How to Write a Reflection Paper

            A reflection paper provides students with a platform to express their perspective or understanding of an article or certain matters or lessons. Lecturers assign this kind of assignment to encourage learners to express their opinions, and to assess their understanding of a particular concept or lecture. Though a reflection paper follows all the outlined guidelines of academic writing including adapting an academic tone throughout the essay, it normally leans more on being subjective and does not require academic sources. You must be wondering where to start your reflection paper assignment, come along to learn how to write a reflection paper in this comprehensive guide.

What is a Reflection paper?

Reflection papers involve expressing your personal view and opinion on a subject, topic, or concept. The use of personal experiences and observations is allowed while crafting a reflection paper. The uniqueness of reflection papers is that there is no right or wrong answer, you explore your thoughts on a particular topic and provide your opinion in a manner that’s understandable to your readers. There are three categories of reflection papers which are;

• Educational reflection papers: they involve expressing your opinion on a film, lesson, article, or book within a particular course.
• Professional Reflection papers: these are usually for experts within the education or psychology field among other fields. They are commonly used to assess behaviour.
• Personal Reflection papers: these papers involve expressing your view and opinion on an individual or intimate matter.

Reflection Paper Format

A reflection paper does not follow a particular format. In some cases, your professor may provide you with a specific format to follow but in others it may not be provided. Here are a few guidelines on how to format a reflection paper from our experts;

• Insert double space between the lines.
• Your paper shouldn’t be too lengthy, approximately 400-800 words. The paper may however be longer depending on the specific requirements set by your instructor.
• Use a clear and visible font for example Times New Roman.
• Use acceptable font size, normally, this is size 12.

How to Start a Reflection paper

The first step of writing your reflective paper is reading through your material, it could be an article, a book, or a topic. Make notes of important concepts and ideas as you read through.

After giving your article a thorough read, Brainstorm on your key concepts and ideas. This helps in organizing your thoughts and ensuring your paper has a coherent and clear flow. Here are a few questions to deliberate on before beginning writing your reflection paper;

• What effect did the article or book have on you?
• Do any questions arise after reading the article?
• Does the article grasp the attention of the audience?
• What questions arise in your mind after reading the book or article?
• What important issues have you noted and have not been addressed in the article?
• How does the article relate to your past readings?
• Has the article altered your thoughts concerning something?

Reflection Paper Format

A proper reflection paper outline contains the following;

1. Introduction

• Highlight what you are assessing.
• Give a summary of what you are analysing.
• State your position, opinion, or how the subject matter has affected you in your thesis.

You can also refer to our article on How to write a compelling introduction for more guidance and insights on how to craft your introduction.

2. Body paragraphs

Your body paragraphs normally expound more on your thesis and should include;

• Start every paragraph with a topic sentence.
• Communicate your reflections and experiences.
• Discuss your main ideas and concepts in depth.
• Reference quotes from the article or the book you are analysing
• Discuss how the article has affected you personally.

3. Conclusion

• Revisit your position or opinion as stated in the thesis statement.
• Summarize the experience, the main ideas, and concepts as discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Describe the overall personal experience you had in the whole analysing process.
• Provide your assumptions or suggestions for further research.

Step by step Guide on how to write a Reflection paper

1. Choose your topic/subject

In scenarios where your instructor has not provided you with the topic, the first step is to pick a suitable topic for your reflective essay. Given that a reflection paper involves expressing your individual opinion on a subject matter, consider a topic that falls within your passions and interests. Below are a few examples of reflection paper topics to consider;

• How your diet affects your well-being.
• Reflection on the novel, The Sunbird by Wilbur Smith.
• Personal insights on effects of social on mental health
• How to cope with mental fatigue
• Reflection on a group assignment

2. Set your theme

After brainstorming on your selected topic, proceed to provide an overview of the lessons learned and your experiences analysing such a topic or a book. End by presenting your position or main idea on the subject.

3. Discuss in-depth the experiences you’ve had in relation to the topic.

Reflect on experiences and observations you’ve had that relate to the subject. Echo on the feelings and emotions you had during the experience.

4. Explain how the experiences, ideas, and thoughts affect your view on the subject.

Discuss how the experiences you discussed influenced your understanding of the subject matter. Touch on how the experiences impacted your personal growth and also highlight the lessons learned from the reflection journey.

5. Create a compelling conclusion

Finalize your essay by providing a summary of your main ideas and the relevance of your reflection on the subject. Highlight the lessons learned and how they are beneficial to you. If applicable, you can provide assumptions to lay the ground for further research.

6. Revise, edit, and proofread your paper

Read through to correct any errors and to ensure the flow of your essay is consistent and clear.

 

Tips and insights on how to write a reflection paper

Use your thoughts and ideas effectively and efficiently to express your opinion on the subject matter, it could be a book an article, or an observation.

