ending a reflective essay

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How I Knew When To End A 5-Year-Long Relationship

The End Of Fairy Tales: Why I Left My 5-Year Relationship

I remember calling my sister from my car in the parking lot a week before ending the relationship, and her response was, “Are you sure? Have you really thought about it?” I had to tell her, “I’ve already thought about it for a year.” 

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Pandemics Don’t Really End—They Echo

T he public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic officially ended on May 11, 2023. It was a purely administrative step. Viruses do not answer to government decrees. Reported numbers were declining, but then started coming up again during the summer. By August, hospital admissions climbed to more than 10,000 a week. This was nowhere near the 150,000 weekly admissions recorded at the peak of the pandemic in January 2022.

The new variant is more contagious. It is not yet clear whether it is more lethal. Nor is it clear whether the recent rise is a mere uptick or foreshadows a more serious surge. More than 50,000 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the U.S. in 2023. Somehow, this has come to be seen as almost normal.

Even while health authorities are keeping their eyes on new “variables of concern,” for much of the public COVID has been cancelled. The news media have largely moved on to other calamities. The pandemic is over. Is it?

History shows that pandemics have ragged endings. Some return again and again. The Justinian Plague that swept through the Roman Empire in the 6 th century returned in waves over the next 200 years. The Black Death that killed half the population of Europe between 1347 and 1351 came back more than 40 times over the next 400 years.

Read More: Will the New Vaccine Work Against the Latest Variant?

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt long after the last rapid test comes back positive. Millions today are still suffering from “ long COVID ”—a range of medical conditions that can appear long after the initial infection. This concept can be applied to the whole of society.

Pandemics have always frayed the social fabric, disrupted economies, deepened social divides, and intensified prejudices, leaving behind psychological scars—all of which have lasting political repercussions.

Angered by the British crown’s attempt to restore the inequalities of the pre-pandemic feudal system, which had been weakened by the massive depopulation caused by the plague, English peasants marched on London and nearly brought down the king. Repeated waves of cholera in Europe during the 19 th century increased social tensions and contributed to growing class warfare. A sharp increase in labor strife followed the 1918 flu pandemic.

Today, society seems similarly on edge and quick to violence, an observation that was also made about medieval society following the plague. The U.S. homicide rate in 2020 and 2021 increased by nearly 40 percent. It appears to have come down in some cities, but violent crime remains above pre-pandemic levels. Mass shootings have hit an all-time high, while random unprovoked aggression has increased in public spaces. The pandemic is not entirely to blame, but it has likely been a contributing factor.

Many Americans quit their jobs after the pandemic. Others are refusing to give up working from home . The so-called great resignation appears to be ending, but the labor militancy that featured in post-pandemic societies continues.

While the COVID-19 pandemic comes nowhere near the depopulation effects of the plague, it emptied the sidewalks in many major American cities. Office buildings have fewer workers. Restaurants have lost business. It is not uncommon to see rows of boarded up retail shops. COVID does not get all the blame. The rise in crime in many city centers keeps many away. Urban geography may be permanently altered.

As it often did after past pandemics, pessimism pervades the post-pandemic moodscape. Its explanation lies beyond the pathogens. A Biblical host of natural and man-made disasters—pestilence, war, famine, floods, drought, fire, contribute to a sense of foreboding.

The 1918 flu pandemic left a legacy of distrust in institutions and each other, which was passed down to children and grandchildren, COVID may have similar long-term effects.

Americans are a cantankerous lot, increasingly suspicious of malevolent motives behind anything government does. Partisan news outlets look for conflict and stoke outrage. In past pandemics, conspiracy theories flourished, often blaming immigrants and Jews. So too, some COVID conspiracy theories suggest that the virus was designed to kill Whites or Blacks, while sparing Asians and Jews. Nothing changes.

Some believe the government created the pandemic hoax or deliberately misled the public about the seriousness of the situation. They argue that needless lockdown orders and business shutdown ruined the economy; providing financial relief to businesses and families opened the way for massive corruption and left the country with insupportable debt; mask and vaccine mandates were assaults on personal liberty for the benefit of big Pharma profits. Some still claim that the vaccines themselves rivaled the virus in their lethality. Defiance has been elevated to patriotism.

Owing to response measures, improved medications, life-saving procedures for treating critically-ill patients, and the rapid availability of a vaccine, the outbreak did not replicate the death tolls of previous pandemics.

Although it sounds perverse, saving lives ended up contributing to the controversy. Simply put: The pandemic was not deadly enough . The 2 nd century Antonine Plague killed a quarter of the Roman Empire’s population. The 6 th century Justinian plague killed half the population of Europe. According to some historians, the first wave of the plague in the 14 th century again wiped out half of Europe’s inhabitants.

COVID has killed more than a million Americans, roughly a third of one percent—or about the same percentage of the population killed in World War II. As a percentage of the total population, the 1918 flu was twice as deadly.

The demographics of the death toll are important. The 1918 flu killed many younger people—those 25-40 years old accounted for 40% of the fatalities—while COVID killed mainly older Americans, as three-quarters of the dead were 65 or older. Those under 40 accounted for just 2.5% of the fatalities.

Some questioned why the country’s well-being should be jeopardized to save the elderly, many of whom already had other afflictions anyway. Expressed in the cruelest terms, nature was culling the herd. Indeed, some of the same groups that during earlier debates about national health care expressed outrage at the prospect of death panels “pulling the plug on grandma” suggested during the pandemic that the elderly would be willing to die to save the economy.

The COVID pandemic lacked visual impact. Except for those directly affected, COVID’s toll remained abstract. There was no modern equivalent of town criers calling “Bring out your dead” accompanied by carts making the rounds to collect corpses. Had COVID led to bodies piled in the streets, shared dread might have outweighed our differences. As it turned out, we had the science to address the pandemic. What we lacked was the social accord.

Discord continues in the political arena. The tradeoffs between preserving individual rights and protecting the public are legitimate areas to explore, but rather than looking for lessons to be learned, some politicians appear determined to settle scores. Pandemic disputes will almost certainly feature in the 2024 presidential election.

Any future outbreak of disease will likely again see cable news, the internet, and social media play major roles in shaping the information individuals choose in their decision making. This will inevitably make emergency control measures more difficult to impose. COVID’s biggest political casualty may be governability itself.

We are unable to join hands to remember the more than a million Americans that have succumbed to the virus—that are succumbing still. We cannot express a nation’s gratitude to the scientists, public health officials, and heroic frontline health workers, thousands of whom died saving lives during the pandemic. Stuck in the well-worn paths of previous pandemic prejudices and conspiracy theory re-runs, we cannot come together to mourn our losses and celebrate our survival.

There will be no collective thanksgiving, no elegies, no closure. As we have seen time and time again throughout human history, pandemics do not end—they echo.

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Here's What Mercury Direct Means for Your Zodiac Sign

Following Mercury retrograde, Mercury will station direct on Aug. 28, marking the end of a period of reflection and the beginning of forward momentum

As Mercury prepares to station direct on Aug. 28 , you may notice a shift in your energy and mental clarity, as this marks the end of a period of reflection and the beginning of forward momentum, particularly in areas related to communication, daily routines and decision-making.

If you’ve recently felt stuck or misunderstood, exploring what Mercury direct means for your zodiac sign can help you navigate this transition with a fresh mind and renewed perspective. In astrology , Mercury is the planet of communication, transportation and your immediate surroundings. It governs everything from how you think to the way you express yourself intellectually and with your local community. When the messenger planet retrogrades , it slows down, causing delays and disruptions. This notorious phenomenon occurs three to four times a year, triggering misunderstandings, technological glitches and unexpected changes to plans and schedules. On Aug. 5 , Mercury stationed retrograde in Virgo , which can explain the issues surrounding logistics and daily affairs that may have taken place. This Earth sign is known for its methodical, meticulous and analytical nature, so this retrograde likely emphasized the areas of your life that need to be critiqued, improved and re-evaluated. During its backspin, the messenger planet re-entered Leo on Aug. 14, shifting the focus from detail-oriented scrutiny (Virgo) to leadership and self-expression (Leo). While Mercury retrograde in Virgo inspired the need to read the fine print and refine your day-to-day routine, Mercury's re-entry into Leo was a call to implement those newly found insights and revisions into your self-expression in a way that showcases your authenticity and creative passion. As Mercury stations direct on Aug. 28, the lessons learned during its retrograde phase start to come full circle. Remember that while the messenger planet will be moving forward, it will also transit the same degrees it retrograded through in Leo and Virgo. This is known as the post-retrograde shadow phase ; expect more clarity and resolution from this retrograde period between Aug. 28 and Sept. 11.

In the meantime, read on for what Mercury direct means for your zodiac sign.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

You're ready to move forward with clarity and purpose, Aries . Upon Mercury stationing direct, you will feel a renewed sense of clarity, especially in your creative pursuits and daily routines. Mercury retrograde encouraged you to reflect on how you manage your time and energy, and now it's time to implement this newfound wisdom with confidence and enthusiasm. Whether it be a passion project or simply creating more time for fun in your day-to-day life, this is a call to tend to your heart's desires.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Put your plans into action by curating a warm and inviting atmosphere for yourself and your loved ones, Taurus . Mercury is officially stationing direct, so expect more clarity in your personal life. This retrograde likely had you revisiting childhood memories or perhaps emphasized your hobbies, creative musings and love affairs. Reconnecting with your inner child and prioritizing your joy now supports and contributes to the harmony of your living space and home life.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Is there something you'd like to get off your chest, Gemini ? With Mercury going direct in Leo, expect a confidence boost in your communication style and more reasons to celebrate with your inner circle. Mercury rules you, so retrogrades tend to affect you more than most. Although you likely dealt with unexpected disruptions with family or regarding the logistics of your living situation, you now have the courage to express yourself and the confidence to address an important situation.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Never undermine your worth or your desire for stability, Cancer . As Mercury stations direct, you will likely notice improvements in your daily affairs that make you feel more secure in your decisions. This retrograde may have caused misunderstandings and delays, especially regarding your finances and value systems. It could've also inspired you to explore creative income streams and consider ways to monetize your talents and skills.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Step into the spotlight, Leo . After taking time to reassess your finances and re-evaluate your personal values and self-worth, Mercury direct encourages you to embrace your authenticity. Mercury retrograde put a spotlight on everything from your money-making abilities to the results brought on by your spending habits. It might have also uncovered triggers surrounding your self-esteem, whether personally or professionally.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Remember who you are, Virgo . Your celestial ruler, Mercury, is stationing direct, encouraging you to trust your instincts and integrate the inner work you've done with your actions moving forward.

This retrograde transit may have had you second-guessing yourself or rethinking your approach to relationships and personal projects. Your ability to take a step back and introspect could've also brought you into alignment with your heart's desires.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Gather with your best pals, Libra . Mercury is going direct, bringing movement and momentum to your social life after prioritizing your healing and spending time in solitude.

Under the influence of Mercury retrograde, unresolved issues from the past may have resurfaced, leading you to go within and explore your inner world and unconscious patterns. Retreating and tending to your needs was likely the refresh you never knew you needed.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

You're ready to take the lead with confidence, Scorpio . As Mercury stations direct, you find the courage to make strides in your professional endeavors. You're now confident in your decisions.

Mercury retrograde may have caused delays and confusion regarding your sense of belonging, leading you to rethink your friendships or network affiliations. This lack of certainty may have also contributed to a sense of doubt in your career and social circles.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21)

Honor your newfound sense of direction, Sagittarius . Whether planning a trip or pursuing new ventures outside your comfort zone, Mercury direct gives you the green light to expand and take a leap of faith.

The messenger planet's backspin may have caused delays that left you with no choice but to re-evaluate your long-term goals. If you were contemplating your belief systems or second-guessing yourself in your personal and professional pursuits, you can blame Mercury retrograde.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

The coast is clear, Capricorn . As Mercury stations direct, you find the confidence and courage to commit and explore a joint venture even further, whether merging personally or professionally.

Mercury retrograde may have led you to reconsider your beliefs or knowledge around a particular topic. This could have also resulted in you having to set firm boundaries with a significant other or professional employer, specifically regarding investments and financial decisions.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Embrace authenticity in your connections, Aquarius . Mercury is stationing direct, encouraging you to strengthen your partnerships and make decisions regarding your relationships with confidence.

Mercury retrograde likely brought up financial concerns and intimacy issues, as minor details might have contributed to a lack of mutual understanding or commitment. It could've also created feelings of confusion or a hyper-fixation of the details.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Rework your schedule and make the necessary adjustments, Pisces . Mercury direct, along with your attention to detail, brings improvements to the logistics of your routines and personal affairs.

In addition to experiencing brain fog and an influx of information, Mercury retrograde may have caused misunderstandings that led you to rethink and reassess your commitment to others. This can also explain why you may have felt a lack of stability or structure in your daily life.

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Opinion Guest Essay

The Senator Warning Democrats of a Crisis Unfolding Beneath Their Noses

Credit... Allison Minto for The New York Times

Supported by

By James Pogue

Mr. Pogue, a writer, started talking to Senator Chris Murphy two years ago.

• Aug. 19, 2024

In December 2022, early into what he now describes as his political journey, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut gave a speech warning his fellow Democrats that they were ignoring a crisis staring them in the face.

For over a year, President Biden and his allies had been promoting data showing an economic miracle, as friendly pundits described it — a record-setting stock market, low unemployment and G.D.P. growth outpacing that of almost every other Western nation. But very few voters believed the story those metrics were telling. In poll after poll, they expressed a bleak view of the economy — to the frustration of both Democrats and many economists.

Mr. Murphy thought he knew why. “The challenges America faces aren’t really logistical,” he told the crowd. “They are metaphysical. And the sooner we understand the unspooling of identity and meaning that is happening in America today, the sooner we can come up with practical policies to address this crisis.”

The subject of the speech was what Mr. Murphy called the imminent “fall of American neoliberalism.” This may sound like strange talk from a middle-of-the-road Democratic senator, who up until that point had never seemed to believe that the system that orders our world was on the verge of falling. He campaigned for Hillary Clinton against Bernie Sanders during the 2016 primaries, and his most visible political stance up until then was his work on gun control after the Sandy Hook shooting.

Thoughtful but prone to speaking in talking points, he still comes off more like a polished Connecticut dad than a champion of the disaffected. But Mr. Murphy was then in the full flush of discovering a new way of understanding the state of the nation, and it had set him on a journey that even he has struggled sometimes to describe: to understand how the version of liberalism we’d adopted — defined by its emphasis on free markets, globalization and consumer choice — had begun to feel to many like a dead end and to come up with a new vision for the Democratic Party.

As the Democrats gather for their national convention this week, with Kamala Harris as their candidate for president, the party has a long way to go toward confronting the crisis Mr. Murphy sees.

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A complete guide to writing a reflective essay

(Last updated: 3 June 2024)

Since 2006, Oxbridge Essays has been the UK’s leading paid essay-writing and dissertation service

We have helped 10,000s of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students to maximise their grades in essays, dissertations, model-exam answers, applications and other materials. If you would like a free chat about your project with one of our UK staff, then please just reach out on one of the methods below.

“The overwhelming burden of writing my first ever reflective essay loomed over me as I sat as still as a statue, as my fingers nervously poised over the intimidating buttons on my laptop keyboard. Where would I begin? Where would I end? Nerve wracking thoughts filled my mind as I fretted over the seemingly impossible journey on which I was about to embark.”

Reflective essays may seem simple on the surface, but they can be a real stumbling block if you're not quite sure how to go about them. In simple terms, reflective essays constitute a critical examination of a life experience and, with the right guidance, they're not too challenging to put together. A reflective essay is similar to other essays in that it needs to be easily understood and well structured, but the content is more akin to something personal like a diary entry.

In this guide, we explore in detail how to write a great reflective essay , including what makes a good structure and some advice on the writing process. We’ve even thrown in an example reflective essay to inspire you too, making this the ultimate guide for anyone needing reflective essay help.

Types of Reflection Papers

There are several types of reflective papers, each serving a unique purpose. Educational reflection papers focus on your learning experiences, such as a course or a lecture, and how they have impacted your understanding. Professional reflection papers often relate to work experiences, discussing what you have learned in a professional setting and how it has shaped your skills and perspectives. Personal reflection papers delve into personal experiences and their influence on your personal growth and development.

Each of these requires a slightly different approach, but all aim to provide insight into your thoughts and experiences, demonstrating your ability to analyse and learn from them. Understanding the specific requirements of each type can help you tailor your writing to effectively convey your reflections.

