FORMAT FOR REFLECTION PAPER

Step 1

Provide a brief summary. Write a narrative of your experience with the topic

upon which you are reflecting. Detail factual information, as well as your

feelings and impressions.

Step 2

Compare your experience with your prior knowledge. Introduce any ideas

that you had encountered. Point out why you feel the concept pertains to the

experience. For instance, if you are reflecting on a lesson plan you had

taught, you could discuss articles that you have read on writing and teaching

lesson plans.

Step 3

Analyze your experience according to the theoretical concept. Illustrate the

ways in which your experience diverged from what the theory expects as

well as how closely it conformed to theoretical expectations. Discuss why

you feel the theory either described or did not describe your experiences.

Step 4

Edit your reflection paper. Look for the thesis of your paper. Adjust your

paper to keep a consistent focus on that thesis. Check for grammatical and

stylistic errors.