How To Write A Reflection Paper With Free Writing Tips And Example

One of the most common types of papers among college students is a reflection paper. Almost any subject requires you to express your opinion on certain matters. Today, in this article, we will be explaining how to write a reflection paper, provide examples, and some useful tips to make the essay writing process easier.

After all, reflection papers are supposed to feature both a personal and academic tone. That would mean that in this paper, you are going to analyze and think about how an experience, academic paper, article, or lecture molded your perception and thoughts on a subject.

Here are a few key things that you must keep in mind about writing a good personal reflection paper. Sit back, read till the end, and get some useful writing tips from GoEssayWriter's expert team.

What Is a Reflection Paper? - Understanding Reflection Papers

A paper that is reflective requires you to write your point of view on a topic, backing it up with your personal experiences and observations. Unlike other types of essays, wherein you are asked to include the thoughts and assertions of other scholars and authors, in this reflective essay writing, you get the opportunity to share your point of view—and there is no mistake to that point. It is your own opinion or your work to express your mentality in some way that will be clear and understandable for all the readers who will go through your paper. The topic range is enormous, as you can write about pretty much anything.

There are three types of reflection papers; the style in which you write can change slightly depending on what type you are writing. The educational reflecting paper is the first type. Your work is to give enlightenment criticism about a book, movie or conference that you attended in an educating manner for the reader. Secondly is the professional paper. It is usually written by those who come from either psychology or educational backgrounds. It may, for example, be an individual's action-reflection. The last one comes down to the personal type that describes your thoughts and feelings about a specific topic.

With GoEssayWriter by your side, you can now easily unlock the potential of your thoughts. Dive into your very own experiences, analyze them through the use of expert guidance, and transform the insights that you gathered into an effective reflection paper.

Types of Reflection Papers and Reflection Paper Examples

Let's find out what you should keep in mind before starting to write a reflection paper. Reflective essays can be of many types. Make sure you choose the one that suits you the most. 

Three classifications have been established on the basis of what, how, and when you shall reflect.

Considering time, reflective papers can be:

• Reflection-in-action– You learn about how you behave within a particular context. It is mostly a patient-therapist interaction. In this situational case, you observe, feel and grade in the situation you are involved in.
• Reflection-on-action– You study your actions after the situation that has already happened. That is where the use of critical thinking is paramount.

Considering the manner, reflecting essays can be:

• Experimental – You connect your theory to practice with an experiment. It can be engaged in sociology, education, business, psychology, forensics, and nursing.
• Reading – You connect the concepts of the texts as well as your insights to show your understanding.

Considering the content, reflective writing can be:

• A journal (to track down your course learning)
• A learning diary (to analyze group work)
• A reflective note (expressing your attitudes towards a problem)
• A logbook (to reflect on your experiments, analyze existing actions, and plan future ones)
• An essay diary (to write an annotated bibliography, to evaluate and critique the sources)
• A peer review (giving feedback on other students’ teamwork or work)
• A self-reflection essay (to analyze and comment on the process of your work)

For example, a reflective essay can bring out how the community service project impacted the writer's mind regarding social issues and the need for giving back. The writer should state their initial thoughts and feelings, describe the concrete particularities of the experience itself, and, finally, explain how the experience influenced their perceptiveness and helped them define newly reshaped personal values and beliefs.

Whether it is a very important life issue, an overwhelming academic assignment, or even a life-changing experience, reflective essay topics present the ability of an author to stand outside a personal experience in order to reflect on that experience, gain insights, and learn from it.

How to Start a Reflection Paper? Preparing to Write

Reading your article thoroughly while taking notes is the very first thing to do when starting to work on a reflection essay. You can write a reflection paper by summarizing the main concept of your notes to see if your essay has included all the information needed for your readers. It is most helpful while delivering ideas in a better fashion to add diagrams, charts, and lists.

Once you have read your article, you will want to brainstorm the thoughts and questions you have generated. We at GoEssayWriter use a simple brainstorming strategy to deal with students’ “write my essay” requests. It is all about answering some of the following basic questions below:

• How did the article affect you?
• How does this article catch the reader's attention (or does it)?
• Has the article changed your mind about something? If so, explain how.
• Has the article left you with any questions?
• Are there critical issues that were not discussed in the article?
• Does it connect with anything from your previous reading experience?