Reflective Essay Format

In a reflective essay, a writer primarily examines his or her life experiences, hence the term ‘reflective’. The purpose of writing a reflective essay is to provide a platform for the author to not only recount a particular life experience, but to also explore how he or she has changed or learned from those experiences. Reflective writing can be presented in various formats, but you’ll most often see it in a learning log format or diary entry. Diary entries in particular are used to convey how the author’s thoughts have developed and evolved over the course of a particular period.

The format of a reflective essay may change depending on the target audience. Reflective essays can be academic, or may feature more broadly as a part of a general piece of writing for a magazine, for instance. For class assignments, while the presentation format can vary, the purpose generally remains the same: tutors aim to inspire students to think deeply and critically about a particular learning experience or set of experiences. Here are some typical examples of reflective essay formats that you may have to write:

A focus on personal growth:

A type of reflective essay often used by tutors as a strategy for helping students to learn how to analyse their personal life experiences to promote emotional growth and development. The essay gives the student a better understanding of both themselves and their behaviours.

A focus on the literature:

This kind of essay requires students to provide a summary of the literature, after which it is applied to the student’s own life experiences.

Pre-Writing Tips: How to Start Writing the Reflection Essay?

As you go about deciding on the content of your essay, you need to keep in mind that a reflective essay is highly personal and aimed at engaging the reader or target audience. And there’s much more to a reflective essay than just recounting a story. You need to be able to reflect (more on this later) on your experience by showing how it influenced your subsequent behaviours and how your life has been particularly changed as a result.

As a starting point, you might want to think about some important experiences in your life that have really impacted you, either positively, negatively, or both. Some typical reflection essay topics include: a real-life experience, an imagined experience, a special object or place, a person who had an influence on you, or something you have watched or read. If you are writing a reflective essay as part of an academic exercise, chances are your tutor will ask you to focus on a particular episode – such as a time when you had to make an important decision – and reflect on what the outcomes were. Note also, that the aftermath of the experience is especially important in a reflective essay; miss this out and you will simply be storytelling.

What Do You Mean By Reflection Essay?

It sounds obvious, but the reflective process forms the core of writing this type of essay, so it’s important you get it right from the outset. You need to really think about how the personal experience you have chosen to focus on impacted or changed you. Use your memories and feelings of the experience to determine the implications for you on a personal level.

Once you’ve chosen the topic of your essay, it’s really important you study it thoroughly and spend a lot of time trying to think about it vividly. Write down everything you can remember about it, describing it as clearly and fully as you can. Keep your five senses in mind as you do this, and be sure to use adjectives to describe your experience. At this stage, you can simply make notes using short phrases, but you need to ensure that you’re recording your responses, perceptions, and your experience of the event(s).

Once you’ve successfully emptied the contents of your memory, you need to start reflecting. A great way to do this is to pick out some reflection questions which will help you think deeper about the impact and lasting effects of your experience. Here are some useful questions that you can consider:

• What have you learned about yourself as a result of the experience?
• Have you developed because of it? How?
• Did it have any positive or negative bearing on your life?
• Looking back, what would you have done differently?
• Why do you think you made the particular choices that you did? Do you think these were the right choices?
• What are your thoughts on the experience in general? Was it a useful learning experience? What specific skills or perspectives did you acquire as a result?

These signpost questions should help kick-start your reflective process. Remember, asking yourself lots of questions is key to ensuring that you think deeply and critically about your experiences – a skill that is at the heart of writing a great reflective essay.

Consider using models of reflection (like the Gibbs or Kolb cycles) before, during, and after the learning process to ensure that you maintain a high standard of analysis. For example, before you really get stuck into the process, consider questions such as: what might happen (regarding the experience)? Are there any possible challenges to keep in mind? What knowledge is needed to be best prepared to approach the experience? Then, as you’re planning and writing, these questions may be useful: what is happening within the learning process? Is the process working out as expected? Am I dealing with the accompanying challenges successfully? Is there anything that needs to be done additionally to ensure that the learning process is successful? What am I learning from this? By adopting such a framework, you’ll be ensuring that you are keeping tabs on the reflective process that should underpin your work.

How to Strategically Plan Out the Reflective Essay Structure?

Here’s a very useful tip: although you may feel well prepared with all that time spent reflecting in your arsenal, do not, start writing your essay until you have worked out a comprehensive, well-rounded plan . Your writing will be so much more coherent, your ideas conveyed with structure and clarity, and your essay will likely achieve higher marks.

This is an especially important step when you’re tackling a reflective essay – there can be a tendency for people to get a little ‘lost’ or disorganised as they recount their life experiences in an erratic and often unsystematic manner as it is a topic so close to their hearts. But if you develop a thorough outline (this is the same as a ‘plan’) and ensure you stick to it like Christopher Columbus to a map, you should do just fine as you embark on the ultimate step of writing your essay. If you need further convincing on how important planning is, we’ve summarised the key benefits of creating a detailed essay outline below:

Now you’re familiar with the benefits of using an outline for your reflective essay, it is essential that you know how to craft one. It can be considerably different from other typical essay outlines, mostly because of the varying subjects. But what remains the same, is that you need to start your outline by drafting the introduction, body and conclusion. More on this below.

Introduction

As is the case with all essays, your reflective essay must begin within an introduction that contains both a hook and a thesis statement. The point of having a ‘hook’ is to grab the attention of your audience or reader from the very beginning. You must portray the exciting aspects of your story in the initial paragraph so that you stand the best chances of holding your reader’s interest. Refer back to the opening quote of this article – did it grab your attention and encourage you to read more? The thesis statement is a brief summary of the focus of the essay, which in this case is a particular experience that influenced you significantly. Remember to give a quick overview of your experience – don’t give too much information away or you risk your reader becoming disinterested.

Next up is planning the body of your essay. This can be the hardest part of the entire paper; it’s easy to waffle and repeat yourself both in the plan and in the actual writing. Have you ever tried recounting a story to a friend only for them to tell you to ‘cut the long story short’? They key here is to put plenty of time and effort into planning the body, and you can draw on the following tips to help you do this well:

Try adopting a chronological approach. This means working through everything you want to touch upon as it happened in time. This kind of approach will ensure that your work is systematic and coherent. Keep in mind that a reflective essay doesn’t necessarily have to be linear, but working chronologically will prevent you from providing a haphazard recollection of your experience. Lay out the important elements of your experience in a timeline – this will then help you clearly see how to piece your narrative together.

Ensure the body of your reflective essay is well focused and contains appropriate critique and reflection. The body should not only summarise your experience, it should explore the impact that the experience has had on your life, as well as the lessons that you have learned as a result. The emphasis should generally be on reflection as opposed to summation. A reflective posture will not only provide readers with insight on your experience, it’ll highlight your personality and your ability to deal with or adapt to particular situations.

In the conclusion of your reflective essay, you should focus on bringing your piece together by providing a summary of both the points made throughout, and what you have learned as a result. Try to include a few points on why and how your attitudes and behaviours have been changed. Consider also how your character and skills have been affected, for example: what conclusions can be drawn about your problem-solving skills? What can be concluded about your approach to specific situations? What might you do differently in similar situations in the future? What steps have you taken to consolidate everything that you have learned from your experience? Keep in mind that your tutor will be looking out for evidence of reflection at a very high standard.

Congratulations – you now have the tools to create a thorough and accurate plan which should put you in good stead for the ultimate phase indeed of any essay, the writing process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Reflective Essay

As with all written assignments, sitting down to put pen to paper (or more likely fingers to keyboard) can be daunting. But if you have put in the time and effort fleshing out a thorough plan, you should be well prepared, which will make the writing process as smooth as possible. The following points should also help ease the writing process:

• To get a feel for the tone and format in which your writing should be, read other typically reflective pieces in magazines and newspapers, for instance.
• Don’t think too much about how to start your first sentence or paragraph; just start writing and you can always come back later to edit anything you’re not keen on. Your first draft won’t necessarily be your best essay writing work but it’s important to remember that the earlier you start writing, the more time you will have to keep reworking your paper until it’s perfect. Don’t shy away from using a free-flow method, writing and recording your thoughts and feelings on your experiences as and when they come to mind. But make sure you stick to your plan. Your plan is your roadmap which will ensure your writing doesn’t meander too far off course.
• For every point you make about an experience or event, support it by describing how you were directly impacted, using specific as opposed to vague words to convey exactly how you felt.
• Write using the first-person narrative, ensuring that the tone of your essay is very personal and reflective of your character.
• If you need to, refer back to our notes earlier on creating an outline. As you work through your essay, present your thoughts systematically, remembering to focus on your key learning outcomes.
• Consider starting your introduction with a short anecdote or quote to grasp your readers’ attention, or other engaging techniques such as flashbacks.
• Choose your vocabulary carefully to properly convey your feelings and emotions. Remember that reflective writing has a descriptive component and so must have a wide range of adjectives to draw from. Avoid vague adjectives such as ‘okay’ or ‘nice’ as they don’t really offer much insight into your feelings and personality. Be more specific – this will make your writing more engaging.
• Be honest with your feelings and opinions. Remember that this is a reflective task, and is the one place you can freely admit – without any repercussions – that you failed at a particular task. When assessing your essay, your tutor will expect a deep level of reflection, not a simple review of your experiences and emotion. Showing deep reflection requires you to move beyond the descriptive. Be extremely critical about your experience and your response to it. In your evaluation and analysis, ensure that you make value judgements, incorporating ideas from outside the experience you had to guide your analysis. Remember that you can be honest about your feelings without writing in a direct way. Use words that work for you and are aligned with your personality.
• Once you’ve finished learning about and reflecting on your experience, consider asking yourself these questions: what did I particularly value from the experience and why? Looking back, how successful has the process been? Think about your opinions immediately after the experience and how they differ now, so that you can evaluate the difference between your immediate and current perceptions. Asking yourself such questions will help you achieve reflective writing effectively and efficiently.
• Don’t shy away from using a variety of punctuation. It helps keeps your writing dynamic! Doesn’t it?
• If you really want to awaken your reader’s imagination, you can use imagery to create a vivid picture of your experiences.
• Ensure that you highlight your turning point, or what we like to call your “Aha!” moment. Without this moment, your resulting feelings and thoughts aren’t as valid and your argument not as strong.
• Don’t forget to keep reiterating the lessons you have learned from your experience.

Bonus Tip - Using Wider Sources

Although a reflective piece of writing is focused on personal experience, it’s important you draw on other sources to demonstrate your understanding of your experience from a theoretical perspective. It’ll show a level of analysis – and a standard of reliability in what you’re claiming – if you’re also able to validate your work against other perspectives that you find. Think about possible sources, like newspapers, surveys, books and even journal articles. Generally, the additional sources you decide to include in your work are highly dependent on your field of study. Analysing a wide range of sources, will show that you have read widely on your subject area, that you have nuanced insight into the available literature on the subject of your essay, and that you have considered the broader implications of the literature for your essay. The incorporation of other sources into your essay also helps to show that you are aware of the multi-dimensional nature of both the learning and problem-solving process.

Reflective Essay Example

If you want some inspiration for writing, take a look at our example of a short reflective essay , which can serve as a useful starting point for you when you set out to write your own.

Some Final Notes to Remember

To recap, the key to writing a reflective essay is demonstrating what lessons you have taken away from your experiences, and why and how you have been shaped by these lessons.

The reflective thinking process begins with you – you must consciously make an effort to identify and examine your own thoughts in relation to a particular experience. Don’t hesitate to explore any prior knowledge or experience of the topic, which will help you identify why you have formed certain opinions on the subject. Remember that central to reflective essay writing is the examination of your attitudes, assumptions and values, so be upfront about how you feel. Reflective writing can be quite therapeutic, helping you identify and clarify your strengths and weaknesses, particularly in terms of any knowledge gaps that you may have. It’s a pretty good way of improving your critical thinking skills, too. It enables you to adopt an introspective posture in analysing your experiences and how you learn/make sense of them.

If you are still having difficulties with starting the writing process, why not try mind-mapping which will help you to structure your thinking and ideas, enabling you to produce a coherent piece. Creating a mind map will ensure that your argument is written in a very systematic way that will be easy for your tutor to follow. Here’s a recap of the contents of this article, which also serves as a way to create a mind map:

1. Identify the topic you will be writing on.

2. Note down any ideas that are related to the topic and if you want to, try drawing a diagram to link together any topics, theories, and ideas.

3. Allow your ideas to flow freely, knowing that you will always have time to edit your reflective essay .

4. Consider how your ideas are connected to each other, then begin the writing process.

And finally, keep in mind that although there are descriptive elements in a reflective essay, we can’t emphasise enough how crucial it is that your work is critical, analytical, and adopts a reflective posture in terms of your experience and the lessons you have learned from it.

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Ultimate Guide to Writing a Reflective Essay

Carla johnson.

• June 14, 2023
• How to Guides

Writing about yourself is a powerful way to learn and grow as a person. It is a type of writing that makes you think about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences and how they have affected your personal and professional growth. A reflective essay is a type of writing that lets you talk about your own experiences, thoughts, and insights. In this article , we’ll tell you everything you need to know about writing a reflective essay, from how to define it and figure out what it’s for to how to do it well.

What You'll Learn

Definition of a Reflective Essay

A reflective essay is a type of writing in which you write about your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is a type of personal writing that lets you talk about your own thoughts and experiences and share them with other people. Students are often asked to write reflective essays for school, but they can also be used for personal or professional growth.

Purpose of a Reflective Essay

The goal of a reflective essay is to get you to think about your life and how it has affected your personal and professional growth. Reflective essays can help you learn more about yourself and your experiences, as well as find places where you can grow and improve. They can also help you get better at writing and better at getting your ideas across.

Importance of Reflective Writing

Writing about yourself and your work is an important way to grow personally and professionally. It can help you learn more about yourself, figure out where you need to grow and change, and learn more about how you think and feel. Writing about yourself can also help you get better at critical thinking and analysis , and it can help you get your ideas across better. It is a useful tool for anyone who wants to grow personally and professionally, and it can be used in many different situations, from academic writing to keeping a personal journal.

Writing about yourself and your work is a powerful way to grow personally and professionally. Reflective essays give you a chance to think about your own life and how it has affected your personal and professional growth. By writing about your thoughts and feelings, you can learn more about them, find ways to grow and improve, and improve your writing and communication skills . In the next parts of this article, we’ll show you how to write a good reflective essay step by step, from choosing a topic and organizing your thoughts to writing and revising your essay.

Elements of a Reflective Essay

A reflective essay is a type of writing that allows you to reflect on your personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings. There are several essential elements that should be included in a reflective essay to ensure that it is effective in conveying your personal reflections and experiences.

Personal Reflection

The first essential element of a reflective essay is personal reflection. This involves exploring your own thoughts and feelings about the experience you are reflecting on. It is important to be honest and open about your thoughts and feelings, as this will make your essay more authentic and meaningful.

Description of the Experience

The second element of a reflective essay is a description of the experience that you are reflecting on. This includes providing details about the experience, such as where it took place, who was involved, and what happened. The description should be clear and concise, and should provide enough detail for the reader to understand the context of your reflection.

Analysis of the Experience

The third element of a reflective essay is analysis of the experience. This involves exploring the experience in more depth, and examining your thoughts and feelings about it. You should consider what you learned from the experience, and how it impacted your personal and professional growth .

Evaluation of the Experience

The fourth element of a reflective essay is evaluation of the experience. This involves examining the experience from different perspectives, and considering its strengths and weaknesses. You should reflect on what you would do differently if you were in the same situation again, and how you could improve your response or approach.

Identification of Key Learning

The fifth element of a reflective essay is identifying the key learning that you gained from the experience. This involves reflecting on the insights and lessons that you learned from the experience, and how these have impacted your personal and professional growth. This can include new skills, knowledge, or perspectives that you gained from the experience.

Planning for Future Action

The final element of a reflective essay is planning for future action. This involves considering how you can apply the lessons and insights gained from the experience to improve your future actions. You should reflect on how you can use what you learned to approach similar situations differently in the future.

How to Write a Reflective Essay

Writing a reflective essay can be a challenging task, but by following a few simple steps, you can write an effective and meaningful essay .

Steps for Writing a Reflective Essay:

1. Brainstorming and Selecting a Topic

Begin by brainstorming and selecting a topic for your reflective essay. Think about a personal experience or event that had a significant impact on your personal or professional growth.

2. Creating an Outline

Create an outline for your essay . This should include an introduction, body, and conclusion, as well as sections for each of the essential elements described above.

3. Writing the Introduction

Write the introduction for your essay . This should include a brief overview of the experience that you will be reflecting on, as well as the purpose and focus of your essay.

