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English Composition

What type of paper have you been asked to write? These are the major types of academic writing you will be likely to come across in your studies at CNC. Each type of writing has different requirements and produces different outcomes.

Reflective Writing

In a reflection paper, you explore your experiences, thoughts, and growth about a subject or event. How has your perspective and understanding changed?

There are two types of reflection papers: 1) a reflection on an experience, and; 2) a reflection on something you have read.

Thesis Statement

Let’s start with the thesis statement. It will look a little different from your usual thesis statement. It will say

  • what your essay is about, and 
  • how the specific reading or experience has influenced you.

You will expand on this in your essay, so don’t give away too much in the beginning.

Here is an example of a thesis statement for a reflection essay about reflecting on the experience of completing a teaching practicum.

“My practicum has enabled me to apply the developmental concepts I learned in class and allowed me to critically think about how to approach issues related to child behavior.”

Body Paragraphs

Next, focus on developing your body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs for Reflections on Something You Have Read

If you are reflecting on something that you have read:

  • Summarize the meaning of the text, then
  • Describe what the text made you think about (did it change your thinking about anything?).

Here are some questions to ask yourself to get ideas of what to write about:

  • Does the text align with my existing ideas and beliefs? How does it align or not align?
  • Does this text challenge my existing ideas and beliefs?
  • Does the text help me to understand the topic better?
  • Does the text enable me to understand the course topic better?
  • Does the text enable me to understand the wider field of study better?
  • How might my future work change because of what I have learned?

Body Paragraphs for Reflections on an Experience

If you are reflecting on an experience:

  • Summarize the experience
  • Describe what the experience made you think about. Did it change your thinking or how you will act?

Here are some questions to ask yourself to get ideas of what to write about:

  • Why did particular things happen?
  • Do I feel the same way about the situation now?
  • How have my thoughts changed?
  • What would I do differently in a similar situation in the future?
  • What did this experience teach me about myself? About working in the field? About society?
  • How does my experience relate to the concepts covered in the course?