Developing a Thesis Statement

Every reflection paper should have a good, brief thesis statement for a summary of the main point or idea. The thesis guides the body of your essay so the analysis presented in it should be based on what you state herein. It, therefore, has to be one simple sentence that explains the performance of the experience, its meaning, and what you will talk about.

Brainstorming Ideas and Experiences

Come up with ideas of different experiences reflecting on which can be worth the effort. Think of an important event, a challenge, or an aspect of learning. Create probing questions to track down deep thoughts or emotional insights and list them down. From the list, take out the most impactful, which can be used as an experience to develop into a long reflective paper.

Writing a Reflection Paper Outline

There are a few key elements that must be included in your reflection paper. Please scroll down and take a look.

Introduction

Your introduction should let the reader know what you are reflecting upon. Be sure that your thesis statement tells the reader about your general position or opinion about your topic.

• Mention what are you analyzing: a passage, a lecture, an academic article, an experience, etc.
• Summarize the work briefly.
• Develop a thesis statement, including how your subject has affected you.

Body Paragraphs

In each body paragraph, develop the ideas and experiences in relevance to your topic. All new body paragraphs must begin with a topic sentence.

Your observation might feature quotes and excerpts if you are reacting to a book or an academic article, as they serve to direct your reader in building a base on how to read your responses correctly. You can go ahead and express your feelings about what you experienced through your eyes and ears.

Conclusion

As with any conclusion, you should restate what you have learned from the experience. Next, you want to inform the reader how your newfound knowledge has provided you something in the way of a deeper understanding of your subject. Finally, share your opinion or feeling you have from reading or experience. These should support the final impression presented by the essay's conclusion.

There are a few good ways to end a reflection paper:

• Synthesize all your ideas from the body paragraphs and generalize the major insights you have experienced.
• You should reiterate your thesis and summarize the paper's content.

How to Write a Reflection Paper? - Step-by-Step Guide with Reflections Examples 

Here are the steps, along with reflections examples to take into account when writing a paper that stands out:

Step 1: Develop a Main Theme

After selecting your topic, write a brief summary of your learning experience with that topic. After that, allow readers to understand your feelings regarding the case – and be honest. There is scope that your readers will likely relate to your viewpoint or at least the way you create your opinion, which will allow them to better grasp your reflection.

For example – I was able to see a TEDx episode of Wim Hof after which I reassessed my prior notions of bad effects due to the so-called cold exposure.

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas and Experiences You’ve Had Related to Your Topic

You can just put down some quotes, your opinions, what moved you, or what was memorable. Try not to be formal but attempt to make some explanation in very simple words about what it made you feel.

For example –

• There is also a common perception that even a little carbohydrate intake makes people fat
• A specific period when I had an overweight problem in which I completely avoided taking starches and carbohydrates
• The consequences of my acts made me reflect on my research
• The evidence and studies of nutritional science that hold carbohydrates alone are responsible for making people fat

Step 3: Evaluate How and Why These Impacted Your Interpretation of Your Theme

Choose one of the ideas or experiences that you have learned from the previous step, then develop it. Finally, write your stand on whether it is for or against it.

For example, Idea:

I was always taught that people become fat due to carbohydrates.

Analysis: Most people believe and perceive that any form of carbohydrates consisting of bread, cereal, and sugar will make them fat. I believe this myth to such an extent that I stopped consuming carbohydrates at all. As a result, I had extremely low levels of blood glucose. I had to conduct wide research to eliminate my beliefs at last. Later, I used the approach of "everything in moderation" as the secret to a healthy life.

Step 4: Make Connections Between Your Opinions, Experiences, and Observations

Try combining your thoughts and awareness to paint a picture of your subject. You may able to distinguish and breach your assumptions, which you can challenge in the future too.

Some of the reflective essay topics writing about which is most common are as follows:

• Book – Just give your readers a brief background of the author, a short plot summary without telling them how the book will end, the character names, the theme/s, and any issues discussed in it. Then conclude it by writing what was running in your mind and your views on the book itself.
• Course – Begining with the course name and description is a perfect way to start writing. At this point, you can state the course flow, why you took the course, and finally, what you learnt from it.
• Project –The guidelines for writing an outline of a reflection paper about a project are the same as for that of a course. In this case, however, some of the things you might want to include are the pros and cons of the course. Include some changes that you might want to see and assess how relevant the skills you learned are to real life.
• Interview– First Introduce the person and state the discussion briefly. Touch the main points, controversies, and opinions of that person.

