Reflective Essay

Reflective Essay  

 Effy Mitchell 

In this essay I will reflect on my production work throughout semester one discussing how these tasks alongside wider reading helped me to develop my production skills and wider understanding of working on film and television projects. 

‘Location scouting involves finding the best location, all things considered – and there is a lot to consider’ – Maier (1994, xii). Choosing and acquiring access to a location is a process of elimination based on various factors which I will discuss in this section of the essay (Maier, 1994) .  Accessibility is a vital part of choosing a location.  Shooting locally can save travel costs and prevent the crew being tired out from long hours spent driving to locations (Rahmel, 1994). Both locations I chose, the Hawthorn Leslie and Pelaw train tracks were local to me as I do not live in York and this personally meant low travel costs and easy access for location photos.  The level of exterior accessibility you need will be dependent on the size of the production for example a large scale film like   Fi ght club  would need a lot of space around the location as well as the location itself. I took this into consideration and with both locations being in fairly quiet and cordoned off abandoned places there’s a lot of space around them for parking. ‘ Governments can make film crews jump through seemingly unnecessary hoops ‘ – shoot factory, 2015. This as well means that we do not have to inform anyone who lives close by, local councils or re direct traffic which will save budget as we won’t have to pay for any permits or for anyone to re-direct traffic.   

Sound conditions internally and externally are something to consider as a microphone can pick up much more than the human ear (Rahmel, 1994).  The Hawthorn Leslie has no power and is the only structure on its side of the street backing onto a river. The Pelaw train tracks back onto countryside and go on for a couple of miles which means noise pollution internal and external in both locations will be minimal as there won’t be noise disruption from traffic or from things like air conditioning.  

‘This process must start early and happen quickly because it can be a long and intensive one ‘ – Rizzo ( 2013,P43). Building a relationship with the people who own the location is important and this is the key to being able to access any location, but business owners tend to be most concerned with liability (Maier, 1994) so you must have an appropriate approach depending on who you are working with. Leading with risk assessments and your safety procedures is a good idea with business owners especially with a derelict site. Arranging a deal with the owners of the sites will probably take time to establish so being in contact with them early on in the process is probably a good idea and is why location scouts are brought on so early in the process ( Chegg, 2017). 

As I have visited both locations before I was already aware of some the potential health and safety issues prior to scouting these are something to keep at the forefront of your mind. ‘The way to stay safe is to look at each shooting set up or location individually and think of what exactly could go wrong ‘ –  Moving Image Education ( 2018).  Issues can be identified with risk assessing, SWOT analysis and with help from the owners of the site (in our case A&P construction company) to ensure everyone’s safety which is vital.  

The location also needs to be appropriate for the story ( McDowell, 2017 ) for instance, the paper street house needs to be large enough to accommodate for the fact that at one point there are supposedly 20+ people living and have enough exists so that the narrator and Tyler can never be in the same room in front of Marla. Being aware of what specific creative details a location needs a film has based on what the director wants ( Maier, 2018) is integral part of being able to find an appropriate location that can then accommodate those need. 

‘Creating a script breakdown is about identifying various elements in a scene to better understand its shooting requirements’  – Studio Binder (2016). I chose a section of script from the film  Lady Bird  to work on, I chose this film because I was familiar with it and it had a variety of interesting but not overly complicated scenes for me to work on including in my script and storyboard.  

Through this task I learnt that there are many different processes to prep a script one of which is colour coding which can be useful for all members of the crew. You have to through each page looking for elements that are important ( Renee, 2016) for example I used purple to point out any object which was prominent in the scene or used by an actor which is useful to the art department, camera department and the cast. One scene had a stunt in it which consisted of Lady Bird rolling out of a moving car which required an orange highlight which is important for the whole crew to know about. Colour coding can let everyone know quickly and efficiently what each part of the script requires without covering it in wordy notes or memorising it.  

Script tramlines are used so that at a quick glance the crew can see what has and hasn’t been shot, How each scene is being shot, who is in each scene and how the script relates to their job on set. Lined scripts can also be useful for editors to give them a quick view of all available coverage at a glance ( Clarke, 2016). In summary tramlines can be useful to everyone in the production process to help everyone can make quicker decisions and for things to run smoother on set.  Script tramlines are vertical lines usually drawn in red ink which correspond with camera shot information. At first I ran into some difficulties as there are many camera shots for each piece of dialogue in the script but after some research and trial and error I figured it out. On reflection I understand how they would be useful for the camera department who could then look at the script to be able to follow how they should be shooting each part of the action as oppose to having a separate shot lit solely to work off of.  