Brainstorm your ideas and concepts regarding the subject matter. This ensures a proper arrangement of your concepts and gives your essay a good flow.

Set the right tone for your essay. Understand that though reflective writing is more personal it should also maintain an academic tone.

Consider the length of your paper. Ensure your essay is not too lengthy, Reflection letters normally maintain a 400-800 words rule.

Use clear and correct formatting for your reflection paper.

 

Examples of reflection essays

For more insights and a better understanding, view the below-attached examples of our best reflection papers. You can also engage us at Skilled Tutorials to get your assignment done in hours.

Example 1: Reflection Paper On Paradigmatic Position in Marketing

In this reflection paper example, we look at how to write a reflective paper based on a specific topic. Read through the essay to assess how to start a reflection paper, and understand a reflection paper format.

1. My Paradigmatic Position

This essay is my reflection paper on the question of the paradigmatic position I hold with regard to understanding marketing theory. I believe that marketing is based on an interpretivist approach since it is difficult to understand consumer behavior outside the context in which they operate. Interpretivism is an epistemological paradigm in which reality can be accessed through subjective interpretation rather than objective interpretation of the context in which it occurs (Murray and Ozanne, 1991). There is no single approach to understanding reality but multiple approaches. As such, using an objective approach to understand consumer behavior undermines the subjective opinions, ideas or feelings that are critical in influencing consumer reactions towards brands (Rabby, Chimhundu and Hassan, 2021). In reflecting on my paradigmatic position with regard to marketing, I draw on the question of marketing being an art or a science. In academic debates, there have been contentions with regard to the question. On one hand, proponents of the concept of marketing as an art cite the propensity to appeal to the consumers’ emotions as the reason for their position (Kuchta and Stanková, 2020). On the other hand, those of the view that marketing is a science cite the data-driven approaches used as a reason for their position (Guru and Raja, 2019). The focus on understanding diverse consumer needs through scientific processes and the subsequent use of strategies to appeal to them makes marketing a science based on the interpretivist paradigm.

(Here, we see how to start a reflection paper while focusing on a specific topic rather than general issues. While citations are often not required in reflective essays, there are exemptions. In this case, theoretical concepts are applied in the reflection. This therefore makes it important to add citations to avoid issues of plagiarism. See the next sample in the subsequent sections for further guidance on the same).

3. Marketing as a Science and Interpretivism

(In the next parts, we see how to write a reflection paragraph. Each paragraph succinctly reflects on a specific issue. You can also see evidence on the use of personal experiences and observations as explained in our guide on how to write a reflection paper).

I have observed that marketers attempt to appeal to consumers’ emotions in an effort to attract them to purchase their products or services. This is because consumer buying process is an emotional one, which means that marketers who base their marketing on consumer emotions are more likely to have positive results in terms of brand-consumer relationships. As such, I think marketing requires scientific knowledge to uncover the underlying dynamics that drive their emotional attachment to certain products and services. This aspect requires market research and analysis of consumer behavioral patterns to inform marketing activities such as targeting, segmentation and positioning (Ellis et al., 2010). Essentially, marketers need to understand the exact interests, needs and preferences of consumers to carry out effective marketing. In the absence of this information, marketing objectives are less likely to be achieved. Marketers must use consumer data to understand the changes and trends in consumer behavior and optimize their marketing activities. I concur with the idea advanced by Krishen and Petrescu (2021) that for marketing to be effective, it must take an interdisciplinary approach in which consumer psychology, anthropology, economy and other disciplines with regard to the market must be understood. Marketers use data on these domains to craft marketing messages that are more impactful on the consumers.

The marketer thus appreciates the distinctions among consumers in terms of culture, economic aspects and psychological bearing (Ellis et al., 2010). They use these distinctions to craft marketing strategies and deliver products and services that suit the consumers’ needs. Kuchta and Stanková (2020) explain that marketers use data to have a clearer picture of these differences. I believe that appreciation of distinctions among people is the cornerstone of interpretivism. Moreover, as a consumer, I would prefer a brand that takes into account my specific needs. I would therefore be interested in marketing that gives an assurance about the possibility of meeting those needs. Any other consumer would also prefer brands that fulfill their subjective interests and needs. My leaning on interpretivism as the guiding paradigm of marketing is justified by these realities. It is also important to mention that marketing takes advantage of social interactions that shape consumers’ consumption behavior. Marketers strive to understand the socially constructed perceptions among consumers that influence their attitudes towards brands.

I believe that cultural values, beliefs and traditions are among the factors that shape these attitudes. Most of the brands with a global appeal such as Coca-Cola adopt marketing strategies that tap into the social-cultural dynamics of the consumers. To do this, they have to conduct market research to understand these subjective socio-cultural dynamics and design marketing strategies that appeal to them. I think that without understanding the socially constructed perceptions of consumer contexts, marketing hardly makes positive impact. I think the focus on these aspects is the reason why Coca-Cola is among the most loved brands across many cultures. Interpretivists believe in understanding reality from socially constructed perceptions, probing the factors that influence the understanding of consumers with regard to particular consumption behavior. Consumer qualitative data that captures their feelings, attitudes and interests is obtained through scientific processes and analyzed to inform marketing decisions.

