How to Write a Reflection Paper

A reflection paper is an academic assignment, which helps students present their point of view about the definite article or scientific paper. One should read and understand the material in order to share his professional opinion about it. It is quite difficult to complete the original reflection paper, because it has numerous requirements and norms of writing. Below you will find a few writing tips, which will help you cope with your reflection paper effectively.

Step One: Define the Main Themes of Your Article or Lecture

When you need to prepare a reflection paper about the definite article, you ought to read it attentively in order to understand its main themes. You ought to write down the most important moments of this article if you want to cover it from all sides. Moreover, you are able to make a brief summary of the article to provide the reader with the basic information about its content. It is useful to complete a table about the content of the article. You can write about the main points mentioned in the text. Obviously, you should choose those points, which are important personally for you. It is the main characteristic feature of a reflection paper. You write about the problems, which are interesting for you. Then, you need to share you reflections about the problems you have mentioned before. Finally, you can evaluate the relation between your reflection paper and your personal response.

Step Two: Prepare a Set of Questions in the Form of the Outline

It is useful to organize your work logically. If you want to cover all parts of your article, you should brainstorm a few questions, which will guide your reflection paper properly. To begin with, ask whether the article touches upon social, artistic, cultural or other problems. Secondly, ask whether the article has changed your point of view about the subject under analysis. In simple words, ask whether the author has managed to persuade you in his opinion. Then, ask whether the author has managed to clarify his subject in detail. Very often students have questions when they read articles or lectures, because they do not understand the entire content and the author’s idea. In the end, you can ask how the article has influenced your background knowledge about the suggested problem. Say whether you have learnt something new or not.

Step Three: Organize Your Reflection Paper

You ought to understand that your reflection paper should be very brief. The longest reflection paper covers no more than 700 words. Consequently, you should be laconic and understandable. You have to write clearly and convincingly. Furthermore, you need to keep to the right structure and format suggested by your instructor. It is smart to write about your expectations. Say that you have expected to learn about something new in order to improve your knowledge about the issue. You can also write about the connection of your prior knowledge and the new facts.

Step Four: Develop Your Reflection Paper Intensively and Conclude It Wisely

It is reasonable to invent a good thesis statement, which will reflect the entire content of your article or lecture. Then, you ought to share your reflections about the main points of the article and provide the reader with the most important conclusions devoted to each point. Bear in mind that you should be a critic if you want to prepare a successful reflection paper. You have to evaluate the scientific piece of writing; therefore, you should analyze the article attentively and criticize it from your own subjective side.