Beyond the Surface: The Reflection Paper
On this page, you will find:
Introduction
Reflection essays reflect a writer's personal experiences. The writer takes personal events (including what he/she heard, saw, or read) and tells us how it reflects people or aspects of society. The goal of reflection is not to find "the answer" or to exhaust the subject. Rather, the goal is to explore ideas. Unlike the position paper, in which you prove a particular point or take a certain side, the reflection essay does not neccessarily seek to draw conclusions or to make an irrevocable statement. Think of the reflection as an opportunity to try your ideas out.
For example, an incident involving inappropriate flirting in the workplace could lead to a reflection about societal definitions of sexual harrassment. When does "innocent" flirting become something more? What is the distinction between verbal and physical harrasment? Is one a more serious offense than the other? Why or why not?
Choosing a Topic
The topic for your reflection essay should be interesting and significant enough to allow you to explore ideas and make connections from them. You want to be able to maintain topical coherence and engage readers throughout the essay. This means that you want to connect ideas that are relevant to the topic without jumping randomly from one idea to the next. After thoroughly reflecting on a subtopic, try inserting a paragraph break when you begin to explore another subtopic.
Presenting Your Experience
Before presenting your experiences, consider your audience. Think of your audience as a companion on your journey of exploration. This is because you will be constantly exploring ideas on your topic. Also, consider yourself having a conversation with your audience when you are writing. Remember: they have every reason to be open-minded and to follow you as you work through your ideas.
Present your experiences using vivid details that will engage your readers. This will make them want to discover how you feel about your experiences. However, make sure your details are relevant to your experiences. Such details should make your narrative more dramatic. Try creating scenes through these details while linking them to autobiographical topics.
Connecting Your Ideas
Make connections with the details of the experiences you reveal to readers in your reflection essay. Do this by clustering or brainstorming in your prewriting. You also want your connections to be relative and significant. Try asking yourself "why" questions and link ideas. Moreover, consider questioning standards or values that conflict with your issues. Do not feel like you have to comply with any "given" standard or find "the answer." Unlike a position paper, in which you are trying to prove one point (or take one side), the reflection does not seek to set anything in stone.
Organization
There are several ways of organizing a reflection essay. You can make your ideas and supporting details interwoven. Likewise, you can begin your essay by presenting the general topics and then presenting details later. Another strategy is to do just the opposite: present specific ideas first and then make generaliztions.
Teacher Comments
For reflection essays, teachers have suggested keeping in mind who your readers are while writing. Review grammar handbooks and writing manuals while developing the essay. Do not forget that teachers usually have resources available to help you as well. Also, keep in mind that your references should be valid and due credit is given to them. As a final note, try having a friend or colleague read your reflection essay and respond to it. They may have questions or suggestions that they would like to see addressed.