4. Writing the Body

Write the body of your essay, which should include the personal reflection, description of the experience, analysis of the experience, evaluation of the experience, identification of key learning, and planning for future action . Make sure to use specific examples and details to support your reflection.

5. Writing the Conclusion

Write the conclusion for your essay , which should summarize the key points of your reflection and provide closure for the reader. You can also include a final reflection on the experience and what it means to you.

6. Revising and Editing

Pay close attention to grammar, spelling, and sentence structure as you reread and edit your essay . Make sure your essay is easy to read and flows well. You might also want someone else to look over your essay and give you feedback and ideas.

If you follow these steps, you should be able to write a good reflective essay. Remember to be honest and open about your thoughts and feelings, and to support your reflection with specific examples and details. You can become a good reflective writer with practice , and you can use this skill to help your personal and professional growth.

Reflective Essay Topics

Reflective essays can be written on a wide range of topics, as they are based on personal experiences and reflections. Here are some common categories of reflective essay topics:

Personal Experiences

– A time when you overcame a personal challenge

– A difficult decision you had to make

– A significant event in your life that changed you

– A moment when you learned an important lesson

– A relationship that had a significant impact on you

Professional Experiences

– A challenging project or assignment at work

– A significant accomplishment or success in your career

– A time when you had to deal with a difficult colleague or boss

– A failure or setback in your career and what you learned from it

– A career change or transition that had a significant impact on you

Academic Experiences

– A challenging course or assignment in school

– A significant accomplishment or success in your academic career

– A time when you struggled with a particular subject or topic and how you overcame it

– A research project or paper that had a significant impact on you

– A teacher or mentor who had a significant impact on your academic career

Cultural Experiences

– A significant trip or travel experience

– A significant cultural event or celebration you participated in

– A time when you experienced culture shock

– A significant interaction with someone from a different culture

– A time when you learned something new about a different culture and how it impacted you

Social Issues

– A personal experience with discrimination or prejudice

– A time when you volunteered or worked for a social cause or organization

– A significant event or moment related to a social issue (e.g. protest, rally, community event)

– A time when you had to confront your own biases or privilege

– A social issue that you are passionate about and how it has impacted you personally

Reflective Essay Examples

Example 1: Reflecting on a Personal Challenge

In this reflective essay, the writer reflects on a personal challenge they faced and how they overcame it. They explore their thoughts, feelings, and actions during this time, and reflect on the lessons they learned from the experience.

Example 2: Reflecting on a Professional Experience

In this reflective essay, the writer reflects on a challenging project they worked on at work and how they overcame obstacles to successfully complete it. They explore their thoughts and feelings about the experience and reflect on the skills and knowledge they gained from it.

Example 3: Reflecting on an Academic Assignment

In this reflective essay, the writer reflects on a challenging academic assignment they completed and how they overcame difficulties to successfully complete it. They explore their thoughts and feelings about the experience and reflect on the skills and knowledge they gained from it.

Example 4: Reflecting on a Cultural Experience

In this reflective essay, the writer reflects on a significant cultural experience they had, such as traveling to a new country or participating in a cultural event. Theyexplore their thoughts and feelings about the experience, reflect on what they learned about the culture, and how it impacted them personally.

Example 5: Reflecting on a Social Issue

In this reflective essay, the writer reflects on their personal experiences with discrimination or prejudice and how it impacted them. They explore their thoughts and feelings about the experience, reflect on what they learned about themselves and the issue, and how they can take action to address it.

These examples demonstrate how reflective essays can be used to explore a wide range of personal experiences and reflections. By exploring your own thoughts and feelings about an experience, you can gain insights into your personal and professional growth and identify areas for further development . Reflective writing is a powerful tool for self-reflection and personal growth, and it can be used in many different contexts to help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.

Reflective Essay Outline

A reflective essay should follow a basic outline that includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. Here is a breakdown of each section:

Introduction: The introduction should provide an overview of the experience you will be reflecting on and a preview of the key points you will be discussing in your essay .

Body: The body of the essay should include several paragraphs that explore your personal reflection, description of the experience, analysis of the experience, evaluation of the experience, identification of key learning, and planning for future action.

Conclusion: The conclusion should summarize the key points of your reflection and provide closure for the reader.

Reflective Essay Thesis

A reflective essay thesis is a statement that summarizes the main points of your essay and provides a clear focus for your writing. A strong thesis statement is essential for a successful reflective essay, as it helps to guide your writing and ensure that your essay is focused and coherent.

Importance of a Strong Thesis Statement

A strong thesis statement is important for several reasons. First, it provides a clear focus for your writing, which helps to ensure that your essay is coherent and well-organized. Second, it helps to guide your writing and ensure that you stay on topic throughout your essay . Finally, it helps to engage your reader and provide them with a clear understanding of what your essay is about.

Tips for Writing a Thesis Statement

To write a strong thesis statement for your reflective essay, follow these tips:

– Be clear and concise: Yourthesis statement should clearly state the main focus and purpose of your essay in a concise manner.

– Use specific language: Use specific language to describe the experience you will be reflecting on and the key points you will be discussing in your essay .

– Make it arguable: A strong thesis statement should be arguable and provide some insight or perspective on the experience you are reflecting on.

– Reflect on the significance: Reflect on the significance of the experience you are reflecting on and why it is important to you.

Reflective Essay Structure

The structure of a reflective essay is important for ensuring that your essay is well-organized and easy to read. A clear structure helps to guide the reader through your thoughts and reflections, and it makes it easier for them to understand your main points.

The Importance of a Clear Structure

A clear structure is important for several reasons. First, it helps to ensure that your essay is well-organized and easy to read. Second, it helps to guide your writing and ensure that you stay on topic throughout your essay. Finally, it helps to engage your reader and provide them with a clear understanding of the key points you are making.

Tips for Structuring a Reflective Essay

To structure your reflective essay effectively, follow these tips:

– Start with an introduction that provides an overview of the experience you are reflecting on and a preview of the key points you will be discussing in your essay .

– Use body paragraphs to explore your personal reflection, description of the experience, analysisof the experience, evaluation of the experience, identification of key learning, and planning for future action. Ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus and supports your thesis statement .

– Use transition words and phrases to connect your paragraphs and make your essay flow smoothly.

– End your essay with a conclusion that summarizes the key points of your reflection and provides closure for the reader.

– Consider using subheadings to organize your essay and make it more structured and easy to read.

By following these tips, you can create a clear and well-structured reflective essay that effectively communicates your personal experiences and reflections. Remember to use specific examples and details to support your reflection, and to keep your focus on the main topic and thesis statement of your essay .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. what is a reflective essay.

A reflective essay is a type of writing that allows you to reflect on your personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings. It involves exploring your own thoughts and feelings about an experience, and reflecting on what you learned from it.

2. What are the elements of a reflective essay?

The essential elements of a reflective essay include personal reflection, description of the experience, analysis of the experience, evaluation of the experience, identification of key learning, and planning for future action.

3. How do I choose a topic for a reflective essay?

To choose a topic for a reflective essay, think about a personal experience or event that had a significant impact on your personal or professional growth. You may also consider professional experiences, academic experiences, cultural experiences, or social issues that have impacted you personally.

Reflective writing is a powerful tool for personal and professional development. By exploring your own thoughts and feelings about an experience, you can gain insights into your personal and professional growth and identify areas for further development. To write an effective reflective essay, it is important to follow a clear structure, use specific examples and details to support your reflection, and stay focused on the main topic and thesis statement of your essay . By following these tips and guidelines, you can become a skilled reflective writer and use this tool to improve your personal and professional growth.

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Reflective Essay Guide

Writing Reflective Essay

Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023

A Step by Step Guide to Writing a Reflective Essay

By: John K.

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: May 11, 2021

If you have been assigned the task of writing a reflective essay, it will be an excellent opportunity to polish your creativity and writing skills.

A reflective essay is slightly different from other essays as it requires a personal point of view of a chosen subject. Thus, you need to analyze a particular subject with your personal experience, understanding, and knowledge.

The only key to write a reflective paper is that you need to be more expressive. The more expressive you are, the merrier it will be for your essay. Feel free to talk about life experiences that are valid to your topic. Writing your reflections can actually be a strength in this kind of essay.

If this sounds like something that interests or concerns you, then keep reading! This blog contains every detail necessary to produce an impressive reflective essay.

On this Page

What Is a Reflective Essay?

A reflective essay describes an experience or event and analyzes the meaning of that particular experience and the lessons it delivers. One thing that makes it a reflective essay is that the writer analyzes an event of the past from the present.

When writing a reflective essay, you are required to open up about your emotions and thoughts to paint a clear picture of your personality, history, and individual traits.

It is required that you include a description and a vivid summary of the experience; it will make the reader feel that he has experienced it as well. Moreover, you need to explain your reactions, thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

A good reflective paper should be creative, insightful, and authentic. It needs to express your opinions on a specific topic interestingly so that the reader wants to follow what you're saying without getting bored or leaving it before reading.

Reflective Essay Format

REFLECTIVE ESSAY FORMAT AND TEMPLATE

How to Start a Reflective Essay?

Writing a great reflective essay is a chance to polish your skills of writing and enhance your creativity. However, sometimes, it gets difficult and confusing to write it. There are many high schools as well as college students who get confused thinking where to start.

So, we have compiled some steps that will help you to write a perfect essay.

Let’s discuss them in detail.

1. Choose Your Topic Carefully

If you are given the freedom to choose a topic and don’t have any idea regarding it, the best way is to brainstorm and research some trending and good topic ideas. Unfortunately, a common mistake when writing a reflective essay is to choose a topic that is too broad or too narrow.

2. Research About Your Subject

Make sure you do thorough research on your topic first. Close your eyes and start imagining or remembering. Then, watch, listen, and read the information regarding your topic.

3. Brainstorm

Before you even start writing, brainstorm your ideas first. It is always a wise step to take before writing anything.

4. Choose Reflection Questions

Take a look at the questions below to get a better idea:

• What did I notice?
• What do I feel about it?
• Why am I feeling this way?

5. Answer the Questions You Have Chosen

After selecting your questions, you need to give their answers. Start from one essay question; make sure you answer it properly. After that, head on to the next one.

6. Recognize Your Experience Meaning

Before you even start writing, you need to choose the most significant lesson you have learned from your experience. This “most significant lesson or thing” is going to be the thesis of your essay.

7. Follow the Structure

Like all the other essays, the reflective essay also has the same format, which comprises the introduction, body, and conclusion paragraph.

Therefore, follow these steps and makes your essay writing process easy.

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How to Write a Reflective Essay?

Here are some steps that you should follow when you start writing your reflective paper.

1. Write the Introduction

To understand and know how to start a reflective essay introduction, you must first understand that an introduction is a piece of brief information about the main topic and its background.

In the reflective essay introduction, you will recognize the subject and provide the reader with an overview of the impression you have taken from it. Therefore, the introductory paragraph of your reflective essay needs to include a thesis statement that will act as a focal point of your paper.

2. Body Paragraphs

The first body paragraph should mention the impactful impression your subject has made on you. Then, provide relevant facts to support your thesis statement.

Moreover, the body of your essay will also describe most of the ideas you touched on in your introduction.

3. Write a Conclusion

Restate your thesis statement and summarize all the reasons you have mentioned in the essay’s body paragraphs. After that, sum up your essay with your final thoughts on the subject; close your essay with some reflective thoughts.

4. Proofread and Edit

Never submit your essay without editing or proofreading. Even though you have spent hours of effort and put a lot of hard work in doing your essay, your essay will have no worth if you haven’t proofread and edited it.

Here is the reflective essay outline sample for your ease.

Reflective Essay Outline

REFLECTIVE ESSAY OUTLINE

Reflective Essay Examples

We have compiled some perfect reflective essay examples below to help you get started on your paper.

Personal Reflective Essay Examples

PERSONAL REFLECTIVE ESSAY EXAMPLES

ENGLISH REFLECTIVE ESSAY EXAMPLES

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Reflective Essay Topics

Check out these reflective essay ideas on the most common subjects you can write about:

• Something from your imagination
• Something you have experienced in real
• A special object
• Something you have seen, heard, read, watched, touched, or smelled.

We are sure these subjects must have sparked your imagination, but here are a few essay topics that will help you get the bigger picture. In addition, these topics will help you understand the kind of topics teachers like to assign.

• The desert, mountains, countryside, or beach
• A special room or hideaway
• The house you grew up
• Home of some relative
• A person that taught me how to improve reflective writing skills
• New Experiences
• When your piece of writing published
• Important conversation
• The older man line of thought
• The time you overcame your fears

A list of topics will help you get a picture of what good ideas are like and how to come up with one of your own.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a reflective essay.

The reflective essay should be between 300 and 500 words. However, it will vary according to the chosen topic.

What is the purpose of a reflective essay?

A reflective essay is a great opportunity for the author to explore what has happened in their life and show how this specific event may have changed them.

PhD Essay, Literature

John K. is a professional writer and author with many publications to his name. He has a Ph.D. in the field of management sciences, making him an expert on the subject matter. John is highly sought after for his insights and knowledge, and he regularly delivers keynote speeches and conducts workshops on various topics related to writing and publishing. He is also a regular contributor to various online publications.

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Reflective Essay: Examples and Other Guidelines

• Icon Calendar 29 July 2024
• Icon Page 6355 words
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This article is a guideline on how to write a good reflective essay, addressing key areas students should pay attention to when their lecturers give them assignments to produce such papers. Basically, a reflective essay examines a writer’s experience in life. People explore how their involvement changed or developed their characters and gather accurate details to support a main argument. In this case, each topic is essential because it teaches readers most important details that should guide their writing, from choosing a topic, following a correct outline, and going through each technical step to produce a quality document. Reading this guideline gives writers critical insights on writing an outstanding reflective essay, guaranteeing they can create a high-quality paper under any context. Although this article focuses on students as a primary audience, anyone needs to understand that an effective reflective essay should have a proper introduction, a compelling body, and a conclusion that brings an appropriate closure and applies a particular knowledge to be an expert, thoughtful essay writer.

General Aspects

When lecturers give students writing reflection papers, they aim to develop intellectuals. A particular writing process of different types of papers demands learners to utilize their academic training to produce knowledge others can consume for enlightenment. As such, various types of essays are central to providing college students with a platform for their reflection papers, constructing their intellectual personas, and influencing others. Reading this guideline helps students and anyone interested in writing to gain insights into essential requirements when organizing essays. Specifically, this article provides a guideline for writing a reflective essay by addressing key aspects that authors of reflection papers need to know and some prompts they can choose to produce a high-quality scholarly document.

What Is a Reflective Essay and Its Purpose

According to its definition, a reflective essay is a type of writing whose primary focus is a writer’s self-reflection on his or her experiences, thoughts, feelings, or other personal topics. Ideally, students writing such a composition must use their creative thinking skills to examine an experience or an issue and clearly state what it means to them without relying on others’ inputs (Bassot, 2023). Therefore, the main purpose of writing a reflective essay is to present a writer’s own perspective on a specific issue, analyze and evaluate their life events, understand how these experiences have influenced them, and articulate their learning and personal growth. On the other hand, college professors assign their students tasks to write these essays because they understand that applying knowledge is the most effective strategy, meaning to entrench knowledge (Williams et al., 2020). Self-reflection on an experience or topic means a unique way in which students apply what they have learned and create new knowledge through creative thinking. However, a reflective composition is not similar to argumentative, analytical, cause and effect, and expository essays, or typical research papers because, while writing about personal aspects allows students to use their own knowledge and experience, other papers have different purposes and requirements. In terms of pages and words, the length of a reflective essay depends on academic levels, specific assignment instructions, course contents, or instructor’s preferences, while general guidelines are:

High School

• Length: 1-2 pages
• Words: 250-500 words
• Length: 2-3 pages
• Words: 500-750 words

University (Undergraduate)

• Length: 3-5 pages
• Words: 750-1,250 words

Master’s

• Length: 5-6 pages
• Words: 1,250-1,500 words
• Length: 6-10 pages
• Words: 1,500-2,500 words

Reflective essays take different forms because limiting what students can reflect on is impossible. Typically, English professors require students to write thoughtful texts about what they have read or studied in class and their experience on something personal as their reflection (Cogni, 2019). A particular reason behind such expectations is that human beings have an imaginative ability to judge events that occur in diverse contexts. Everyone learns something from experiences that shape their existence. Hence, when writing a reflective essay, students must first understand its purpose because it forms a valid foundation for their focus.

