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Writing a Reflective EssayEnglish 20

What is Reflection??▪Reflection is the activity of silence during which people look back on personal experiences, playing them over again in their minds, and try to understand the meaning of it all….

▪ In an essay of reflection, a writer focuses on an important aspect of his or her past, carefully examining the subject in order to form new understandings about its significance.

How does reflection happen?

We have an experience We react to that experience We remember important details and

impressions about the experience We think about what those details mean to

us We form opinions – about others, about

situations, about humanity, or life in general based on the meaning we give to the details of our experiences

A reflective essay accomplishes the following:1) Focuses on a recollection of specific

moments in the pastNot your whole life story, please. Just an incident, experience or short time period

2) Relates significances of the recollection to new understandings

What else does reflection do?

3) Appeals to the emotion of the readerMakes the reader FEEL something!

The reader will relate to your experience and the emotions you felt at the time!

4) Vividly presents the recollection using figurative language, descriptive details, effective transitions and narrative details

The language you choose, the details you select and the order you arrange them all combine to create a scene for your reader

Also, the “deeper meaning” will come through

And finally, reflective writing…

5) Expresses the personal voice of the author

6) Shows evidence of clear planning7) Presents its points clearly and logically

Theme

You need to have a theme! What’s the larger meaning of your experience? What new understanding has reflecting led you to?

Useful phrases for reflective writing:

I think...I felt...I was aware...I realized...Looking back, I now think...At the time I thought…Looking back, I can see that…

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