A storyboard is at the basis of any good production. It helps string the scenes and the story together. It is a visualisation on paper. – Woodsman (2016). Storyboarding was challenging for me as I am not a very good artist, so I focused on the story board being simplistic and easily readable as it would have to be understood by many members of the crew.  I was aiming for a ‘shooting board’ which as the title suggests reflects the camera angles that are suitable for the cinematographer to use as reference ( Jew, 2013).  Story boards can be elaborate or as minimal as the film calls for but long as the layout of the location, camera angle and positioning of cast is correct the story board is usable.  

‘Light will enhance or diminish the efforts of the all the people who create sets, the costumes and the make up’ – Malkiewicz (2012 p2). This was a group task where we shot a scripted scene in the studio.  My role was lighting assistant. I discovered that the relationship with the director and other crew members is important since my role mainly involved collaborating with the other people to achieve the directors vision. Since we worked so closely with the director during the pre-production process the filming process ran quite smoothly and there were no discrepancies that got in the way of filming. Although there were some minor issues on the day I will discuss later. 

Bauman when interviewed by O’falt ( 2018) talks about how when working on  Phantom Thread  due to the low levels of light there had to be a longer experimentation period which we also encountered. We began by setting up many different kinds of lighting around the set using different filters, kinds of lights and positioning of lights to trial various ideas our director had. One of the methods we tried was creating our own filters for the blind effects but I found this very difficult as it was hard to mimic the clean lines that the shadow of the blinds create by hand. However it was still a useful technique to learn. Malkiewicz (2012) describes lights as paints in a painter’s pallet since lighting can completely change the tone or mood of a story. We wanted to do low key lighting to make the atmosphere cold and dark creating lots of shadows to fit with the tone of the story.  

An issue we faced was forgetting to note down the order in which the gels where on the light and the exact colours we used which cost us time on the second day of filming and could have caused continuity errors. Reflecting on this I learnt that balancing the creative elements and the technical elements like properly recording how each light was set up is important to remember.  

”what you do not see is as important as what you do see’  Malkiewicz (2012 p2). Throughout filming we had to make further adjustments because of things like the lights being directly in the actors in eyelines, shadows on faces and lights being able to be seen on camera. There was a light behind the door for instance which was accidently in shot that we had to move because it meant the actors could not open the door properly without it being scene. I worked alongside the production designer to solve these issues and find out the set and lights would affect one another. 

Being a Gaffer requires strong technical knowledge as well as a creative mind for how the lights will be set and adjusted and which ones are most appropriate for what the director wants (Brinkhaus, 2010). We worked with the techs to develop our technical knowledge and to help us make decisions on what kinds of lights we should use based on our requirements. We worked on doing as this safely as we were using high powered lights that can get incredibly hot and a heavy light falling into a set or crew member could be disastrous. One of the safety issues we had was the gels staying on the lights as we had multiple layers of gels on one light to achieve a specific shade of orange. We solved this by using clips instead of tape as they were sturdier. 

For the group live task we got the opportunity to film a live performance at the York theatre royal. My role in the group was assistant floor manager. The floor manager essentially liaisons between director and crew members and manages what happens on the floor (Newby, 1997) so effective communication is key.  Since we were working a big space and spread out two were required for the filming of the event. It was useful to have multiple people to oversee the area so tasks can be carried out quickly rather than one person running around between everyone especially on bigger productions. The director having briefed everyone beforehand meant that everyone knew what was expected of them on the night and we knew how the filming was supposed to run. However during filming the director and producer often can’t see all aspects of the studio from the gallery so it’s the responsibility is that of the floor manager to keep the them informed to enable them to make quick decisions when needed ( Utterback, 2016). 

You need to have a full overview of how everything is supposed to run and the skills to understand everyone in your crew and their cues coming through the intercom system in order to keep things running smoothly ( Utterback, 2016).  On the night we ran into the issue of the walkie talkies not working. Which meant during half time we had to go in person during half time to communicate with the crew. I learnt from this that effective communication is vital during a live task as when the walkie talkies cut out this meant the producer and floor manager couldn’t do their job effectively. The floor manager in many cases is also responsible for health and safety during filming (Utterback, 2016) as they have a full overview of what’s going on, every member of our crew had to be briefed on health and safety before filming at the theatre royal however it would be my responsibility to inform everyone if something were to go wrong.  