Writing and Refining Your Paper

Effective reflective writing goes beyond personal experiences by bringing on board an in-depth analysis of experiences, integration of theoretical insights, and making meaningful conclusions from the experiences. The experts at GoEssayWriter always recommend starting by choosing an event that is significant to you and that you seek to delve into. Reflect more on why the event is important, how it affected you, and what you have learned from it. Bring relevant theories or concepts that will give a broad contextual basis for the events while demonstrating an understanding of the concepts or theories.

Effective Reflective Writing Techniques

Write reflectively in a personal yet professional tone. It should include an introductory part that will set the context and clearly state the purpose of your reflection. Then, there is a need to describe a number of views of experience vividly by using descriptive language. Smooth transitions across the sections help in the coherent flow. Be honest about your thoughts and feelings, but also critical. Relate generic points using specific examples and link your reflections on generic concepts or theories.

Organizing and Structuring Your Paper

Complete your paper in logical order. The introduction includes general information on the content of your paper, and the body paragraphs expand upon that. In the end, all of the information you included is summarized into a paragraph to synthesize your reflection/experience.

Revising and Editing for Clarity

It is fundamental to the process of reviewing and editing your work in order to finish your paper. When you have written a first draft, set it aside set it aside, then return to it when you can look at it with renewed focus. Review for clarity and coherence; make sure all your points are well-organized and well-expressed. Simplify very long sentences. Avoid unnecessary jargon and check grammar, punctuation, and spelling carefully.

Reflection Paper Writing Tips

The beauty of a reflective essay lies in its diversity of style, and that is its writing; you can have many liberties with this kind of paper. The following are a few tips that everyone should follow:

Before you write research, it’s recommended that you first read some examples of other papers; this will help you better understand what they are and how to go about yours. Choose a topic that is quite extraordinary but still quite memorable; it will certainly catch your reader's attention. The work should never be done in one sitting. Ensure your reflection paper timeslots are at least a day apart. This will give your brain time to generate new ideas and reflect on them.

• Brief and Sweet – Most reflection papersare 250 to 750 words. Do not deviate. Stick to the point.
• Clear and Concise– Make your paper as clear and concise as possible. State your points firmly, using a strong thesis statement so that the essay can follow up with equal vigor.
• Maintain the Right Style — Do use a professional and academic writing style, even when writing in the first person.
• Support Your Assertion— Cite the sources and experts who might support your own opinion.
• Revision— You should not only revise for spelling and grammatical errors, but also to emphasize your organization. Answer the question mentioned in the introduction.

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Writing a reflection paper can be a very fulfilling process because it strengthens your knowledge on a given subject, enabling you to bring out your personal experiences and opinions. By following some of the guidelines and tips mentioned above, you will be able to draft a reflective essay that will not only be impactful but also thought-provoking.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the ideal length for a reflection paper?

The ideal length for a reflection paper typically ranges from 250 to 750 words, depending on the assignment requirements. Always adhere to the guidelines provided by your instructor or the specific assignment brief.

2. What tone should I use in a reflection paper?

Use a personal and conversational tone in your reflection paper. It should be reflective and introspective, allowing you to convey your thoughts and emotions honestly and clearly.

3. How should I format my reflection paper?

Format your reflection paper with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Use standard formatting: double-spacing, 1-inch margins, and a readable font like Times New Roman or Arial in 12-point size.

4. What should be included in the body of a reflection paper?

The body should elicit vivid descriptions of experiences or thoughts, your reaction, insights gained, and any connections to broader themes or concepts. Support your reflections by using specific examples.

5. How do I conclude a reflection paper?

Conclude by summarizing your key insights and reflecting on what you found. Discuss any future consequences or how experience or insights will influence your actions, understanding, or future endeavors.

6. Can I use the first person in a reflection paper?

Yes, the use of the first person is acceptable and, in fact, expected under many situations when it comes to writing a reflection paper. For a reflection paper, one must offer a personal account of their thoughts, experiences, and feelings.

7. What are some common mistakes to avoid in a reflection paper?

Do not end up going too general and vague without a proper sense of offering in-depth analysis or the inability to connect your various experiences to the main themes. Stay away from text arrangement flaws and mistakes in wording, and do not stick to the given guidelines.

8. How do I reflect critically in a reflection paper?

This calls for critical reflection on what manner the experience has meant for you, your thoughts, questions of assumptions, views from different perspectives, and links to wider concepts. Discuss the implications of insights that came out of what you have reflected. Be honest about how you feel and what this learning means.