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Reflection on an Assigned Reading

College students read various texts in any semester, including assigned textbooks, articles, research papers, essays, reflections, commentaries, and opinions. These documents have one similarity in common since they all address topics lecturers consider important to learners’ intellectual development (Christensen & Wärnsby, 2023). Moreover, to write a reflection paragraph, people describe a specific experience, analyze their thoughts and feelings about it, and discuss crucial insights or lessons learned. In this respect, it is common for students to receive paper assignments requiring them to write a reflective paper on an article, poem, play, novel, or research topic. While professors often specify essay topics, students may encounter scenarios where they must construct sentences themselves. The most important thing they must consider when organizing reflection papers properly is that they must reflect a specific text a tutor prescribes.

Articles are texts commonly found online where writers pick an issue of concern to society or a specific community and discuss it from various perspectives as a reflection. For example, authors of articles posted in the New York Times journal may write about how social policies of the New York state government have contributed to homelessness (Williams et al., 2020). Some authors may claim that these policies have resulted in high rental prices, forcing many individuals and families to seek alternative accommodation, including living with relatives and in homeless shelters. A lecturer may require students to write a reflective essay on such articles. In turn, one must read an online article to understand author’s perspectives in such an instance. As a result, students must reflect on how these viewpoints apply to them, people they know, and society. Their reflection paper writing should underscore an article’s significance.

Poems are texts that paint a picture of society through words. Like art, they address many societal issues, such as leadership, love, family, morality, and tragedy. However, unlike most texts, poems are complex since their language requires readers to engage in critical thinking and reflection (Bassot, 2023). Like an artist hides a message in a mural, a poet uses words to communicate deep insights. As such, lecturers often require students to read poems and write reflective papers. In such a scenario, students should read poems through their creative thinking lens and pick critical insights they can expound on. However, their exposition and reflection should be based on what they think and not what others say.

Literature Play

Like poems, literature plays serve a particular purpose of communicating ideas with a profound message or hidden meaning. It is common for college students to read plays as part of course content and write reflection papers (Cogni, 2019). As such, reflecting on such literature plays helps learners to apply knowledge to specific contexts. Therefore, when writing a reflective essay on a poem, students should read assigned plays to understand the information or knowledge an author intends to convey. The next step is to write a reflective paper that allows them to self-reflect by explaining how a profound message or hidden meaning applies to real life.

Unlike plays and poems, novels are long texts to analyze and write about. Nonetheless, they are similar to an extent they address issues common in society. Most novelists use their creative imagination and reflection to communicate social problems through texts (Taylor, 2023). Therefore, reading novels across generations is the best way to know how modern society reflects human civilization. With this understanding, English professors often require students to read novels and write reflective essays for their final semester assessment. In such a context, students should read an assigned novel and interact with other materials about this work, such as commentaries and reviews by different authors. However, these texts should only help students to better understand a specific novel rather than form part of a reflective essay.

Research Topic

It is common for college students to read research topics as part of their academic work. Almost all disciplines have issues that attract a particular attention of researchers. However, social sciences tend to have a highest level of attention and reflection because they are about a social world. One approach through which lecturers in social sciences develop students into intellectuals requires them to analyze different research topics and produce a reflection paper (Williams et al., 2020). If students receive such writing instructions, they should read an assigned study to understand critical points. Because researchers tend to be broad in assessing issues, writers should narrow their focus by picking a problem they think has a greatest significance to them or an aspect of their academic or social environment.

Reflection on an Experience

The most effective way of helping students to gain a deeper understanding of concepts, thoughts, and ideas is to require them to apply what they have learned to their personal lives as their reflection. In this case, a typical format of a reflective essay includes an introduction with a thesis, a body that describes a specific experience and analyzes its impact, and a conclusion that summarizes key insights and reflections (Bassot, 2023). Like everyone else, learners have personal life situations that enrich their existence despite their impact. In other words, a unique episode may have been pleasant or unpleasant. In turn, people can always get a moral lesson if they view it through optimism. Lecturers often require students to write reflective essays on personal aspects, including a life event, work experience, peer relation, domestic experience, and a hobby.

It is natural for everyone to experience a life event that leaves a lasting impact on them and close relations, including parents, siblings, friends, and even neighbors. Basically, a reflection paper consists of a description of a specific personal experience, an analysis of its impact, and key insights or lessons learned from it (Bassot, 2023). Examples of these events include a near-death episode, such as an automobile accident, a chronic disease, or a personal loss, such as losing a parent. While these events are unique, they can trigger people’s creative imagination and reflection if they are discussing such topics. Lecturers understand this truth, and they give their learners assignments to write reflective essays about personal experiences. When students receive such instructions, they should use their imagination and reflection to link what they have learned with what happened to them in their past that remains significant today. Doing so gives a reflection essay a scholarly characteristic, allowing it to be an academic text others can consume.

Work Experience

Working is an activity no one can avoid from adolescence. While students may not be employable because they have yet to complete their education, employers give them opportunities to gain practical work situation along their academic journey. Work attachments are integral to a college education because they allow students to experience a particular work environment before graduation (Christensen & Wärnsby, 2023). Moreover, some students come from families with established businesses, while others seek employment during holidays to fund their education. This reality explains why professors ask learners to write reflective essays about a work experience. Under such an instruction, students should recall and talk about an incident in a work environment with a lasting impact as their reflection.

Peer Relation

Peer relations are rich sources of personal experiences for college students. As social beings, adolescents develop friendships with their peers in diverse environments, including schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. For example, a significant peer relationship reflection can be romantic or friendly (Williams et al., 2020). Almost every college student has experienced a romantic encounter that left them with lasting memories. Professors can ask their audience to write a reflective essay on a romantic relationship and how it generally shapes their view of life. In such a reflection paper, writers should include how the relationship challenged their perceptions or entrenched ideals, like commitment and honesty. In turn, people can focus on friendship and how it changed their lives. Essentially, a written text should focus on specific dynamics that shaped a particular relationship, such as availability, and how they think they are essential or nonessential for a lasting engagement.

Domestic Experience

A domestic environment directly impacts people’s attitudes and behaviors. It is impossible for one to live without a difrect influence of parents, whether biological or foster, guardians, or siblings. Standard domestic experiences for writing a reflection paper include family vacations, parental divorce, domestic violence, or events like family get-togethers (Bassot, 2023). Lecturers often require students to think about how such life events have impacted their worldview, including entrenching values, like hard work, empathy, and integrity. When students have to write a reflective essay on a domestic experience, their focus should be on events that have a lasting impact on their memory. Such events are easy to evaluate because they stand out in the writer’s behaviors and mannerisms.

Hobbies are personal engagements that form part of a person’s social experience. People have different hobbies because only some of them are fascinated by one thing, like watching a football game or hiking a mountain. However, everyone has an interest they engage in as a form of unwinding after a difficult task or life season (Taylor, 2023). College tutors view reflective essays as essential for students to relate their hobbies to a course concept or idea. When learners receive instructions to write a reflective paper, they should be honest and talk about their hobby, not someone else’s. Ideally, reflections enable students to view their hobbies through a particular lens of coursework.

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Examples of Reflective Prompts

Since everyone has unique life situations and perspectives on different personal themes, lecturers often instruct students to write reflective essays without specifying a particular topic. For example, the key points of a reflective essay include describing a personal experience, analyzing its impact, and connecting some insights gained to broader themes or personal growth (Bassot, 2023). However, reflecting on a text differs because a lecturer can select a specific reading. When it comes to an individual episode, students have a free hand in deciding personal essay topics. In turn, the main difference between reflective and narrative essays is that the former focuses on analyzing and gaining insights from personal experiences, while the latter primarily tells a story without author’s reflections (Williams et al., 2020). As a result, some examples of reflection essay prompts students and other people can choose to write about are:

Assigned Readings

• Examining Gatsby’s Pursuit of Daisy: Love or Obsession
• Modern Interpretations of Shakespeare’s Female Characters
• Narrative Techniques in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• How “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley Applies to Contemporary Society
• The Moral Lesson in the Play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare
• The Essence of Morality Through the Lens of the Poem “Morality” by Mathew Arnold

Personal Experience

• Learning From Failures: A Personal Account
• Overcoming a Fear That Changed My Life
• The Journey to Mastering My Favorite Hobby
• The Challenges of Long-Distance Dating
• How Family Fosters Togetherness
• How a Near-Death Experience Shaped My Ideals

Note: Some sections of a reflective essay may be added, deleted, or combined with each other. A key characteristic of reflective writing is its emphasis on self-examination and personal growth, analyzing how experiences shape one’s thoughts and behaviors.

I. Essay Introduction

• Attention-grabbing hook: Dating is a social experience shaped by multiple dynamics.
• Overview of the topic: The challenges of long-distance dating.
• Thesis statement: Long-distance dating has taught me that human beings are naturally dishonest, love cannot flourish without supervision, and faithfulness results from commitment.

II. Body Paragraphs

• First paragraph: Open with a topic sentence about a first lesson and provide a reflection paper for this first lesson.
• Second paragraph: Present a second lesson and reflect on this second lesson.
• The third paragraph: Start by emphasizing a third lesson and write a reflection for this third lesson.

Note: The number of body paragraphs depends on a particular length of an assignment. Usually, the length of a reflective essay is about 500-1,000 words, which means 2-4 double spaced pages or 1-2 single spaced pages.

III. Conclusion

• Summary of body points.
• Restate a thesis statement of a reflection.
• Conclude with a final remark.

Example of a Reflective Essay

Topic: The Challenges of Long-Distance Dating

Introduction Sample

Dating is an experience that enriches one’s worldview because of specific dynamics that shape it. However, long-distance dating has significant drawbacks that create a wrong impression of dating as a social experience. My experience with long-distance dating is awful because I have learned that human beings are naturally dishonest, love cannot flourish without supervision, and faithfulness is a product of commitment.

First Body Paragraph Example

Long-distance dating challenges the adage ‘honesty is the best policy’ because it reveals humans as naturally dishonest. After my reflection, I learned this painful lesson when I developed a relationship with a friend I met online in my early adolescence. Since this period of growth is when individuals develop most peer relationships, dating is common among youth, especially those in college. A real essence of dating for many adolescents is a freedom it represents since one can choose whom they love without social restrictions. However, dating someone you do not regularly meet because of distance is troublesome. After meeting someone on the Internet I thought was a perfect match for me, I hoped to develop a lasting romantic relationship. However, things turned ugly when I learned that a person of my dreams was married. This experience convinced me that human beings are naturally dishonest.

Second Body Paragraph Example

A greatest lesson from my dating experience is that love cannot flourish without supervision and reflection. I always tell myself it was good that I discovered a person was married because I would have continued investing emotionally in a relationship built on a lie. My desire to know my online date more closely saved me from a futile endeavor. Generally, this burning interest in learning more is a form of social supervision because it helps one to discover truths. Although my reflection quest for truth led to a final end of my relationship, it helped me to learn that love cannot flourish if no one desires to know more about their partner. I consider this desire to know as supervising love.

Third Body Paragraph Example

More importantly, my experience with long-distance dating taught me that faithfulness is a product of commitment. I was committed to my relationship because I was faithful, neither married nor dating anyone else. Unfortunately, my partner was not trustworthy because this person was married, explaining why he was less committed to investing emotionally in our relationship. The genesis of my reflection quest for more information about him was that he turned down several of my requests for a physical meet-up. After learning he was married, I understood why he would not agree to meet physically because he was not committed to the relationship. To him, dating was a passive hobby.

Conclusion Sample

The above experiences with long-distance dating have shaped my worldview about people and love. While one may consider some individuals pleasant or unpleasant, all are transformative because they have shifted my perceptions. They have convinced me that people are naturally dishonest, one cannot nurture love without supervision, and commitment births faithfulness. While my experience was awful, these lessons are essential for my reflection and emotional well-being in my future romantic relationships.

Steps on How to Write a Reflective Essay

While reflection writing is straightforward, producing a reflective essay can be complex because one must observe technical details that shape a high-quality paper. For example, to write a reflective essay, people describe a personal experience, analyze its impact on their thoughts and feelings, and connect these insights to broader themes or lessons learned (Bassot, 2023). Ideally, students should approach such a composition as an academic exercise because there are specific issues and rules they must observe and satisfy to make their work meet basic requirements of a good document. These issues include sufficient preparation, setting up the stage, producing a first draft, and perfecting a final draft. Important rules include creating an error-free document, meaning a good reflection paper must not have grammar or formatting mistakes or plagiarized information.

Step 1: Preparation

In this first step, students must prepare themselves by doing specific things. Firstly, they should choose a particular topic of interest and define it. Ideally, such a topic should indicate a specific kind of essay they want to produce, whether a self-reflection about a text or a personal experience (Cogni, 2019). In the case of the former, a lecturer specifies an assigned topic. The next task is to prepare ideas through brainstorming with classmates or friends while considering a target audience for their work. A good reflective essay should be an academic paper that meets quality standards because those who will consume it include a lecturer, fellow students, and anyone wanting to know more about a choosen topic. When writing a reflective essay, students should understand that a primary purpose of their texts is to provide an opportunity for self-reflection by presenting their papers.

Step 2: Setting Up the Stage

The next step in writing a reflective essay is to set up the stage where students need to consider several tasks. The first aspect is to find credible sources if a main mission is to talk about assigned readings, such as a poem, short story, or novel. Locating reliable sources is vital to ensure one stays within an assigned topic. Secondly, one should read valid sources while making notes. For reflection papers, they should use the ideas generated in the preparation stage to guide note-taking (Taylor, 2023). The third task is creating a well-organized structure and outline that reflects a standard format of this type of essay as described by a sample above. Lastly, writers should create an annotated bibliography to ensure that borrowed information in a text has a corresponding original source. Doing so helps to avoid plagiarizing an entire work. However, this task does not apply to a reflective essay about a personal experience.

Step 3: The Writing Process

The third step in producing a reflective essay is to create a first draft. At this stage of writing a reflective paper, students should focus on capturing all the ideas generated when preparing to execute a particular task. As such, they should not worry about an overall quality, like grammar and formatting. In this case, a real importance of a first draft is that it allows writers to put their ideas together (Bassot, 2023). If a particular reflection topic is about assigned readings, students may use this stage to find more sources that help to expand their reasoning. They may also alter an outline to accommodate any additional instructions, such as a specific paper’s length. Moreover, the three parts of a reflective essay are an introduction with a thesis statement or central claim, body paragraphs covering main points, and a conclusion with a logical ending of a paper. The most important thing one should do is develop a clear thesis statement because it should guide their work. In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a reflective essay include:

• Looking back on my experience during [specific event or time], I realize that it profoundly shaped my understanding of [specific concept or theme], and it continues to influence my perspective on [related topic].
• When I first encountered [specific situation or challenge], I was overwhelmed by [initial reaction], but, upon my reflection, I can see how it led to significant personal growth and a deeper appreciation for [related lesson or value].
• One of the most significant moments in my life journey was when I [specific action or decision], as it forced me to confront my beliefs about [specific issue] and ultimately transformed my approach to [related aspect of life].
• Reflecting on this life event, I can see how my initial assumptions about [specific topic] were challenged, leading me to develop a more complex understanding and a newfound respect for [related subject or person].
• At the time, I felt [specific emotion] about [specific event or decision], but, looking back, I realize that it was an essential moment that taught me a real importance of [specific lesson or value].
• This experience taught me that [specific insight], and, after that, it has become a guiding principle in my life, shaping my decisions and interactions with others in meaningful ways.
• Initially, I was unaware of how much [specific life moment] would impact me, but, as I reflect on it now, I see that it played a crucial role in my development as a [specific role or identity].
• Through this event, I discovered [specific insight or realization], which not only changed my perspective on [related topic] but also inspired me to pursue [related goal or interest] with a greater purpose.
• It was during this moment that I first recognized a true meaning of [specific concept or value], and this understanding has since influenced many aspects of my life, from [related area] to [related area].
• Upon reflection, I understand now that [specific experience] was more than just a challenging period but also a transformative transition that taught me resilience, patience, and a value of [specific lesson or value].

Writing an Introduction

An introduction section is a first part of any essay and contains an overall paper’s focus. Basically, to start a reflective essay, writers begin with an engaging hook that introduces specific experiences and provides unique contexts for their reflections (Williams et al., 2020). When developing this part, students should ensure they capture a reader’s attention, establish a topic’s background, and conclude with a thesis statement. They also should provide background information about a discussed topic. In reflection papers, these three components are essential features of an essay’s opening section. To a greater extent, they determine whether a target audience will complete reading a whole text or not. On the other hand, students should know — people do not read unexciting texts when organizing this section. Such texts lack a hook that grabs one’s attention and ignites a desire to learn more in the rest of a reflective paper.