 A floor manager can have large range of tasks that varies depending on the kind of production, but they usually work with the crew and in some cases the talent ( Carr, 2016). My main task was to collect and label the memory cards for the camera operator at the end of the night, I had to label the cards A & B so that the editor knew which footage would be on each card. In order for a live filming event to run smoothly everyone has to do their job correctly so it doesn’t create a knock on effect for example mislabelling the cards would of created confusion for the editor.  There was some minor issues on the night such as one of the cameras briefly cutting out but this was quickly dealt with the help of the tech’s. Overall the filming went well and everyone worked effectively as a team and filming a live event was a good opportunity for everyone to work on a real event and gain some experience. 

For this task I wrote  an Essay on the short film  Mas o K is sed     which is a film produced by second year students for the 48 hour film challenge. I evaluated the film whilst taking into consideration its form and production criteria which consisted of the 48 hour time limit and the two genre’s which had to be implemented which were comedy and horror.  

To evaluate the film fairly I researched the short film form to better understand what makes a good short film and what their structure is like compared to feature film. I did this by reading interviews by with established short film makers from SXSW ( O’falt 2016) and watching some short films such as  I love Sarah Jane  . This research then gave me something to compare  Masokissed     too and helped me understand why they made certain decisions. For instance putting the audience right in the centre of the story with no introductions (O’falt 2016)  is a good idea because ‘You never have enough time to tell your entire story ‘ –  Hodge interviewed by O’falt ( 2016). Which I discovered makes the audience ask a lot of questions and continue watching whilst also saving screen time . 

 I think you’re on the wrong track if you don’t choose a story that you have some personal connection with’ – Munroe (2009, P8). I had to find out what makes a bad short film so it gave me some idea of the criteria I was marking this film up against. According to Jollard (2016) some short film cliché’s include writing none personal stories that have been told many times. Authenticity seems to be an important part of a short film as they only have a short amount of time to make an emotional connection to the audience.  

‘ Horror abounds with pragmatic aesthetics’ – Sipos (2010, P28. )I then had to look at the technical choices the team made like lighting choices, camera angles and use of location and how they related to their story and genre. I mainly used wider reading into the horror genre and the  short form itself to give depth to my analysis of  Ma sokissed . An issue I encountered was having to make a lot of assumptions based on what I saw on screen as I was not involved in the production.  The consequence of which are that some of my points may not be entirely accurate for instance I assumed that using members of crew as actors was due to the time constraints when it could have been a more conscious choice as they may have acting experience. This however gave me an impartial point of view which made my evaluation quite fair. Overall with this essay I attempted to use research and evidence from the film to make informed opinions about the film this group produced.  

‘ I would view sound design more as the process of creating new sounds either from scratch or by heavily manipulating existing sounds’ – Langford (2014, P3).  In this assignment we were tasked with creating the sound for one of a few selected video clips. By either creating our own foley or using sound clips from online sound libraries like ‘ Freesfx.co.uk ‘. I ended up using mostly hard effects from these libraries for things such as the dropping of objects in the supermarket. I have very little experiencing editing at all so I found this task particularly challenging however I did complete the task and now know my editing skills are an area I need to improve upon.  

I chose a clip from  Go  (1999) because I hadn’t seen the film before and thought it was quite funny. I tried to emulate this humour with my choice of music (  Shut  Me up  by M.S.I) that was kind of ridiculous and exaggerated like the whole scene itself. The music also contrasted against the clip and which I think is similar to how the characters actions contradict their very mundane appearances and environment. I chose the music to drive the scene as too many sonic elements could be confusing ( Fougner, 2013) and too much when paired with the action on screen. I used ambience to create the soundscape of the supermarket and had to think about what kind of noises you would here there like the checkouts and other customers.  

A challenge I encountered was finding sound clips to match the noise of things being taken off of the shelves and put into the girl’s pockets as there were no specific noises for that as well as things falling onto the floor out of frame as I had to guess when they would hit the floor and hope it seemed realistic. Creating my own sounds could have been a solution for this. However, I ended up using things that sounded right even if they weren’t accurate for example I used the sound of leaves falling for the sound of the green beans being thrown up into the air. I did struggle with the volumes of each sound clip as some clips ending up drowning out other sound effects I used which made the soundscape seem really flat especially when the music came in. Layering sound is an important part of creating a soundscape (Powell, 2015) and a skill I need to develop as every sound should be heard / at the right volume for the clip.  

To conclude I think both my practical skill development and wider reading contributed to my personal development as a filmmaker throughout this semester. I was not entirely successful in all of my tasks however I did reflect on these mistakes to not make them again in the future. There is a great deal of personal, creative, technical and theoretical knowledge that needs to be combined in order to be successful in production and I will continue to develop these skills in my work at university.  

