Include: Title, Author Name (or Director, Photographer, etc.).Introduction: Introduce the material you’re reflecting on.The following is a loose outline that you can use to guide you through your reflection paper: (Of course, if you received specific guidelines from your instructor, you should stick to those.) Reflection papers don’t really require a rigid structure-the most important thing is that you communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. The more of these connections you can tie in to your reflection to create a cohesive picture, the better. What do these connections have in common? Can you point out a larger, more universal theme? Then, zoom out and try to see the bigger picture. Make connections.ĭoes the material remind you of any personal experiences you’ve had, or other books or films you’ve encountered? Can you connect it to any current events or real-world examples? If you’re writing a reflection paper on a work of fiction, be sure to check out our guide to writing a literary analysis. the credibility of the writer (or producer of the content).Once you’ve offered enough context for your readers by including a brief summary, analyze the The questions in Step 1 will offer you a good start when it comes to thinking more analytically. Your reflection paper is a great place to practice your critical thinking skills, which include analysis. Just be careful to not overdo the summary-you don’t want to reproduce or offer a play-by-play of the original work, but rather offer enough context so readers can appreciate your reflection and analysis. If writing about nonfiction, share the author’s thesis, or the main argument they’re trying to make. If you’re writing about a work of fiction, very briefly and concisely summarize the plot. Include information about the author (if you’re writing about a book or article). However, you should give a recap of the most important aspects, and offer specific examples when necessary to back up any assertions you make. Your reflection paper should not be just a mere summary of the material you’ve read or studied. Be honest about how you feel, especially if the material incites any strong opinions or reactions from you. Think about what you’ve learned, or how the material has affected you. What’s the main takeaway? If you could summarize your thoughts on this piece in one sentence, what would you say? Once you’ve answered a few basic questions, look at your responses and see if you can identify any common themes. Does it remind you of any personal experiences, or anything else you’ve seen or read?Īnswering these questions will help you formulate your own opinions, draw conclusions, and write an insightful reflection.What have you learned from this material?.What new or remaining questions do you have after reading/viewing the material?.Which issues or questions does the material fail to address?.Has the material changed your mind in some way?.Do you find the writer (or director, presenter, etc.) to be credible?.What was your first reaction to the material? Was it positive, negative, or neutral?. A good way to start is by answering a series of key questions. To write a reflection paper, you need to be able to observe your own thoughts and reactions to the material you’ve been given. Use these 5 tips to write a thoughtful and insightful reflection paper. However, there are things you can do to write more effective reflections that will give you (and your teachers, if applicable) more insight to your views and thought processes. The good news is that there are on wrong answers! Often, these assignments are completed in class, so the reflections are generally under 1,000 words. If you’re a student, in most cases, you’ll be given a prompt or question to guide your reflection. Or, you can write a reflection paper for your own purposes, to work out your thoughts and feelings on a personal subject. However, it can also be written in a professional setting, often by those who study education or psychology, to reflect on an individual’s behavior. This type of essay is often assigned to students after they’ve read a book or watched a film. What Is a Reflection Paper?Ī reflection paper is a type of essay that requires you to reflect, or give your thoughts and opinions, on a certain subject or material. If you’ve been assigned the task of writing a reflection paper on a book you’ve read, film you’ve seen, or an event you’ve attended, you may be wondering where to start.Īfter all, there are few rules when it comes to writing a reflection, since it’s basically just your reaction and thoughts on the material-and all that creative freedom can be intimidating at first! But even with this lack of structure, there are steps you can take to write a reflection paper that adds value to the discussion.
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