Writing Body Paragraphs

A body section of a reflective essay should capture all the ideas writers have generated in the preparation stage. However, tutor’s instructions regarding a college essay length should determine whether writers use all the ideas, add new ones, or drop some of them. Each paragraph should open with a topic sentence emphasizing an idea in the thesis statement (Cogni, 2019). These ideas may be lessons for a reflection paper about a personal life situation, but, if the focus is on reading a specific article, they should be arguments or observations since specific details and evidence make an overall work compelling. In turn, real-life examples make a reflection relevant and persuasive. Ideally, this part of a reflection paper should cover an evidence-based format by integrating course concepts and ideas. Moreover, writers can include references in a reflection paper by citing relevant theories, concepts, or literature that support or relate to their personal experiences and insights (Cogni, 2019). In turn, all parts must relate to one another, while achieving a proper flow of ideas improves an overall quality of a reflective paper. Finally, people should use the rest of a single paragraph to explain a specific lesson or observation or enrich a central argument. Other essential components of each paragraph include a concluding sentence and a transition. Therefore, body paragraphs of a reflection paper must be clear and logical.

Writing a Conclusion

A conclusion section is the last part of a reflective essay. The most important features include summarizing an entire reflective paper by emphasizing key lessons for a piece about a personal experience or arguments or observations for an article about a text (Bassot, 2023). Basically, writers sum up all the main points discussed in a body section. The next step is restating a thesis statement by rewording it, and, lastly, it is to make a final remark about a discussed topic. Such a remark must underscore writers’ primary worldviews as a product of their reflection. Therefore, when organizing this section, students should know their focus is to finalize a particular text by making declarations that allow readers to be satisfied. It is illogical for a reflective paper to leave a reader hanging unless it is fiction. Thus, one should bring a reflective essay to a logical closure.

Step 4: Wrapping Up a Final Paper

The last step in writing a reflective essay is to produce a final draft by perfecting a first draft. This wrap-up exercise involves revising a first version of a particular text to ensure it captures all the author’s ideas. The second task for writing a reflection paper is to edit a written text by adding or eliminating sentences to provide a logical flow of ideas and thoughts. The next mission is to ensure all three parts — introduction, body, and conclusion — capture all essential features, including thesis, topic sentences, and final remarks, as appropriate (Williams et al., 2020). The last task is to eliminate all mistakes, including grammatical errors, incorrect punctuation, formatting flaws, and missing citations. To produce a perfect reflection paper, authors must familiarize themselves with all the rules of academic writing and use them as a valid measure for polishing a final draft.

Important Rules

When writing a reflective essay, students should observe all the rules applicable to their work, even if a lecturer does not emphasize them. The first convention that one should satisfy is to maintain a formal tone. Apart from using a first-person voice, students should ensure their work is academic. As such, they should avoid slang and any language that dilutes a particular formality of their text, and they need to write following an active voice (Gardner, 2023). Another convention to consider when writing a reflection paper is to cite ideas writers borrow from different sources. As such, when students use quotes from an assigned text they are reflecting on, such as an online article, they should cite it properly by paying attention to APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago/Turabian writing styles.

What to Include

Common Mistakes

• Lack of Focus: Failing to clearly define a main theme or purpose of a particular reflection essay.
• Vague Analysis: Providing shallow reflections without deep analysis or critical thinking.
• Overly General Statements: Using vague language and not providing specific examples or details.
• Ignoring Structure: Not organizing a reflective essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Neglecting Personal Insight: Focusing too much on describing events and not enough on personal growth and insights.
• Inconsistent Tone: Shifting between informal and formal language inappropriately.
• Poor Grammar and Spelling: Making frequent grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
• Lack of Connection to Broader Themes: Failing to relate personal experiences to larger concepts or theories.
• Ignoring Feedback: Not considering or incorporating feedback from peers or instructors.
• Overloading With External Sources: Relying too heavily on external references and not enough on personal reflection.

A reflective essay involves examining personal experiences and their impact on a particular writer. It also requires choosing a meaningful topic, describing a specific life event in detail, analyzing its effects, and connecting insights to broader themes. Essential components include a clear introduction, a detailed body, and a concise conclusion. Writers should also focus on personal growth and learning while incorporating relevant theories or concepts. Besides, proper structure, honest reflection, and critical thinking are key to producing a compelling reflective essay. In turn, some lessons to learn include:

• Reflective essays allow students to discuss relevant events or course readings that influenced their lives.
• This guideline shows that writing a good reflective essay is a rigorous exercise, and it requires one to understand several tips.
• Understand a topic when writing a reflection essay: whether one is to reflect on a text or a personal experience.
• Brainstorm and create a mental database of ideas.
• Develop a clear outline that emphasizes an introduction, a body, and a conclusion and the key features of each.
• Review all the technical steps of producing a high-quality reflective essay.
• Produce a first draft and then perfect a document into a final draft by eliminating all mistakes, like wrong grammar, poor formatting, and illogical sentences.
• Proofread final drafts before presenting them to lecturers.
• It is advisable to give a final draft to someone to read a reflection paper and avoid missing out key details or obvious mistakes.

Bassot, B. (2023). The reflective practice guide: An interdisciplinary approach to critical reflection . Routledge.

Christensen, J., & Wärnsby, A. (2023). Reflective writing in course design for active learning in social work education. Journal of Social Work Education , 59 (3), 756–771. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2023.2213285

Cogni, M. (2019). From sentences to essays: A guide to reflective writing through reflective thinking . Vernon Press.

Gardner, P. R. (2023). The reflective essay in social research methods education: An analysis of student assessment experiences. College Teaching , 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2023.2205629

Taylor, E. (2023). Promoting student reflection through reflective writing tasks. Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence , 7 (1), 44–60. https://doi.org/10.26077/eafb-b4ea

Williams, K., Woolliams, M., & Spiro, J. (2020). Reflective writing . Red Globe Press.

What Should the Conclusion Do in a Reflective Essay?

Bethany richardson, 26 sep 2017.

The purpose of a reflective essay is for the writer to ruminate on past events to discover how they have influenced his life. While the essay should describe the events and encounters that lead to a personal revelation, Literacy Education professor Susan Lee Pasquarelli suggests the writer saves the actual lesson learned for the essay’s conclusion.

Explore this article

• Make Your Point
• Stay Focused
• Stay in Style
• Get Personal

1 Make Your Point

As in any essay, the concluding paragraph of a reflective piece should restate the main point of the work or the life lesson that you’ve taken away from the experience you’ve described. You’ve probably hinted at this conclusion throughout the essay, but the final statements should put the lesson into clear words, such as, “I now realize that true friends are the ones who stand with you after everyone else has walked away.”

2 Stay Focused

Don’t let your conclusion drift from the essay’s main point by describing unrelated events. It may be tempting to mention other events that have a related theme or other lessons that some may take away from the described events, but don’t fall into these traps. A good reflective essay conclusion wraps up the main lesson that you have taken away from the specific events you have described.

Your conclusion should restate only the essay’s main point — the lesson learned — and not revisit or summarize narrative events. Also, avoid excessive commentary in your concluding statements. If you’ve described events effectively in the essay’s body and chosen an applicable thesis, then it shouldn’t be necessary to explain how your take-away lesson applies. If you find yourself needing to explain your thesis further, then go back and add the necessary supporting details into the body of the essay.

4 Stay in Style

Just as the lesson you describe should flow effortlessly from the story you’ve told, the essay’s conclusion should be a seamless addition to the rest of the work. Don’t make any dramatic shifts in vocabulary or tone, such as changing from a light-hearted essay to a solemn or stiff conclusion.

5 Get Personal

Because the essay is a personal reflection, the conclusion should reflect your individual viewpoint. Write from a first-person point of view, such as “I can now see” or “My observation is” rather than the impersonal “One must conclude that.” Don’t feel like your conclusion needs a universal theme. You’ve described your own journey to personal realization, so focus on the lesson you will take into your own future rather than telling others what they should learn.

• 1 Teaching Writing Genres Across the Curriculum, Susan Lee Pasquarelli
• 2 Purdue OWL Engagement: Conclusions

About the Author

Bethany Richardson has been an educator in Texas public schools since 2007. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English rhetoric with a professional writing certificate from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

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My Portfolio

Andrew duffy.

• Literacy Narrative
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• Argument Research Essay
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Final Reflective Essay

At the beginning of the course, I was new to college writing. My writing skills were not bad, but they needed some fine tuning. A lot of the skills I have translated over easily from high school, but some did not. I was always good at getting information and laying down a foundation. Alongside that, I’ve always found writing easy once I have that base. Filling out the main ideas were simple. However, once I arrived in college it was apparent to myself that I needed more detail, and that it was something I lacked. It needed improving, but it was not a hard fix. Sometimes it is hard for me to understand why some writing needs more detail but others do not. This class has helped me fix that issue a bit, while also strengthening my proficiency in other areas. Throughout the semester, I have completed assignments that have increased my skills, and broadened my sense as a writer in different areas. By taking this class, I have been able to develop rhetorical knowledge, develop critical thinking, reading, and information literacy, develop effective strategies for drafting texts, and develop knowledge of conventions.

This class has helped me develop rhetorical knowledge by analyzing and composing multiple forms of writing to understand how genre conventions shape readers’ and writers’ practices and purposes. This means that I have been able to analyze different types of writing in order to understand how a genre affects how an author writes, and how the reader reads. One assignment that comes to mind that helped me achieve this outcome was our advertisement analysis assignments. In class, we spent time looking at different advertisements, and how they appealed to certain audiences. We all had to bring an advertisement to class, and analyze it ourselves, pointing out what techniques the ads were using, if they were effective or not, and who were they targeting. This assignment helps develop rhetoric as it allowed me to understand how the category of advertisement writing can differ from not only other genres, but other ads as well.

Rhetoric knowledge was also developed by practicing purposeful shifts in structure, content, diction, tone, formality, design, and/or medium in accordance with the rhetorical situation, which means to be able to change your writing to reflect the rhetorical situation at hand. This was not the result of one assignment, but many. During the course we were asked to write different essays that reflected different styles of writing. From storytelling and analyzation, to infographics and research assignments, I have been able to change how I write in order to meet the requirements. For example, in the literacy narrative, I had to write to convey a story. This means using traditional elements of a story, such as a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution, along with elements such as foreshadowing. This style of writing is different from an image analysis essay, where the purpose is mostly informative rather than anecdotal. In this case, elements such as facts, context, and comparison are common, and story like elements would not be appropriate here. I display that I have met this outcome by understanding how to write in those genres and how to keep it appropriate.

Another outcome this class has helped me meet is developing critical thinking, reading, and information literacy by composing and reading for inquiry, learning, critical thinking, and communicating. One such way I have met this outcome is by writing journals almost every class about different things. Every so often we had to write a journal about our thoughts about either our writing skills, how we defined different terms, and our reflections on our assignments. By completing these journals, I was able to look back on certain assignments, and learn how I was able to accomplish what I did. This style of writing is helpful because of its creative nature, and allows myself to become better as a writer.

Two more ways I was able to develop my critical thinking, reading, and information literacy skills was by using outside materials in their own writing through techniques such as interpretation, synthesis, response, critique, and design/redesign, and incorporating outside materials through quotations, paraphrase, and summary. By completing the image analysis essay, I was able to meet the outcome about using outside materials in your own writing. I used two advertisements in the essay, and analyzed how they were done, and who they targeted, in order to compare and contrast them at the end. I appropriately commented on their effectiveness, and how they could have improved. Speaking of using outside materials, my research essay demonstrated the outcome related to using paraphrase due to the nature of the assignment. By using outside sources, I was able to make my argument stronger, and I was able to improve as a writer because my skill to read and take information away improved.

The third outcome this class helped me to achieve was to develop effective strategies for drafting texts by working through multiple drafts of a project and recognizing the role of reflecting, revising, and editing in the process, engaging in the collaborative and social aspects of writing processes, such as learning to give and to act on productive feedback to works in progress, both by and with peers and in one-on-one instructor conferences, and critically reflecting on how they may further develop and apply writing skills in the future. The first outcome was reached simply through the rough drafts of each project. I usually had to brainstorm first, but afterwards, I was able to just write in order to get the information down. It had quite a few flaws to begin with, but during editing, most of them were ironed out easily. The second outcome was achieved through peer review. This was something I had always struggled with because I did not know how to do it. After learning, I saw how important it was. It allowed me to see mistakes my brain would have never saw, and let me see what my most common mistake were, which then allowed me to know what to avoid when writing. By reviewing other’s works, I was able to see common writing errors in general, and thus gave me information about what to avoid. The last outcome was achieved through peer review reflection. This is self-explanatory, but being able to reflect on the advice given is helpful. Mostly because it allows you to take a step back, and go over everything. You can see what you did well, and what you need to avoid in the future. This way, in future endeavors, the same mistakes will hopefully not be made.

The last outcome this class helped me to achieve was to develop knowledge of conventions by demonstrating competence in grammar, punctuation, and spelling, practicing genre conventions for structure, paragraphing, tone and mechanics, and understanding the concepts of intellectual property that motivate documentation conventions through application of recognized citation styles. The first two outcomes are rather similar, in the regard that most of the assignments help reach this outcome. Grammar will never change in writing, so it is important to get it write initially. The only assignment that really tested this was peer review. Being able to recognize sentences that do not make sense is helpful, and will help a writer catch confusing or contradicting statements. As for practicing genre conventions, almost every project helped display that. Writing paragraphs and formatting them correctly is easy, so there is not reason to drag on about this point. Lastly, the assignment that helped reach the outcome about citing intellectual property was the research assignment. It is important to cite your sources so that you do not plagiarize someone’s work, and jeopardize your own academic career. The research assignment helped because you had to find sources for you argument, and as a result, citations would follow.

During the course, I was faced with a few assignments where I had to write day by day, and not just in one day. Writing is not something to do, but rather a process that you have to follow in order to succeed. Many of the different assignments helped improve my skills in rhetoric, critical thinking, drafting, and conventions. While some did not improve much, others did exponentially. The work is not perfect, but for a beginner in college, it shows that I am willing to put in the time and effort to become more than just a beginner. As I progress through school, I hope to not only maintain these skills, but improve them also. Writing is not something that you leave behind after leaving school, so it is important that I take these skills not only with me for the next four years, but for the rest of my life. If I succeed in doing that, then I will always be prepared for any assignment that my field of interest throws at me.

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Reflective Essay: Introduction, Structure, Topics, Examples For University

Table of Contents

If you’re not quite sure how to go about writing reflective essays, they can be a real stumbling block. Reflective essays are essentially a critical examination of a life experience, and with the right guidance, they don’t have to be too difficult to write. As with other essays, a reflective essay needs to be well structured and easily understood, but its content is more like a diary entry.

This guide discusses how to write a successful reflective essay, including what makes a great structure and some tips on the writing process. To make this guide the ultimate guide for anyone who needs help with reflective essays, we’ve included an example reflective essay as well.

Reflective Essay

Reflective essays require students to examine their life experiences, especially those which left an impact.

The purpose of writing a reflective essay is to challenge students to think deeply and to learn from their experiences. This is done by describing their thoughts and feelings regarding a certain experience and analyzing its impact.

Reflective essays are a unique form of academic writing that encourages introspection and self-analysis. They provide an opportunity for individuals to reflect upon their experiences, thoughts, and emotions, and effectively communicate their insights. In this article, we will explore the essential components of a reflective essay, discuss popular topics, provide guidance on how to start and structure the essay, and offer examples to inspire your writing.