Bibliography  

Bauman, Micheal interviewed by O’fault, Chris. 2018.  How Paul Thomas Anderson Dirtied-Up ‘Phantom Thread’ to Avoid the Polish of ‘The Crown’. [ Website Article]. Available at: http://www.indiewire.com/2017/12/phantom-thread-paul-thomas-anderson-cinematography-1201909965/. [ Accessed on 10.04.2018]. 

Brinkhaus, Andrew. (2010). The role of a Gaffer . [ Website Article]. Available at: https://cinematography.wonderhowto.com/news/role-gaffer-0114468/. [ Accessed on 10.04.2018]. 

Carr, Tim. 2016). Meet the this morning team – Floor manager Tim Carr.  [ Youtube Video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb61rQr30y8. [ Accessed on 04.10.2018]. 

Clarke, Amy. ( 2016).  How to line a film script . [ Website Article]. Available at: https://www.amyclarkefilms.com/blog/how-to-line-a-film-script. [ Accessed on 10.04.2018]. 

Chegg. (2017).  Location Scout.  [ Website article]. Available at:    http://www.chegg.com/career-center/explore/location-scout. [ Accessed on 10.04.2018]. 

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How to Write a Reflective Essay: Your Guide to Self-Discovery

moment when you decide to put pen to paper, not just to tell a story, but to explore the layers of your own experiences. Think of it as an inward journey, where each word becomes a stepping stone, uncovering the unique narrative of your thoughts and feelings.

In this comprehensive guide, our online essay writing service experts will unravel the art of writing a reflective essay and explore valuable tips to make your narrative truly shine. From outlining the key elements to understanding the format, we'll equip you with the tools you need. And what better way to solidify your understanding than by delving into practical examples that showcase the beauty of this personal storytelling format? So, grab a cup of coffee, find a cozy corner, and let's embark on this exploration of introspection and storytelling together.

What Is Reflective Essay in Academic Writing

In the realm of academic writing, a definition of reflective essay encompasses a unique and personal piece that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of research papers and essays. It's not about presenting facts or arguing a thesis; instead, it's a canvas where you paint your experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Think of it as a thoughtful conversation with your readers, offering them a glimpse into your personal journey. Unlike traditional academic writing, reflective essay writing doesn't follow a rigid structure; it thrives on your voice, allowing you to share your insights and reflections on a particular topic or experience. Reflective essay meaning also involves storytelling that invites your audience to connect with your narrative on a more personal level, making it a powerful tool for self-expression within the academic landscape.

Reflection Essay Format

Writing a reflective essay involves a flexible format that can adapt to different purposes. Whether you're composing an academic piece or contributing to a magazine, the structure may vary. In academic contexts, the primary objective is consistent: instructors want students to engage in profound and critical thinking about specific learning experiences. Knowing how to write a good reflection essay may follow various formats, and here are a couple of examples from our college admission essay writing service :

• Exploring Personal Growth : This essay style serves as a tool for self-discovery. Imagine recounting a pivotal life moment, like overcoming a fear of public speaking. By analyzing this experience, you not only gain insights into your personal growth but also offer readers a glimpse into your journey of overcoming challenges.
• Literary Reflection : Here, you'll delve into the world of literature by reflecting on how a specific character or storyline impacted you personally. Consider writing about a character's resilience in the face of adversity and draw connections to your own life experiences. This reflective essay format allows for a creative blend of personal narrative and literary analysis.

Remember, when you write a reflective essay, the beauty lies in its adaptability. Unlike more rigid academic styles, you have the freedom to let your personal voice shine through, creating a narrative that resonates with your unique experiences.

• You should use Times New Roman, 12 font, and double-spaced.
• 1" margins.
• All of your titles must be centered.
• The top right of every page includes your last name and the page number.
• The header on your paper should have your name, the professor's name, the course number, and the date.
• The last page must include a Works Cited.
• Have a header on top of every page.
• Make sure every page is numbered in the top right corner.
• Your essay must be divided into four parts: title page, Abstract, Main Body, and References.

Reflective Essay Outline

Alright, imagine crafting an essay is like going on a road trip. Now, think of the essay outline as your trusty map. It's not about restricting your storytelling—it's more like having a game plan before you hit the road. This outline is your backbone, making sure your essay has a solid structure and flows smoothly. It's there to guide you, not fence you in, as you share your personal journey and reflections.

So, what are the parts of a typical reflective essay?