Moreover, marketing done through data is often more successful than one done on intuition of the marketers (Guru and Raja, 2019). As such, I hold the position that marketing is fundamentally a science which is the basis upon which strategies to attract consumers through emotional appeal are carried out. This means that if marketing was to be carried out without the scientific basis, it would fail in most cases. The fact that marketing uses scientific processes to decode the specific and contextual dynamics of consumers and use strategies to appeal to them means that marketing is interpretivist. Since the consumer behavior varies with a plethora of factors, evaluating the contextual realities based these factors to inform focused marketing is important (Wang, 2019). This means that collectively, marketing is a combination of very different approaches but specific to consumer contexts. As marketers strive to understand the consumers’ interests in their respective contexts, they embody the ideals of interpretivism.

Overall, I believe that marketing seeks to appeal to the emotional needs of consumers with the aim of endearing them to particular products or services. To achieve this, marketers strive to understand the diverse aspects of consumer behavior through scientific research, which is followed by strategies such as advertising which align with consumer interests. Understanding the diverse aspects of consumer behavior and experiences makes marketing interpretivist. Based on this perspective, marketing is a science which seeks to understand the subjective interests of consumers to attract them through messages they can relate with.

 

You should also read How To Format An Academic Essay since a reflection paper is an academic paper and how well do you need to format it

Example 2: Reflection on A Group Assignment

(In this reflection paper, focus is on a group assignment completed in class. As indicated in our guide on reflection essay writing, a reflection essay on a group assignment is among one of the common reflections completed by students. The paper consists of an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, and a concluding statement)

Reflection paper

(Introduction to the reflection paper)

Through reflection papers, one expresses thoughts and ideas about a subject in an effort to assess their involvement in it (Nurpratiwi, Amaliyah and Romli, 2022). This reflection essay is an assessment of my contribution to the group assignment seeking to explore Amazon’s monopoly and ethical initiatives. The reflection also seeks to assess the group’s overall contribution to the assignment identification of mistakes and successes. (This section illustrates how to start a reflection paper).

(Writing the body paragraphs of the reflection essay)

The group consisted of five members and my role was that of a contributor during the interactions. At first, I found the accommodative atmosphere in the group to be something desirable. As Van Der Loo, Krahmer and Van Amelsvoort (2019) point out, for proper functioning of any group, it is important for members to develop a rapport. Most of the members had been my course mates, so we did not take much time to get acquainted with one another, which made the discussions relatively smooth.  The group demonstrated effective communication whereby each member had the chance to present their views and presided over responses and counterarguments. All views, opinions and insights were evaluated to determine their validity through more research until a position was arrived at to the consensus of majority of the members. I particularly found this method very valuable as it minimized conflicts of ideas or opinions.

During the group discussions, the members sought information about Amazon market share in the e-commerce market. I had always known Amazon as a leading tech company but I had never thought of it as a monopoly. Prior to the discussion, I did a quick search online to find out information that keep me grounded in the group work. However, the members seemed to have a greater insight with regard to Amazon’s domination in e-commerce both from research and personal experiences. Therefore, I gained a lot of important insight from interactions with the members, which helped me form meaningful perceptions with regard to the topic of discussion. However, I found myself actively listening more than I refuted or agreed with members’ arguments. In group work, Woolard (2018) states that discussions become meaningful when individual members actively listen to the views and arguments of others and offer their own insights to either refute or agree.

The members generally exhibited cooperation in communication, but there arose conflicts when some members could not agree on the ethical aspects of Amazon based on perceptions of monopoly. Some members felt that their opinions or views were being overlooked in favor of others. Although members’ views were valid in their own right, there was lack of coordination to foster amicable deliberations. As Khan et al. (2021) explain, group work is characterized by instances when emotions flair and things get of control. At such instances, there is need for a moderator to calm members down for a respectful and focused discussion environment. The group did not have a clear leader, which undermined quicker completion of the assignment.

(Concluding the reflection paper)

As such, although the group work was a success overall, I feel that I will have to improve my inter-relational skills in group to not only listen but actively respond to and refute others’ views or arguments. One way in which I believe this would be possible is through thorough preparation before the discussion. In addition, in future group work, it will be important to a clear structure of leadership to forestall conflicts and make it possible to have a conducive discussion environment.

The above samples are educational reflection papers which provide vivid illustrations on how to write a reflection paper. If you need essay writing services, our expert writers at Skilled Tutorials are always ready to help. If your a nurse looking for nursing homework  help service then your in the right place.