For this first essay, you will write a reflective essay. A reflective essay, on the surface, is just what it claims to be: an examination (reflection) of some personal experience. However, the best reflective essays try to understand the experience better and usually lead to some point or illustrate some truth or insight. Some key components of the reflective essay are that they: fully explain the experience illustrate some point or insight through a close examination of the self or experience are thoughtful and explore how the writer has changed or grown For this assignment, you will write a reflective essay of 800-1,000 words. Some tips and ideas to get you started: Establish the Topic One way to begin is by explaining what you saw, heard, experienced, or learned. Describe objects, summarize readings, or narrate events. Don’t assume your reader knows what you do. Provide background that sets the stage for your reflection. Develop the Topic Once you have explained your topic, add your opinions or perspective. In other words, make a point or develop a thesis about the topic. Using one or more of the following prompts can help you generate ideas and organize your thoughts. Define: Explain a complex term’s meaning. Classify: Explain a topic by categorizing it with like items. Athletes can be placed in the same category as dancers because of their training; journalists can be considered the “watchdogs” of democracy. Compare/Contrast: Illustrate the similarities or differences between set topics or introduce an outside idea to illuminate a difficult concept. Metaphors can be a powerful tool for exploring or explaining. The circulatory system can be compared to a geographical structure: it is like a river but unlike a lake; citizenship can be compared to a football team: everyone has to know the plays. Evaluate: Determine whether a topic is good or bad, desirable or undesirable, ethical or unethical, effective or ineffective, etc. Or is the topic somewhere in between? Provide logical reasons and evidence to support your main points. The more rigorous you are in challenging your assumptions, the more likely you are to gain useful insight into your topic. Come to a Conclusion A strong conclusion will discuss the implications and significance of your ideas. If you point out a problem, propose a solution or suggest what might happen if the problem is ignored. If more research needs to be done, stress the benefits of finding an answer. If you are discussing a theory, show how it can be applied. And if you are giving an opinion, make sure your readers believe that your opinion matters.