I. Understanding Reflective Essays:

• Definition and purpose of reflective essays
• Key characteristics that distinguish them from other types of essays
• Benefits of writing reflective essays for personal growth and development

II. Choosing a Reflective Essay Topic:

• Exploring personal experiences and their impact
• Analyzing significant life events or milestones
• Examining challenges, successes, or failures and lessons learned
• Reflecting on personal growth and transformation
• Discussing the impact of specific books, movies, or artworks
• Analyzing the influence of cultural or social experiences
• Reflecting on internships, volunteer work, or professional experiences

III. Starting a Reflective Essay:

• Engage the reader with a captivating hook or anecdote
• Introduce the topic and provide context
• Clearly state the purpose and objectives of the reflection
• Include a thesis statement that highlights the main insights to be discussed

IV. Writing a Reflective Essay on a Class:

• Assessing the overall learning experience and objectives of the class
• Analyzing personal growth and development throughout the course
• Reflecting on challenges, achievements, and lessons learned
• Discussing the impact of specific assignments, projects, or discussions
• Evaluating the effectiveness of teaching methods and materials

V. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Reflective Essay Writing:

• Superficial reflection without deep analysis
• Overuse of personal opinions without supporting evidence
• Lack of organization and coherence in presenting ideas
• Neglecting to connect personal experiences to broader concepts or theories
• Failing to provide specific examples to illustrate key points

VI. Why “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell is Classified as a Reflective Essay:

• Briefly summarize the essay’s content and context
• Analyze the introspective and self-analytical elements in Orwell’s narrative
• Discuss the themes of moral conflict, imperialism, and personal conscience
• Highlight Orwell’s reflections on the psychological and emotional impact of his actions

VII. Reflective Essay Structure:

• Engaging opening statement or anecdote
• Background information and context
• Clear thesis statement
• Present and analyze personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions
• Reflect on the significance and impact of those experiences
• Connect personal reflections to broader concepts or theories
• Provide supporting evidence and specific examples
• Summarize key insights and reflections
• Emphasize the personal growth or lessons learned
• Conclude with a thought-provoking statement or call to action

VIII. Reflective Essay Examples:

• Example 1: Reflecting on a life-changing travel experience
• Example 2: Analyzing personal growth during a challenging academic year
• Example 3: Reflecting on the impact of volunteering at a local shelter

During a reflective essay, the writer examines his or her own experiences, hence the term ‘reflection’. The purpose of a reflective essay is to allow the author to recount a particular life experience. However, it should also explore how he or she has changed or grown as a result of the experience.

The format of reflective writing can vary, but you’ll most likely see it in the form of a learning log or diary entry. The author’s diary entries demonstrate how the author’s thoughts have developed and evolved over the course of a particular period of time.

The format of a reflective essay can vary depending on the intended audience. A reflective essay might be academic or part of a broader piece of writing for a magazine, for example.

While the format for class assignments may vary, the purpose generally remains the same: tutors want students to think deeply and critically about a particular learning experience. Here are some examples of reflective essay formats you may need to write:

Focusing on personal growth:

Tutors often use this type of paper to help students develop their ability to analyze their personal life experiences so that they can grow and develop emotionally. As a result of the essay, the student gains a better understanding of themselves and their behaviors.

Taking a closer look at the literature:

The purpose of this type of essay is for students to summarize the literature, after which it is applied to their own experiences.

What am I supposed to write about?

When deciding on the content of your reflective essay, you need to keep in mind that it is highly personal and is intended to engage the reader. Reflective essays are much more than just recounting a story. As you reflect on your experience (more on this later), you will need to demonstrate how it influenced your subsequent behavior and how your life has consequently changed.

Start by thinking about some important experiences in your life that have had a profound impact on you, either positively or negatively. A reflection essay topic could be a real-life experience, an imagined experience, a special object or place, a person who influenced you, or something you’ve seen or read.

If you are asked to write a reflective essay for an academic assignment, it is likely that you will be asked to focus on a particular episode – such as a time when you had to make an influential decision – and explain the results. In a reflective essay, the aftermath of the experience is especially significant; miss this out and you will simply be telling a story.

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Considerations

In this type of essay, the reflective process is at the core, so it’s important that you get it right from the beginning. Think deeply about how the experience you have chosen to focus on impacted or changed you. Consider the implications for you on a personal level based on your memories and feelings.

Once you have chosen the topic of your essay, it is imperative that you spend a lot of time thinking about it and studying it thoroughly. Write down everything you remember about it, describing it as clearly and completely as you can. Use your five senses to describe your experience, and be sure to use adjectives. During this stage, you can simply take notes using short phrases, but make sure to record your reactions, perceptions, and experiences.

As soon as you’ve emptied your memory, you should begin reflecting. Choosing some reflection questions that will help you think deeply about the impact and lasting effects of your experience is a helpful way to do this. Here are some suggestions:

• As a result of the experience, what have you learned about yourself?
• What have you developed as a result? How?
• Has it had a positive or negative impact on your life?
• Looking back, what would you do differently?
• If you could go back, what would you do differently? Did you make the right decisions?
• How would you describe the experience in general? What did you learn from the experience? What skills or perspectives did you acquire?

You can use these signpost questions to kick-start your reflective process. Remember that asking yourself lots of questions is crucial to ensuring that you think deeply and critically about your experiences – a skill at the heart of a great reflective essay.

Use models of reflection (like the Gibbs or Kolb cycles) before, during, and after the learning process to ensure that you maintain a high standard of analysis. Before you get to the nitty-gritty of the process, consider questions such as: what might happen (in regards to the experience)?

Will there be any challenges? What knowledge will be needed to best prepare? When you are planning and writing, these questions may be helpful: what is happening within the learning process? Has everything worked according to plan? How am I handling the challenges that come with it?

Do you need to do anything else to ensure that the learning process is successful? Is there anything I can learn from this? Using a framework like this will enable you to keep track of the reflective process that should guide your work.

Here’s a useful tip: no matter how well prepared you feel with all that time spent reflecting in your arsenal, don’t start writing your essay until you have developed a comprehensive, well-rounded plan. There will be so much more coherence in what you write, your ideas will be expressed with structure and clarity, and your essay will probably receive higher marks as a result.

It’s especially important when writing a reflective essay as it’s possible for people to get a little ‘lost’ or disorganized as they recount their own experiences in an erratic and often unsystematic manner since it’s an incredibly personal topic. But if you outline thoroughly (this is the same thing as a ‘plan’) and adhere to it like Christopher Columbus adhered to a map, you should be fine as you embark on the ultimate step of writing your essay. We’ve summarized the benefits of creating a detailed essay outline below if you’re still not convinced of the value of planning:

An outline can help you identify all the details you plan to include in your essay, allowing you to remove all superfluous details so that your essay is concise and to the point.

Think of the outline as a map – you plan in advance which points you will navigate through and discuss in your writing. You will more likely have a clear line of thought, making your work easier to understand. You’ll be less likely to miss out on any pertinent details, and you won’t have to go back at the end and try to fit them in.

This is a real-time-saver! When you use the outline as an essay’s skeleton, you’ll save a tremendous amount of time when writing because you’ll know exactly what you want to say. Due to this, you will be able to devote more time to editing the paper and ensuring it meets high standards.

As you now know the advantages of using an outline for your reflective essay, it is important that you know how to create one. There can be significant differences between it and other typical essay outlines, mostly due to the varying topics. As always, you need to begin your outline by drafting the introduction, body, and conclusion. We will discuss this in more detail below.

Introduction

Your reflective essay must begin with an introduction that contains both a hook and a thesis statement. The goal of a ‘hook’ is to capture the attention of your audience or reader from the very beginning. In the first paragraph of your story, you should convey the exciting aspects of your story so that you can succeed in

If you think about the opening quote of this article, did it grab your attention and make you want to read more? This thesis statement summarizes the essay’s focus, which in this case is a particular experience that left a lasting impression on you. Give a quick overview of your experience – don’t give too much information away or you’ll lose readers’ interest.

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Reflection Essay Structure

A reflective essay differs greatly from an argumentative or research paper in its format. Reflective essays are more like well-structured stories or diary entries that are rife with insights and reflections. Your essay may need to be formatted according to the APA style or MLA style.

In general, the length of a reflection paper varies between 300 and 700 words, but it is a good idea to check with your instructor or employer about the word count. Even though this is an essay about you, you should try to avoid using too much informal language.

The following shortcuts can help you format your paper according to APA or MLA style if your instructor asks:

MLA Format for Reflective Essay

• Times New Roman 12 pt 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 contains a Works Cited list.

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 Outline

Look at your brainstorming table to start organizing your reflective essay. ‘Past experience’ and ‘description’ should make up less than 10% of your essay.

You should include the following in your introduction:

• Grab the reader’s attention with a short preview of what you’ll be writing about.

Example:  We found Buffy head-to-toe covered in tar, starved and fur in patches, under an abandoned garbage truck.

• It is important to include ‘past experiences’ in a reflective essay thesis statement; a brief description of what the essay is about.

Example:  My summer volunteering experience at the animal shelter inspired me to pursue this type of work in the future.

Chronological events are the best way to explain the structure of body paragraphs. Respond to the bold questions in the ‘reflection’ section of the table to create a linear storyline.

Here’s an example of what the body paragraph outline should look like:

• Explicit expectations about the shelter

Example:  I thought it was going to be boring and mundane.

• The first impression
• Experience at the shelter

Example:  Finding and rescuing Buffy.

• Other experiences with rescuing animals
• Discoveries

Example:  Newly found passion and feelings toward the work.

• A newly developed mindset

Example:  How your thoughts about animal treatment have changed.

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Here’s How You Can Submit a Well-Written Reflective Essay for University

Even though writing a reflective essay may seem difficult at first, once you have a clear idea of what you will write and more importantly, how to write, it often gets easier as you go along. Here are five key writing tips to keep in mind when writing a reflective essay.

Choosing a Topic for Reflection

As a busy student, when was the last time you drowned yourself in thoughts and reflected on past experiences? Here is an assignment that intentionally puts you in that position.

Think about all of the experiences which have shaped you – a life-changing event, an interaction with someone you admire, a movie character that appealed to you, a book that gave you perspective, or any other experience which contributed to your character or thought process.

You should choose a topic that will help you reflect on your growth as an individual. Start brainstorming and record every idea that comes to mind.

Organize your thoughts in a mind map

The next step is to create a mind map to help you organize your essay once you have a rough idea of what you want to write.

You can use your mind map to quiz yourself by asking questions of relevance and putting together perspectives for your essay.

The purpose of this exercise is to give you an idea of what you want your essay to be about. It is important to keep pushing yourself to think more deeply and find meaning in your experiences in order to create a successful reflective essay.

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Start Freewriting

Sometimes, all you have to do is start writing. Essentially, that’s what freewriting is all about.

After brainstorming, creating a mind map, and organizing your thoughts, open a blank document and start writing. Do not stop to think or to edit – just write as your thoughts come to you.

The best part of freewriting is that it results in a steady flow of ideas you may not have thought of otherwise.

In other words, whether or not you’re motivated to write or are constantly second-guessing your ideas, it helps to let your ideas guide you and put them down on paper.

Structure the Essay

It’s time to put your ideas and thoughts into words and give them a proper structure. A reflective essay should have the following parts:

You should begin your essay with a hook to grab the reader’s attention. While setting the tone for the rest of the essay, your thesis statement should introduce the past experience you will be reflecting on;

In this section, you will elaborate on the experience and its significance, as well as its impact on your life. Avoid rambling on and on about the experience for readers to want to read more of your essay, you need to use your storytelling skills. If you can, use examples to strengthen your narrative;

A summary of your reflections is provided in the concluding paragraph. In your essay, you should describe how the experience shaped your life and how you intend to take your learnings and apply them.

Proofread, Proofread and Proofread

Be sure to proofread your reflective essay before submitting it. Before finalizing it, you need to do thorough proofreading. You will be surprised to see how many silly mistakes are made in the first draft.

Be on the lookout for grammatical, spelling, and sentence formation mistakes. Make sure your essay flows well and avoids plagiarism. If you want a fresh set of eyes on your essay, have a family member or friend read it too.

Reflective Essay Topics

Many students find choosing the right topic for a reflective essay difficult. Writing a reflective essay requires creativity and strong writing skills to express your emotions.

Reflective essays can be inspired by nature, places, relationships, and events. Here are some tips that will help you choose the right essay topic.

• Decide on a topic idea for your reflective essay that you are familiar with. You will find it easier to write an essay about a topic you are interested in. Never choose a topic that is new to you. This makes the writing phase difficult.
• Research your topic: Try to recollect minor details about it. Remember all the things that are related to your topic, and include them in your essay. Take notes about your topic.
• Pick a topic that you can explain from a unique viewpoint: Choose a topic that you can explain from a different perspective. Writing something unique that demonstrates your personality in an interesting way is a good technique. Share a memorable and meaningful experience from your life.

Topics for Reflective Essays for Middle School Students

Essay topics can be difficult to choose for some students. The following list of topics can be classified according to grade level. Pick from them and make topic selection easier.

Topics for Reflective Essays in Grade 7

• Taking a trip
• To go scuba diving
• Within your hometown
• Was something you were proud of
• Even when you were lost
• To your favorite cartoon
• During that time you lied
• When you were hunting
• Did your family play an important role in your life?
• Spending time outdoors

Topics for Reflective Essays in Grade 8

• Running in the outdoors
• While picking berries
• Will be your biggest loss
• Who is your biggest inspiration?
• What is your greatest fear?
• Tell me about your most exciting moment.
• What is your least favorite course?
• When you go on a date
• To a birthday party
• Which is your favorite online space?

Topics for Reflective Essays in Grade 9

• A new school
• Makes me think about the future.
• You participated in or watched a sporting event.
• You moved to a new city.
• You had an unforgettable dream.
• You were running and hunting.
• You cannot forget that dream.
• It was your childhood home.
• Watching the sunrise
• An award ceremony

Topics for Reflective Essays in Grade 10

• Defending someone in a situation
• While playing with friends
• It was a memorable dream
• About lying and hiding
• The most recent meal
• While getting lost in the dark
• As an intern at a hospital
• Or when someone’s life inspired you to change your own
• Challenges as a college freshman
• By participating in sports

Topics for Reflective Essays for College Students

For college students, the most difficult part of writing a reflective essay is choosing a topic. Some students are better at choosing the essay topic than others, but some will get stuck in this phase.

Here are some excellent reflective essay topics for college students for your convenience. Choose one and write a well-written essay.

• First time writing a thesis statement
• Your favorite video game
• The impact of social media on students
• A place you always try to avoid
• What was the best birthday memory you had?
• What is your favorite restaurant?
• The moment when you were proud of yourself
• The bravest moment of your life
• The most beautiful thing you have ever seen
• A time you were embarrassed

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Topics for Reflective Essays for High School Students

The choice of a topic for a reflective essay can be confusing for high school students. Your topic should be engaging and you should be able to explain your personal experience easily. Here is a list of good topics for high school students; choose something from the list for your essay.

• Shop at your favorite outlet store
• To relive your favorite childhood memory
• Of the most memorable holiday
• That scared you?
• That’s when you met your best friend
• And what you love about yourself
• Is playing with friends.
• What’s your favorite book?
• I loved playing in the mud as a kid.
• Having to move to a new town or city

Topics for Reflective Essays about Places

Reflective essays should be based on strong emotions and memories. You could write an essay about a day spent at your favorite café, favorite restaurant, etc.

It is easy to write a reflective essay about a place where you have really good memories. Here are some topic ideas that you can use and write an essay on.

• Your grandparents’ house
• A skating rink
• A place where you feel safe
• A favorite vacation spot
• A popular lunch spot
• On your first day at the circus
• The mall or your favorite store
• Your first trip abroad
• Best park in your town
• Your most memorable adventure

Topics for Reflective Essays about Events

A good way to grab the reader’s attention is to write about any event. Your essay can be about a birthday party, a farewell, or any other event that you have enough information about.

If you are writing a reflective essay about an event, include vivid details. Here are some interesting topics for reflection essays, choose one and write a good essay.

• Unexpected gift
• To travel on vacation
• While you were lost
• The first time you voted
• On your trip to the zoo
• When you got a new job
• It was one of your most memorable trips
• During the holiday season
• When you moved to a new city
• Or when you swam fishing

Topics for Reflective Essays on Nature

A reflective essay should provide the reader with a deeper and more meaningful experience. In addition to making your writing process more interesting, writing about nature also stimulates your imagination.

The following are some good reflective essay topics about nature:

• Mountain climbing
• Ocean diving
• Hiking in the woods
• Climbing rocks
• And watching the sunset
• While running in the forest.
• Spending quality time with your pet.
• Taking a hike in the woods
• And going swimming
• While watching animals at a zoo

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Topics for reflection on relationships

As relationships are filled with strong emotions, writing a reflective essay about them means expressing those emotions. The following are some good reflective essay topics about relationships:

• A wonderful family reunion
• When you spoke publicly for the first time
• What friendship means to me
• When you were punished by your parents
• During a family reunion
• When you apologized
• For a time you spent with friends without parental supervision
• Tell me about your relationship with a family member
• An angry conversation
• Or a genuinely funny laugh

Some reflective essay topics are the same as some of the questions you may ask in a job interview.

Examples of Reflective Essay

Check out some examples for inspiration now that you know what it takes to write a reflective essay.

An Example of a Reflective Essay on “My Little Brother”

Essay example reflecting on the arrival of a younger sibling, written at a middle or high school level.

