Reflective Essay Writing: Personal Growth

 Let’s start with a reflective paragraph. This type of essay is just what the title says: a reflection on an assigned topic. When you are asked to write a reflective essay, your teachers expect to see personal opinions. What do you think about the assigned topic? What have you experienced related to the question? Even though these are academic essays, you can use personal pronouns when writing this (I, me, my). Read the length for any assignment. This question calls for one paragraph only. 

All people learn new things each year. We all change and we grow smarter or wiser or stronger. What are three things you learned about yourself during the last twelve months that you are glad you know now? (Did you find a new favorite author or type of book you like? Did you realize you are really good at math or another subject? Did you learn how to be a good friend to someone new? Did you learn something new about your family or about your hometown?) How did you change this past year? How did you learn these new things? Why are they important to you? 



 
The first sentence is always a topic sentence for a short essay. Follow this general outline, writing at least five sentences and no more than eight. 

topic sentence

thought/proof/support

thought/proof/support

thought/proof/support

concluding/summary sentence


Now for a challenge: lengthening your reflective essay

First, you were asked to write a very short reflective essay. Your assignment asked for five to eight sentences. 


Your basic outline was: 


topic sentence

thought/proof/support

thought/proof/support

thought/proof/support

concluding/summary sentence


For this assignment, I want you to turn your paragraph into a three-paragraph essay. Use this outline: 


I. Topic sentence to start first paragraph. Move directly into first thing you learned about yourself. Add at least three sentences that further support that thought. 

II. Transition to your second thought with the first sentence of this paragraph then add at least four more supporting sentences. 

III. Transition to your third thought then add at least four more supporting sentences. End this paragraph with your concluding sentence. 


A short essay does not always have to have an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph. A thesis sentence and concluding sentence will suffice. 


Every writer works at their own pace. You can stretch these out as long as you need to. 


 

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