Writing Reflection Paper

Definition

• A reflection essay is a summary of the material studied in class that comes in a written form as your response/thoughts about what you’ve learned.

• Discuss what you have learned during the class and how it will assist you in achieving further academic and work related goals.

• Include your strategies for capitalizing on your strengths and overcoming your weaknesses in order to become a successful writer.

What are included in a reflection paper?

• Summarize what happened (learning to write) in this class.

• Identify and explain relevant material (theories, concepts) learned from the course.

• Use the concept/idea/theory to analyze what happened (your writings).

• Grammar / Rhetoric / Writing process / Writing topics discovery…etc.

KWLH chart (Donna Ogle, 1986)

• K - Recall what you KNEW about the subject before the course start.W - Recall what you WANTed to learn in the beginning.L - Identify what you LEARNed so far.H - HOW you can learn more (e.g. other sources where additional information on the topic can be found; other practicing chances).

What I KnewWhat I

Wanted to Know

What I’ve Learned

How I can Learn More

Guidelines• Papers should be 2 pages long (about 500 words), double

space, with formal language and correct spelling and punctuation.

• Topics have to be chosen and specified. There can be one major, or several small topics in a reflection paper.

• Topics reflected upon include any information covered in class or in the reading from the beginning of the semester to the present.

• Papers may take 1 or 2 topics and examine them deeply, or more topics examined in less detail

• When writing, consider the following: – What have I studied/learned that is interesting? – What new things have I learned? – How has my learning affected preconceptions or

misconceptions I brought with me into class? – What changes do I make based on what I newly learn?– What else do I want to learn? – How can I learn more?

• Make a draft first that will give you an understanding of how many and how long your paragraphs will be, what is going to be the statement, and what facts you are going to use.