• The introduction for reflection paper is where you set the stage for your reflection. Introduce the topic or experience you'll be reflecting upon. Consider a hook in your intro for reflective essay to grab your reader's attention and end with a clear thesis statement that outlines the main points of your reflection.
• Each paragraph in the body is dedicated to a specific aspect of your reflection. These paragraphs delve into the details of your experiences, thoughts, and feelings. They can follow a chronological order or be organized thematically, depending on your preference and the nature of your reflection.
• Personal insights are all about digging deep into your thoughts and drawing out meaningful insights. Here, you explore the significance of your experiences and how they've contributed to your personal growth or understanding.
• The conclusion is for wrapping things up by summarizing the key points of your reflection. Reinforce the significance of your experiences and perhaps suggest how they might influence your future actions or perspectives. It's a moment to leave a lasting impression on your reader.

Remember, the outline is flexible, and these parts are more like guideposts than strict rules. They're there to help you organize your thoughts and present them in a coherent and engaging way.

Introduction

The reflective essay introduction is like the opening act of a gripping story, designed to captivate your reader's emotions. It's your opportunity to set the stage and provide a glimpse into the core theme of your reflection. Consider an experience that left a profound impact on you, perhaps overcoming a fear or embracing a new perspective. Craft your introduction with vivid details, painting a mental picture for your reader.

For instance, describe the nervous energy before a significant event, the racing heartbeat, or the tension in the air. A powerful introduction should beckon the reader into the heart of your narrative, making them eager to embark on this introspective journey with you.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs are the narrative chapters, each dedicated to a distinct aspect of your experience. These paragraphs should seamlessly guide your reader through the chronological or thematic evolution of your reflections. Dive deep into sensory details, emotions, and the intricacies of the journey you're recounting.

Consider breaking down your narrative into key moments or revelations, allowing each paragraph to unfold like a scene in a movie. This is where you lay bare the highs, lows, and transformative moments, fostering a connection between your reader and the essence of your reflection.

Lastly, let's touch on how to conclude a reflective essay. It is the resolution of your writing, akin to the closing scene of a movie. It's your chance to leave a lasting impression, wrapping up the narrative with a sense of reflection and insight. Revisit the central theme of your essay, reinforcing its significance in your personal growth or understanding. You might also hint at how this experience will influence your future actions or perspectives. A compelling conclusion should linger in the reader's mind, inviting them to carry the essence of your reflection beyond the final words.

5 Essential Reflective Essay Writing Tips

Now, let our experts, who professionally handle your ' write my essay online ' requests, share 5 essential tips to guide you on this writing journey:

Connect Emotionally: When unsure how to write a good reflective essay, don't shy away from emotions. Readers connect deeply with personal stories infused with genuine feelings. Share your joys, struggles, and moments of realization in a way that makes your readers feel the heartbeat of your experiences.

Be Authentic: Your reflective essays are your personal narratives, so embrace authenticity. Don't try to fit into a mold or adhere to expectations. Speak from the heart, use your voice, and let your unique perspective shine through. Authenticity adds a powerful layer to your storytelling.

Show, Don't Just Tell: Instead of merely stating facts, show the reader your experiences through vivid descriptions. Engage the senses and paint a picture with your words. Take your readers on a sensory journey, allowing them to visualize and immerse themselves in your reflections.

Reflect, Don't Recap: A reflective writing essay isn't just a summary of events; it's an exploration of their impact on you. Instead of merely recounting what happened, delve into why it mattered. Reflect on how these experiences shaped your thoughts, beliefs, or actions, offering deeper insights to your readers.

Organize Your Thoughts: Structure is key when it comes to knowing how to make a reflective essay successfully. Outline your ideas before you start writing, creating a roadmap for your essay. Consider the chronological order of events or organize them thematically. A well-organized essay helps your readers follow the flow of your reflections seamlessly.

Reflective Essay Examples

Understanding the intricacies of the writing process is challenging without practical examples, regardless of theoretical knowledge. With our existing outline in place, let's delve into the creation of an engaging example of a reflective essay.

Final Thoughts

As you start your reflective essay writing, think of it as a conversation with a friend. Be genuine, share the highs and lows, and don't worry about sounding perfect. The beauty lies in your authenticity. Much like when learning how to write a personal essay , reflect on your experiences with an open heart and let your words flow naturally. This isn't just about writing; it's about discovering more about yourself and inviting others into your world. So, enjoy the ride, be true to yourself, and let the storytelling unfold.

What Should Be Avoided When Writing a Reflective Essay?

What is the meaning of reflective essay, what is a good reflective essay example.

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A Reflection on The Movie Secret

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Published: Jun 9, 2021

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