Reflection Paper Format
It is important that you know how to write a reflection paper format in order to deliver a good reflective essay. In fact, writing a format is the first task that you should always get to since it will enable you to come up with a better plan for the paper. Besides, a good reflective essay paper format will also enable you to properly organize the flow of ideas in the essay from the introduction to conclusion.
A reflection paper format is a structural description or outline of the various points that will be discussed in the essay, according to the required order. A good format should always give an exact ‘blueprint’ of the particular ideas that you will tackle in the paper. This implies it must clearly show how the different sections of the essay will be handled.
A well written reflection paper format will serve as a good reference material when writing the essay because it highlights your key points, in the right order. By knowing how to craft a good format for a reflective essay, you will find it quite easy writing those of other academic papers too. In fact, the writing formats for essays is always similar.
As a student, knowing how to write an outstanding reflective essay paper format will offer you a better chance of reinforcing what you have learnt through lectures, coursework and even personal experiences. In this way, you will be able to significantly enhance your writing skills.
Tips on how to write a reflection paper format
In order to ensure that all the elements of a good reflective essay are properly handled in your paper, you should always begin by writing a reflection paper format.
Just like writing formats for other kinds of academic papers, preparation is always required before you start crafting a format for a reflective essay.
Understand the subject of your paper
A reflective essay paper format should show the exact points that will be explained in the essay, therefore, you have to make sure that you have a better understanding or memory of the experience.
It is always advisable that you choose to discuss an experience or something that you are well conversant with. This will even make it easier in writing the format since you will not have to spend much time trying to construct stories.
Think of the approach to pursue
When asked to write a reflection paper, it is important that you identify an experience or closely-related experiences to address in the essay. Remember you cannot always tell all your stories in the paper.
Therefore, you should choose just a few experiences or one which will be vividly highlighted in the format. By pursuing a specific approach, you can easily avoid confusion when writing the format and essay.
By choosing a particular approach to take in writing, you will be able to easily identify the points to use in the body and conclusion of the essay for a logical discussion.
Narrow down your points
A reflective paper is not quite different from other essays and also requires that you give a catchy introduction, well organized and detailed body paragraphs and strong conclusion. In order to effectively analyze your points for the paper, it is advisable that you list them in the outline format.
Try listing all the points related to the experience that you need to discuss in the essay. From the cluster of the points, you should argue each of them out logically in order to choose only the key ones.
Compare the experiences, your prior knowledge, current status and even future expectations in order to identify a better idea to present in the reflection essay.
When analyzing your points, it is important to note the roles played by the introduction, body and conclusion of an essay. The points included for the introduction of a reflection paper should enable you to clearly tell readers about the experience that will be discussed.
On the other hand, you should also identify the main elements of your story which will be used in discussing the body paragraphs. The key elements are written as topic sentences to highlight the main idea for each body paragraph.
For every element or main idea that you identify, it is also important to have some additional information that will be used in driving the point home. Such additional information can refer to examples of certain incidences or evidence to support your argument in the paragraph.
In order to make the discussion in the essay more compelling, it is advisable that you identify sufficient additional information. Such can be examples of actions that you took to resolve a situation or any other challenge.
After choosing the points to address in the introduction and body paragraphs, you should also create a picture of how the conclusion of the paper will be crafted. Generally, a conclusion should summarize your main ideas and experience. However, conclusions may vary based on your perception on the topic or subject of essay.
When drafting a format for a reflective essay, remember that it is not an actual paper, instead, a plan on how the paper should be handled. Therefore, your points should be precisely outlined. In case there is anything that you might easily forget when writing, it is advisable to always note it down in the format.
Steps on how to write a reflection paper format
An ideal reflection paper format should clearly tell how your paper will be organized in each section. The following steps will guide you in ensuring that all the required elements of the essay are properly outlined in the format.
In the format, you should highlight the main sections of the paper as subheadings, under which other additional information will be listed.
Introduction
In this section, you can simply write a short description of the experience showing how it will be introduced to the readers. Besides, you can also write some catch phrases that will be used in delivering a good lead to the story.
It is also important that you state the specific aspect of your life that will be explained in the paper. In reflective essay writing, you should be more direct in explaining an aspect or certain aspects of your experiences.
Body paragraphs
The body of a reflective essay paper should present a detailed discussion of the experiences mentioned in the introduction. In the body, you should show how the experiences changed you or altered your perception on things or life in general.
In writing the format, list the key points or topic sentences that will be used in the paragraphs. Since a topic sentence represents the main idea of a paragraph, you should also list the examples, evidences or any other additional information.
Under every topic sentence, you should note the additional information or supporting details that will be used in building the paragraph to present a logical discussion in the essay.
You can also highlight how the paragraphs will be linked in the essay for smooth flow of ideas. This can include a list of transitional phrases or statements.
Conclusion
In the final phase of the format, you should list down the points that will be used to sum up the discussion of your experiences. On this section, remember you should not include any information that is not mentioned in the essay.
The points for the conclusion should reflect on your experiences, how they changed you and other impacts. Looking ahead, you can also identify some points that will be used to show how the experiences might change you in the future.
Remember the format represents your ideas or points for the essay, therefore, do not rush into writing the paper without revising it. Carefully go through the format to make sure that all the points highlighted therein are as per your requirements.
Examples of Reflection paper formats
By reading sample formats for reflective essays, you can also be able to easily master the art of crafting a good reflection paper format. The following are some examples that you can refer to for motivation.
Example 1
Reflection Essay format
- Introduction
- Identify and explain subject
- State your reaction to the subject
- Agree or Disagree?
- Did you change your mind?
- Did the subject meet your expectations?
- What did you learn?
- Thesis statement
- Body paragraph one…
Read the rest of this format here.
Example 2
Simple format for reflective essay paper
- Introduction
Present and give readers an idea of what you want to write about.
- Body paragraphs
Describe the experience, including where it happened, how it occurred, and your thoughts at that time among other elements.
- Conclusion
Give a summary of your experience, realizations or lessons and thoughts.
Get the detailed format on this link.
Example 3
Sample reflection essay format
Introduction
- Identify focus of reflection
- Identify theories or course materials
- Main lessons from the experience
- Main themes to be addressed
- Suggestions on what you have learned
Body…
Read the detailed version of this format here.
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References
http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-reflective-essay-definition-format-examples.html
http://reflective-essay.org/reflection-paper-format/
http://classroom.synonym.com/steps-writing-reflection-paper-2543.html
http://www.usf.edu/engagement/documents/reflection.pdf