How do you write a reflective essay?

Steps for Writing a Reflective Essay

1. Think of an event which could become the topic of your essay.
2. Make a mind-map.
3. Write a strong opening paragraph.
4. State your supporting arguments, ideas, and examples in the body paragraphs.
5. In the first sentence of the conclusion, briefly summarize your thoughts.

What is reflective essay example?

Reflective essays should have a clear introduction, body and conclusion in order to share the past events and how those events created change in the writer. A few examples of reflective essays are Notes of a Native Son and Looking at Women.

What reflective essay means?

A reflective essay is a type of writing in which the essay writer describes an experience or event that they observe or examine. The word “reflective” means that you look back to the past and analyze them from the present. In a reflective essay, the writer must set the direction of thoughts.

How do you start off a reflective essay?

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.

What makes a good reflective essay?

Academic reflective writing requires critical and analytic thought, a clear line of argument, and the use of evidence through examples of personal experiences and thoughts and often also theoretical literature. You should aim for a balance between personal experience, tone, and academic practice and rigor.

What is the purpose of a reflective essay?

The purpose of reflective writing is to help you learn from a particular practical experience. It will help you to make connections between what you are taught in theory and what you need to do in practice.

Can you use the word I in a reflective essay?

1 First Person 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.

How do you write an introduction to a reflection?

Your introduction should specify what you’re reflecting upon. Make sure that your thesis informs your reader about your general position, or opinion, toward your subject. State what you are analysing: a passage, a lecture, an academic article, an experience, etc…) Briefly summarize the work.

How many paragraphs should a reflective essay have?

Use a three-paragraph structure. In the first one, introduce the experience and how it influenced you. In the next one, compare the experiences of others. Then, tell what you learned from it.

How many paragraphs are in a reflective essay?

Are reflective essays written in first person?

As a large proportion of your reflective account is based on your own experience, it is normally appropriate to use the first person (‘I’). However, most assignments containing reflective writing will also include academic writing.

What are the characteristics of reflective essay?

A reflective essay is supposed to reveal your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It requires your presence in the text of the paper. The use of personal ‘I’ in this type of paper is ok. You can also use other personal pronouns like ‘we’, ‘you’, ‘they’ etc.

What should you do when writing a reflective essay?

In short, a recipe for a good reflective piece can be written down as follows: Study the assignment guidelines and marking scheme thoroughly to understand what is expected of you. If still unsure where to start, consult the books on reflective writing. Select an experience that taught you something important. Start with a description, proceed with analysis and evaluation, and conclude with an action plan for the future.

How to start a reflective essay?

Being catchy is the key. In writing your reflective essay,you must start with something that would captivate the readers right away.

Write the thesis statement in one sentence. A thesis statement refers to the sentence that carries the topic being discussed in the whole essay.

Stick to the first person POV. Remembering that this essay is subjective and depends on the author’s interpretation,it is important to use the first person point of view.

Keep it brief.

How do I structure a reflective essay?

How Do I Structure a Reflective Essay? Opening. Begin the essay with the event or situation that will lead to the realization or deeper understanding you wish to present. Development. Develop the essay by adding detail and interesting conflicts that occur along the way, but don’t stray too far and keep the end point of the essay in Conclusion.

How long should a reflective essay be?

A reflective essay is more of a well-structured story or a diary entry. You will probably be required to arrange your essay using the APA format or the MLA format. The typical reflection essay length will vary between 300 and 700 words. Ask your instructor about word length to make sure you follow the instructions.