“There have been many life-changing experiences in my short life. Every new experience has been the first experience at one point in time. For good or for bad, each event altered the course of my life. But, the most transformative event was the birth of my youngest brother.”.

Joel is someone my parents often refer to as a happy accident. My mother became pregnant when I was 13 and my other brother, Jake, was 10. We were what you would call a well-rounded family of four. In almost every way, we fit the ideal classification. My youngest brother’s striking blue eyes were the moment when we realized what we were missing.

Honestly, I resented having another sibling. It wasn’t necessary to add to our family, and my mother, already 38 at the time, was considered high risk because of her age. A pregnancy full of complications sent my life on a rollercoaster-like ride that my 13-year-old mind could not comprehend. Now I can see how forging through those loops helped me cope with the unforeseen challenges of life.

My mother took me to the hospital instead of my father on the day Joel was born. I was the next best alternative because Jake and my father were both feverish; it wasn’t a planned move. With each contraction, I gained a new appreciation for just how strong and powerful a woman could be at her weakest. Through holding her hand and feeding her ice chips, I gained a connection with my mother that I didn’t realize we lacked.

Almost simultaneously, my new baby brother entered this world. One doesn’t realize how much you need something until it’s sitting in your lap. Secondly, my life after this moment would never be the same the moment he curled his chubby little finger around mine, I understood the meaning of the words “happy accident.”.y.

Life has given me many experiences that have shaped me as a person. But, nothing so profoundly changed my views and outlook on life as the birth of my youngest brother. Joel’s arrival was a life-altering event that caused me to see the world through new eyes.”

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Reflective Essay Example for “ Reading My Favorite Book”

This reflective essay example about a favorite book is something you might find at the middle or high school level.

When it comes to books, I don’t understand the appeal. Every time I was given an assignment, I would read one after another, not understanding what all the fuss was about. Nevertheless, the moment I read Pride and Prejudice, it was as if my literary eyes were opened for the first time. It stirred love within me for classics I didn’t realize could exist.

When I was first given the assignment of reading Pride and Prejudice, like many of my friends, I scoffed. With an eye roll, I internally calculated how much time I would have to read the book and write a report. I sighed at the loss of time with my friends for a stupid classic.

Cracking open the cover, I was determined to hate it before even reading the first words. By the time I reached page 3, I nearly stopped reading. But there was something about Elizabeth Bennet that quietly piqued my interest. I can’t say where, but somewhere along the way, my eyes devoured the pages instead of trudging along.

The moment I reached the end, I was ecstatic and disappointed at the same time. Their ending had been perfect, but I realized I would miss them. Not just them, but I would also miss being a part of their world.

It was the first time the characters of a story had affected me this way, so I tried to shake it off. However, after several days, that sadness carried me to the classics section of the school library. The moment I cracked open my next classic, my soul instantly felt more at ease, and I’ve never looked back.

I never thought I’d say a book changed me, but in this case, it’s true. The love I found in Pride and Prejudice introduced me to a beautiful world of classic literature I can’t imagine living without. Despite not reading Pride and Prejudice for a while, it will always be my favorite book.

In the conclusion of your reflective essay, you should focus on bringing your piece together. This will include providing a summary of both the points made throughout and what you have learned as a result. Try to include a few points on why and how your attitudes and behaviors have been changed.

Consider also how your character and skills have been affected, for example: what conclusions can be drawn about your problem-solving skills? What can be concluded about your approach to specific situations? What might you do differently in similar situations in the future? What steps have you taken to consolidate everything that you have learned from your experience?

Keep in mind that your tutor will be looking out for evidence of reflection at a very high standard.

Congratulations – you now have the tools to create a thorough and accurate plan which should put you in good stead for the ultimate phase indeed of any essay, the writing process.

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How do you start off a reflective essay?

As is the case with all essays, your reflective essay must begin with an introduction that contains both a hook and a thesis statement. The point of having a ‘hook’ is to grab the attention of your audience or reader from the very beginning.

Can you say I in a reflective essay?

In your reflective essay, you should use the first person with terms like I, me, my, and mine. The essay is an account of something that actually happened to you as well as your thoughts on the event.

What is an example of a reflection?

Common examples include the reflection of light, sound, and water waves. The law of reflection says that for specular reflection the angle at which the wave is incident on the surface equals the angle at which it is reflected. Mirrors exhibit specular reflection.

How do you start the first paragraph of a reflective essay?

Describe the subject matter of the paper in more detail. Include one or two sentences after the first sentence in which you describe the basic features of whatever topic you will be discussing in your essay. Describe them in terms of your feelings, and how you felt and experienced whatever you are discussing.

How many paragraphs should a reflective essay have?

The number of paragraphs depends on the requested essay length. However, it is recommended to write at least three paragraphs in this part. In the body, present your main points, arguments, and examples. This is the part of an essay where you express all your main ideas, develop them, and express your feelings and emotions.

What are the three parts of a reflective essay?

However, some major elements go into a typical reflective essay: introduction, body, and conclusion.

How Do You Write A Reflective Essay?

To write a reflective essay, follow these steps:

• Choose a topic: Select a specific event, experience, or concept that you want to reflect upon.
• Brainstorm and outline: Reflect on your chosen topic and jot down key points, thoughts, and emotions associated with it. Create an outline to organize your ideas.
• Introduction: Begin with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. Provide background information and context related to the topic. End the introduction with a clear thesis statement that expresses the main insights or lessons you will discuss.
• Body paragraphs: Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect or experience related to your topic. Reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and observations, and support them with specific examples or evidence. Analyze the significance and impact of these experiences.
• Use reflection techniques: Incorporate reflection techniques such as asking yourself questions, exploring the “why” behind your thoughts and emotions, and connecting your experiences to broader concepts or theories.
• Conclusion: Summarize your key insights and reflections from the essay. Emphasize personal growth, lessons learned, or changes in perspective. Leave the reader with a thought-provoking statement or a call to action.

Which Of These Best Describes A Reflective Essay?

A reflective essay is best described as a type of academic or personal writing that allows individuals to examine and reflect upon their experiences, thoughts, and emotions. It involves introspection, self-analysis, and the exploration of lessons learned or personal growth. Reflective essays provide a platform for individuals to communicate their insights and understanding of a particular event, concept, or life experience.

What Is A Reflective Essay And Examples?

A reflective essay is a form of writing where individuals express their thoughts, feelings, and observations about a specific experience, event, or topic. It goes beyond simply describing the experience and delves into analyzing the impact, significance, and lessons learned. Reflective essays encourage self-reflection and introspection, allowing writers to gain deeper understanding and insight.

Examples of reflective essay topics include:

• Reflecting on a life-changing travel experience and its impact on personal growth.
• Analyzing the challenges and successes encountered during a group project and the lessons learned.
• Reflecting on the influence of a particular book, film, or artwork and its effect on personal perspectives.
• Examining the role of personal values and beliefs in decision-making processes.

What Are The Parts Of A Typical Reflective Essay?

A typical reflective essay consists of the following parts:

• Introduction: It provides an engaging hook, background information, and context for the topic. The introduction ends with a clear thesis statement that states the main insights or lessons to be discussed.
• Body paragraphs: Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect or experience related to the topic. Writers reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and observations, supporting them with examples or evidence. They analyze the significance and impact of these experiences and connect them to broader concepts or theories.
• Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the key insights and reflections from the essay. It emphasizes personal growth, lessons learned, or changes in perspective. A thought-provoking statement or a call to action is often included to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

What Is A Goal Of The Introduction In A Reflective Essay?

The goal of the introduction in a reflective essay is to capture the reader’s attention and provide them with the necessary background information and context related to the topic. It should set the stage for the reflective journey that follows. The introduction concludes with a clear thesis statement that outlines the main insights or lessons the writer will discuss in the essay. It acts as a roadmap, guiding the reader through the writer’s reflections.

What Idea Would Most Likely Make The Best Reflective Essay?

The best idea for a reflective essay is a topic that holds personal significance and offers opportunities for introspection and deep reflection. An idea that involves a transformative experience, a significant life event, or a challenging situation often makes for a compelling reflective essay. It should be something that evokes strong emotions, prompts critical thinking, and allows for self-analysis. The best reflective essays are those that offer meaningful insights, growth, or lessons learned.

What Makes A Good Reflective Essay?

A good reflective essay possesses several key qualities:

• Authenticity: It reflects the writer’s genuine thoughts, emotions, and observations.
• Depth of reflection: It goes beyond surface-level descriptions and delves into meaningful analysis, exploring the “why” behind the experiences.
• Coherence and organization: The essay is well-structured, with clear paragraphs and logical flow of ideas.
• Use of specific examples: It supports reflections with specific examples, evidence, or anecdotes to enhance understanding and engagement.
• Connection to broader concepts or theories: It links personal experiences to broader concepts, theories, or societal issues to demonstrate critical thinking and understanding.
• Insight and personal growth: The essay offers meaningful insights, lessons learned, or personal growth as a result of the reflection.

By incorporating these elements, a good reflective essay effectively communicates the writer’s introspection and provides a thought-provoking reading experience.

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Undergraduate Writing: Conclusion Paragraph Sample

Conclusion paragraph sample.

In conclusion, we present ourselves through both face-to-face and online communication. Becoming a skilled communicator has a positive impact on our personal and social interactions. Ethical and effective communication becomes even more vital when our messages are conveyed around the globe electronically. By analyzing face-to-face and online communication skills, I identified my strengths and weaknesses and developed some ideas on how to improve my communication skills to become a more knowledgeable and skilled communicator. I plan to be an effective and ethical communicator by further educating myself in this area and practicing verbal, nonverbal, and active listening skills that I learned in the communication course.

The Writing Center’s Response: The function of a conclusion is to offer a sense of closure or completion for the ideas presented earlier in the paper. In this sample, the writer signals the end with the phrase “In conclusion” and goes on to summarize the main points of the reflection paper. The success of this paragraph lies in its final sentence, though. In this sentence, the writer looks beyond the circumstances of the paper and into the future. This can be an effective strategy for a conclusion because it widens the view, guiding the reader from the page out into the world.

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• Writing Tips

How to Write a Reflective Essay

• 3-minute read
• 29th August 2018

If you think that a “reflective essay” is a college paper written on a mirror, this post is for you. That’s because we’re here to explain exactly what a reflective essay is and how to write one. And we can tell you from the outset that no mirrors are required to follow our advice.

What Is Reflective Writing?

The kind of “reflection” we’re talking about here is personal. It involves considering your own situation and analyzing it so you can learn from your experiences. To do this, you need to describe what happened, how you felt about it, and what you might be able to learn from it for the future.

This makes reflective writing a useful part of courses that involve work-based learning . For instance, a student nurse might be asked to write a reflective essay about a placement.

When writing a reflective essay, moreover, you may have to forget the rule about not using pronouns like “I” or “we” in academic writing. In reflective writing, using the first person is essential!

The Reflective Cycle

There are many approaches to reflective learning, but one of the most popular is Gibb’s Reflective Cycle . This was developed by Professor Graham Gibbs and can be applied to a huge range of situations. In all cases, though, it involves the following steps:

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• Description – You will need to describe your experiences in detail. This includes what happened, where and when it happened, who else was involved, and what you did.
• Feelings – How you felt before, during, and after the experience you describe.
• Evaluation and Analysis – Think about what went well and what could be improved upon based on your experience. Try to refer to ideas you’ve learned in class while thinking about this.
• Conclusions – Final thoughts on what you’ve learned from the experience.
• Action – How you will put what you’ve learned into practice.

If your reflective essay addresses the steps above, you are on the right track!

Structuring a Reflective Essay

While reflective essays vary depending upon topic and subject area, most share a basic overall structure. Unless you are told otherwise, then, your essay should include the following:

• Introduction – A brief outline of what your essay is about.
• Main Body – The main part of your essay will be a description of what happened and how it made you feel . This is also where you will evaluate and analyze your experiences, either as part of the description or as a separate section in the essay.
• Conclusion – The conclusion of your essay should sum up what you have learned from reflecting on your experiences and what you would do differently in the future.
• Reference List – If you have cited any sources in your essay, make sure to list them with full bibliographic information at the end of the document.

Finally, once you’ve written your essay, don’t forget to get it checked for spelling and grammar errors!

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A Guide to Reflective Essay Writing

Reflective essays are very similar to other types of writing assignments. The big difference is that they require students to reflect upon their learning experiences and integrate them into their thinking.

In addition, these papers require students to show evidence of critical thinking, synthesis, analysis, evaluation and application.

When writing a reflection paper, it helps to begin with a clear thesis statement. This means that students should begin by identifying a central idea, or theme, that is supported throughout the paper.

Then, students should organize the body of their paper around this central idea. Finally, the conclusion section should summarize both the topic and the central idea. This guide will discuss how to write an excellent reflective essay.

Table of Contents

What Is Reflective Essay Writing?

The term “reflective” refers to the process of reflecting on one’s thoughts and actions. It also implies that students can analyze their own beliefs and attitudes to make changes.

This type of writing assignment requires students to think critically about their ideas and opinions.

This can be difficult for many people because we often have strong feelings about things. However, when writing a reflective essay, students must try to remain objective. They need to keep an open mind and avoid getting caught up in their emotions.

Students who struggle with this task may benefit from using some self-reflection techniques. For example, they could ask themselves questions such as: What am I feeling right now? Why does this matter to me?

Writing a good reflective essay involves more than just stating your opinion on a particular issue. Students should consider all sides of the argument in their reflective essay.

They should also take time to identify what they learned during the semester. By doing so, students can use their reflections to improve their understanding of the subject matter.

Once you understand the purpose of a reflective essay, you can start brainstorming topics for your paper.

There are several different ways to approach a reflective essay. You might want to choose a specific topic that interests you, or you could simply pick something at random.

Regardless of which method you decide to use, remember that you don’t have to stick to one specific format.

Models Of Reflection That Could Be Used

There are different models that you could use to structure your reflective essay. Here are a few of them:

Brookfield’s Model of Reflection

This model was developed by Brookfield (1962). In his book, he suggests that there are four steps involved in the process of reflection.

First, students must define the problem. Then, they should describe their initial reactions to the situation. Next, they should explain why they feel the way they do. Finally, they should provide suggestions for future action.

In other words, students should first identify the problem, then explain their reasons for having those feelings, and finally suggest solutions to the problem.

Atkins & Murphy Model Of Reflection

Atkins and Murphy (1991) developed a model that is based on the work of Brookfield. Their model includes five stages:

1. Identify The Problem

Students must first recognize that they have a problem before they can begin to reflect.

2. Describe The Problem

Students must describe the problem in detail. This step helps them clarify their thoughts and feelings.

3. Analyze The Problem

Students must examine the causes of the problem.

4. Evaluate The Solution

Students must evaluate possible solutions to the problem. These include both positive and negative aspects of each idea.

5. Make A Decision 

Students must choose among various options.

Gibbs Reflective Cycle

The Gibbs cycle (Gibbs, 1965) is another model that can help students organize their ideas for a reflective essay. It consists of three phases:

Phase 1 – Define The Problem  

The first phase of this model requires students to define the problem clearly. They should be able to state exactly what it is that they need to learn about a certain topic.

Phase 2 – Explain The Problem

After defining the problem, students should explain how they feel about it. They should write down any emotions that they experience while thinking about the problem.

Phase 3 – Suggest Solutions 

Once they’ve explained their feelings, students should come up with potential solutions to the problem. They may even find additional problems that they didn’t think of originally.

Johns’ Model Of Reflection

Johns (1993) has developed a model that emphasizes the importance of self-reflection. His model involves six steps:

Step 1: Determine The Goal 

Students must determine their goals for writing a reflective essay. For example, they may want to improve their academic performance or develop better study habits.

Step 2: Establish The Context 

Students must establish the setting in which they will conduct their reflections. This means that they must consider factors such as time constraints, the type of assignment, and the purpose of the assignment.

Step 3: Select An Issue 

Students must select one specific issue to focus on during their reflections.

Step 4: Develop A Plan 

Students must create a plan for conducting their research. They should determine who they will interview, what questions they will ask, where they will look for information, and so forth.

Step 5: Conduct Interviews 

Students must conduct interviews with people who are knowledgeable about the selected issue.

Step 6: Write Your Reflection 

Students must coherently write their reflections.

Kolb’s Reflective Learning Cycle

The Kolb learning cycle (Kolb, 1984) is similar to Johns’ model because it also focuses on the importance of planning and organizing activities.

However, it differs from Johns’ model in that it emphasizes the importance of identifying the learner’s current level of knowledge before beginning a new activity. In other words, students begin by observing themselves and then move on to more abstract concepts.

Students start by becoming aware of their knowledge and skills. Then, they observe themselves using these skills.

Next, they reflect upon their observations and attempt to identify the underlying reasons why they behaved in the way they did. Finally, they use this understanding to change their behavior.

These models will help you develop an outline for your reflective essay. If you’re struggling to figure out where to start, try using one of these models as a starting point.

The Structure Of A Reflective Essay

Reflective essays have three main parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. Each part has its structure. Here is a brief description of each section.

Introduction

This is usually written at the very beginning of the paper. It provides background information about the topic and explains how the student became interested in it.

This is the most important part of the essay. The writer describes his/her thoughts and experiences related to the topic. You can include any number of examples and details here.

This is the final paragraph of the essay. It summarizes the key points discussed in the body of the paper.

Writing Tips & Strategies

There are many different ways to approach a reflective essay. These tips will help you get started.

1. Start With An Idea

Before you even think about writing your reflective essay, you need to know what you want to say.

2. Think About Your Purpose

Your purpose for writing the essay should be clear. What do you hope to accomplish? Why are you doing this project?

3. Plan Ahead

You should have a general idea of what you want to cover in your essay. Make sure that you have enough time to complete it.

4. Be Specific

Be specific when describing events or situations. Don’t just tell readers what happened. Instead, describe the event in detail.

5. Use Examples

Use concrete examples whenever possible. This helps make your ideas easier to understand.

6. Focus On One Issue At A Time

Don’t try to address too many topics at once. Choose one issue and focus on it throughout the entire paper.

7. Write Clearly

Make sure that your writing is easy to read. Avoid long sentences and complex vocabulary.

8. Proofread Before Submission

Read over your work carefully before submitting it. Look for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and other problems.

9. Use Appropriate Formatting

Always follow the formatting guidelines provided with your course materials. For example, if you’re writing a research paper, always cite sources within the text.

10. Include References

Include all relevant sources (books, articles, websites) in your bibliography. Remember to provide full citations.

11. Keep It Organized

Keep track of all your sources by using a separate document. Try to keep your notes organized so that you don’t forget anything.

12. Read Other Student Papers

Reading other students’ papers can give you valuable insight into effective writing techniques.

13. Ask Questions

If you have questions about the assignment, ask them! Many professors are willing to help their students learn more about academic writing.

14. Get Feedback

Ask your professor for feedback after completing the assignment. He/she may offer suggestions on how to improve your writing.

15. Revise As Needed

Revising your paper will ensure that you meet all requirements. If you find yourself stuck, take some time off from the task until you feel ready to continue working on it.

How To Write A Reflective Essay

The main goal of a reflective essay is to allow the student to examine his/her own beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors.

The following steps outline the process for writing a reflective essay:

Step 1: Define The Topic

The first step is to define the topic. You must identify the question you wish to answer.

Step 2: Select An Approach

Selecting an approach involves deciding whether you will use a personal narrative, a case study, or a comparison-contrast essay.

Step 3: Develop An Outline

An outline is a plan of action that shows where you intend to go with your essay. The outline includes information such as the thesis statement, supporting details, and conclusion.

Step 4: Research The Topic

Researching the topic means gathering information about the subject matter. You may need to conduct interviews, review books, and visit websites.

Step 5: Organize Your Notes

Organizing your notes is important because it allows you to easily locate the information you need.

Step 6: Draft The Introduction

Drafting the introduction requires you to write a summary paragraph that introduces your topic. This introductory paragraph should include the title of the essay, a brief overview of the topic, and any background information.

Step 7: Draft The Body Paragraphs

Drafting the body paragraphs is similar to drafting the introduction. In this section, you develop each point by providing evidence to support your argument.

Step 8: Proofread And Edit

Proofreading and editing are necessary steps to ensure that your essay meets all the criteria required by your instructor.

Writing Tips For Students

We’ve outlined some tips to help you write a high-quality reflective essay below:

1. Know What You Are Trying to Achieve

Before beginning your reflective essay, think carefully about what you want to achieve. Is there a specific purpose? Do you want to make a particular point? Do you want to convince someone else of something?

2. Be Specific

Be sure to be very clear about the topic you choose. Make sure you know exactly what you are trying to say.

3. Use Evidence

Use facts and examples to prove your points. When possible, provide quotations from sources.

4. Avoid Plagiarism

Plagiarism is when you copy another person’s work without giving credit to the original author. It is illegal and unethical.

5. Read Your Paper Carefully

Read your paper over several times before submitting it. Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

6. Don’t Rush

Don’t rush through the writing process. Take enough time to do a good job.

Reflective essays are a great way to improve your critical thinking skills and learn how to express yourself more effectively. They also help you analyze your thoughts and feelings.

WTO / Education / How to Write a Reflective Essay | 48 Essay Examples

How to Write a Reflective Essay | 48 Essay Examples

A Reflective Essay is a form of writing that describes a writer’s thoughts, feelings, actions, or a particular occurrence in a writer’s life.

This essay is about your reflection that brings out a specific image that the reader tends to picture after reading it. When writing this essay, you have to give detailed information about the event or a particular action. In the essay, you will analyze a past event from your present perspective and point to the relevant lessons you learned.

Reflective essay examples act as an inspiration for those who have no clue about writing essays by giving them an overview of how it is written. In addition, someone who is not conversant with writing the essays may look for examples of essays and read through to see the structure, format, and ideas for writing his essay.

The essays may be written from a personal experience or perhaps made up through imagination. You should discuss how the event happened and how it made you feel, including the lessons learned.

Reflective Essay Examples

Purpose of Reflective Essay

The essay is written from personal insight and self-reflection to help recount a particular event. These essays are written in school as assignments to connect the theoretical and practical aspects of teaching. Professionally written essays enable workers to reflect on their experiences and what they have learned from the job.

The following are some of the types of reflective essays that you can write:

A literary self-reflection is based on your thoughts about a literary piece you have read. You are supposed to give your opinion based on your experiences to demonstrate how you relate to the piece of literature .

Professional

Employers and employees use professional essays to gauge their knowledge about a particular aspect and how they can handle it.

The following are some of the fields that frequently use reflective essays:

Medical students

Medical students use these essays to describe patients based on their interactions to help suggest correct medication. Through these essays, students can reflect on their examination of a patient and conclusions made and later determine if it worked or what can be changed later.

Medical doctors use the essays to evaluate their interactions with customers to gauge their strengths and weaknesses in service delivery and providing treatment. Doctors use these essays to internalize their communication methods , treatment processes, and body language when treating a patient to establish areas that need improvement for increased effectiveness.

Nurses and medical assistants

By writing such essays, nurses and medical assistants can reflect on certain incidents they have encountered in the past and better handle stress, pain, and illness. Nurses and medical assistants experience stress and emotions from patients, having self-reflection can help them deal with it and perform their roles.

Lecturers and teachers

In the teaching profession, these essays help the lecturers learn and understand students’ strengths and weaknesses. They help teachers understand the growth and development of the students by reviewing their emotions.

Social workers

Social workers can write a reflection on various environmental issues and problems their clients face. They also use these essays written by their clients to find the causes of certain experiences and how they can solve developing issues highlighted.

Entrepreneurs

The business field uses such essays to analyze certain aspects of the business that they are experiencing. These essays help them come up with possible solutions for the challenges faced and offer better services.

Educational

In educational institutions, lecturers and tutors use such essays to gauge the level of understanding on a particular assignment or topic covered. When students write these essays, they can create a form of interaction with the lecturers. In addition, the lecturers can understand the students’ views on particular topics in learning through the essays.

Writing personal reflective essays can enable one to learn and understand specific experiences in their life and how to handle them. Reflective writing can enable you to understand your emotions, and you can be able to grow as a person.

Reflective Essay Example Ideas

From our definition above, you can write the essays from various perspectives. There are multiple ideas from which you can write your essay without being limited. These essays are written from an actual event or imagination.

The following are example ideas for reflective essays you can write:

A real experience

The essay is written based on a real-life experience that you had a personal connection with. In this real experience essay, you will talk about something factual rather than imagination.

You may write the essay based on a job you lost, a wedding event you attended, or an emotion you felt.

In this type of the essay, you have to give a detailed description of the particular events and the lessons learned.

Something you imagined

An imagination reflective essay is written about a creative feeling or an event that comes from your mind. This type has no facts and is an idea that has been thought of or speculated.

A place or a special object

The essay about a place or an object may be written about a town you had visited or a car you love. This essay talks about that specific place or objects positively or negatively depending on the writer’s perspective.

An indirect experience

The essay may be written from something that you have read, such as a book. It can also be written from what you have seen, such as an event or about a meal you have tasted or something that you have smelled, or a story you have heard. You should portray what you felt to the reader and its effect on you with the above-mentioned ideas.

Pre-Writing Essentials

Before writing the essay, you need to have a clear plan on what to write. First, take your time and list all the ideas and topics you want to write about. Then, you need to brainstorm and have some questions about the topic ideas.

The following part will highlight some of the steps you may follow to attain the perfect outcome, whether it is a school essay or a professional one:

Identify the topic you will be writing on

The first step in writing the essay is coming up with the topic you want to write on. In the institutions of learning, a subject is given for you to write. To write it excellent, you have to choose a topic you are confident with and have a vivid description. In cases where the topic is not given, you will need to employ your imagination and creativity to develop a topic.

Study your subject

When writing the essay on a specific topic, you may have to relive that moment to have a clear picture of the events. In addition, you may need to meditate and note down the key points you intend to write.

Note down the relevant ideas

In this step of writing the essay, you might have to take notes of the relevant ideas related to your topic. This will help you connect the ideas, simplify writing, and give you a clear direction. You might also try to sketch a diagram and link related topics, ideas, and theories that you intend to write in your essay.

Pick reflection questions

Reflective questions are questions that you ask yourself to help you plan your work when writing the essay.

Some of the examples of thoughtful questions are stated below to help you:

• What did I find out?
• What was my feeling towards this?
• What made me feel this way?
• What lessons have I learned?
• What impact has it had on me?
• What effect did it have on people around me?

 These questions will act as your compass when writing your essays. You can have as many questions as you want, as this will give you many ideas to write in your essay.

Answer the questions you selected

After formulating the reflective questions that will guide you in writing your essay, you have to develop the relevant answers to your questions. The answers to these questions will be the ideas that you will write.

What did I find out? While on my short holiday I took my time off and went hiking on the mountains. This hike happened to be one of my toughest hikes. The hill has a thick forest, and I had to navigate through it to find the way. Also, the place is cold, and I had to keep myself warm during my hike.

What impact has it had on me? My time at the university was very interesting because of the people I met from different background races and cultures. Having lived in the countryside, I can appreciate people from diverse cultures and their beliefs. In addition, I was able to attend different festivals and interact with classmates on a personal level.

Identify the meaning of your experience

Before you embark on your essay writing, you need to identify the most crucial lesson you learned through that experience. This will form the basis on which you will be writing your essay. This experience will be your main subject in your essay.

Keep your ideas connected

At this point of our planning, you have the topic you want to write and the ideas connecting. You can now use the ideas you have come up with to guide you through your essay writing. Also, note the primary experience in your writing so as not to go out of the topic.

How to Write a Reflective Essay

When writing the essay, you need to follow the standard for writing a typical essay.

The following steps outline a step-by-step that you follow to write a great essay:

Introduction

In the introduction part of the essay , you have to outline the topic you want to write about and give the reader a general view of the event’s effect on you. When writing your introduction, interesting aspects of your story have to be indicated to increase your chances of getting your reader’s attention.

The hook in the introductory paragraph is to bring your audience or reader to attention from the very start. You need to describe exciting and interesting aspects of your essay to make the reader motivated to continue reading. For example, there is a thin line between life and death, one moment, you are happy and healthy but you don’t know what the next minute holds.

 A thesis statement summarizes the main subject of your essay and it’s usually the main experience and the influence it had on you.

My passion for cars and machines was one reason that made me pursue a mechanical engineering career.

When writing an introduction, you should start your paragraph with a catchy phrase that can easily capture the reader’s attention and motivate them to continue reading your essay

The body of the essay is the most integral part of your writing and carries the whole message and clear description of the events. You can have several paragraphs to talk about your reflection from your perspective and the impression the experience had on you and those around you.

In the essay on “Why Money is Important,” you can discuss the reason why money is important to you like “ I think money is a valuable asset because you need it to afford the basic things in life”.

In paragraph one, you need to talk about the experience you had. Since this is a reflective essay, you need to write with an open mind and write your thoughts.

I lived in the streets when growing up because my single mum could not afford rent money

You need to discuss another reason in your second paragraph further why the subject you are talking about had an impression on you by giving detailed information to portray the picture to the reader of the essay.

Inability to afford basic necessities like education, food, clothing, and shelter because of poverty reminds me of all the opportunities I missed because of lack of proper education.

The third paragraph of your essay writing is a continuation of the previous and a different experience that should be discussed in detail and the impression it made on you. ” We lost our dignity begging on the streets to feed our hungry stomachs, which is part of the reason why I  assert that money is important to feel accomplished and help you reserve some self-dignity.”

In the conclusion of your essay, you need to discuss your thesis statement and the key points you have highlighted in your essay. Then, you can conclude by giving your thoughts about the experience and what you will do differently in the future in case of such an event.

The closing paragraph or conclusion of the essay should include a recap of your thesis statement, followed by the reason for discussing the subject. Finally, the thesis statement states the essay’s objective, which should be included as a summary in the conclusion.

In my life, I never understood much about life. However, my experience as a volunteer with sick people in the hospital made me appreciate life and all the good things.

Reflective Essay Samples

Reflective Paper Examples

Tips for Efficient Results

There are a few tips, if which are kept in consideration while writing the essay, efficient results can be attained.

If you want to write a great essay, here are writing tips that you have to take note of:

Allow your ideas to flow freely

After choosing the topic to write about, have an open mind when writing your essay and write from a personal perspective. Let your ideas flow freely without limiting yourself, considering that you will always have time to go through your essay to edit.

Maintain a high standard of analysis

When writing your essays, you need to analyze the experiences you are writing about by continually asking yourself questions about the incidents. Take note of the challenges that you might encounter and your knowledge in handling such challenges. By having this in mind while writing, you will be able to handle your essay paper and capture all the experiences, making the reader relive your experience. When writing, you need to ask yourself relevant questions that will keep you on the topic.

What challenges are you facing? What are the lessons learned? What knowledge do I need for me to handle this experience?

Well-rounded plan

After coming up with your topic and gathering all the required information, you need to work out a well-rounded plan. Having a plan before writing ensures that you have a logical flow of writing with ideas clearly conveyed. This is a crucial step in writing thee essays as some people may tend to have a poor recount of the incidents and have a disorganized essay. A clear plan will act as your guide, which will ensure a good flow of your essay.

Try adopting a chronological approach

By adopting a chronological approach, you can arrange the flow of events so that the reader gets a flow of the events. This approach will prevent you from confusing the reader of your essay with a chaotic collection of events.

Keep the body of the essay focused and relevant

The body of your essay should contain a vivid explanation of the experiences and the impact it has had on you and people around you. In addition, you should show the reader what character you portray through the way you handled the experience and your ability to cope with such in the future.

 Write using the first-person narrative

The essay is written from a personal perspective and reflective of your behavior. Therefore, a first-person narrative is used when writing the essay since you are writing from a personal experience.

Choose vocabulary carefully

When writing the essay, always choose the most appropriate vocabulary that portrays the feelings and emotions that the reader can easily relate to .

Be honest with your feelings and opinions

The essays are about feelings and emotions; thus, you need to be honest in your writing. The reader expects a deep reflection of your honest experiences, feelings, and opinions.

 Use a variety of punctuation

In your writing, you can engage a lot of punctuation to keep your writing lively. In addition, including expressions in your writing will create a clear picture for your reader about the experiences in your writing.

Use wider sources

A reflective paper is about personal experience, but you are free to refer to outside sources related to your writing experience. Referencing a broader source to validate your experiences show deep understanding and research on your writing topic. Also, analyze other sources such as books, journals, newspapers, and magazines for experiences. Quoting from comprehensive sources also indicates your knowledge about the topic that you are writing about.

Consider tone and structure

A reflective paper is written from a personal experience, and it carries a personal tone. Therefore, the essay should follow the standard format and structure for writing essays.

Reflective Paper Samples

Reflective essays are an important type of writing that you can use to understand various experiences by profoundly analyzing the situations. They allow you to openly discuss your honest opinions, experiences, and personality to help draw important lessons learned from a past event and determine areas of improvement.

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