Advice Essay: Guidelines and Recommendations
- 3 May 2020
- 2450 words
Self-reflection, in the most simplified definition, is a process of examining an individual’s perspective on a topic or idea. So, what is a self-reflection essay? A simple answer is that it is an entire documentation of an assessment that is clear and logical for its presentation to an intended audience. Moreover, to write a good self-reflection essay, people honestly analyze their thoughts and feelings about a specific experience, clearly articulate key lessons learned, and thoughtfully consider how these insights will influence their future actions and decisions. Hence, this type of essay stands out from other forms of academic writing because its content is highly subjective. In turn, this article covers a simple definition of a self-reflection essay, its format, topics, steps on how to write such a paper, structure, examples, what to include, and what to avoid to produce high-quality and effective compositions.
What Is a Self-Reflection Essay and Its Purpose
According to its definition, a self-reflection essay is a personal narrative that allows individuals to examine their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, providing insight into their personal growth and development. For example, the main purpose of writing a self-reflection essay is to foster self-awareness, enabling individuals to understand how their experiences shape their identities and values (Bassot, 2023). Basically, this type of paper encourages students to reflect critically on their actions, motivations, and the lessons learned from various situations. Further on, by articulating their reflections, people can explore their emotional responses and an overall impact of their decisions, leading to deeper insights about themselves (Ezezika & Johnston, 2022). In principle, this process not only aids in personal growth but also enhances writing and analytical skills. Moreover, these essays encourage continuous learning and self-improvement, prompting authors to consider how past experiences can inform future choices and actions (Olmos-Ochoa et al., 2021). In terms of pages and words, the length of a self-reflection essay depends on academic levels, assignment requirements, and purposes of writing, while general guidelines are:
High School
- Length: 1-2 pages
- Word Count: 250-500 words
College (Undergraduate)
- Length: 2-3 pages
- Word Count: 500-750 words
University (Bachelor’s Degree)
- Length: 3-5 pages
- Word Count: 750-1,250 words
Master’s Degree
- Length: 5-7 pages
- Word Count: 1,250-1,750 words
Ph.D.
- Length: 7-10+ pages
- Word Count: 1,750-2,500+ words
Format
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Title | A clear, unique, and concise title that reflects an entire content of writing a self-reflection essay. |
| Introduction | Introduces a specific topic and purpose of writing an entire self-reflection essay. |
| Briefly outlines what will be discussed. | |
| Body Paragraphs | Contains several paragraphs that present specific experiences or reflections. In writing, each paragraph should: |
| Topic Sentence: Introduce a main idea of a paragraph. | |
| Description: Describe a presented experience or situation. | |
| Analysis: Analyze feelings, thoughts, and reactions, as well as write about them. | |
| Lessons Learned: Reflect on what was learned from a given experience and how it contributed to growth. | |
| Conclusion | Summarizes main insights gained from a presented self-reflection essay. |
| Discusses how these insights will impact future actions or decisions. | |
| List of References | Includes a list of any academic sources referenced in a self-reflection essay, formatted according to a required citation style, such as MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian, or Harvard. |
Note: Some writing sections of a self-reflection essay can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, depending on specific assignment guidelines, instructor preferences, and experiences an author wants to share with a reader. For example, a standard self-reflection essay format includes an introduction that presents a specific topic or experience, body paragraphs that explore personal insights, and a conclusion that summarizes key responses and their implications for future growth (Palmquist & Wallraff, 2023). In literature, self-reflection is a unique process of examining and evaluating one’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences to gain deeper self-awareness and understanding for personal growth and development. Further on, the 5 main steps for self-reflection include identifying a unique experience or topic, examining thoughts and feelings about this situation, analyzing lessons learned, considering how it affects a person’s beliefs or behaviors, and summarizing insights for future application (Williams et al., 2020). As such, self-reflective essays are personal narratives that allow individuals to introspectively examine their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, facilitating self-awareness and personal growth through critical analysis and reflection writing. Moreover, the 3 principal benefits of self-reflection are enhanced self-awareness, improved decision-making, and greater emotional intelligence, all of which contribute to personal growth and better relationships (Bassot, 2023). In turn, to start a self-reflection essay, people begin with a compelling opening sentence that introduces a unique topic or experience they will be reflecting on, followed by a brief overview of an actual significance of a discussed situation.
Self-Reflection Essay Topics
- Overcoming a Fear That Changed My Life
- Learning From Failures: A Personal Account
- The Journey to Mastering My Favorite Hobby
- Navigating a Personal Challenge
- A Moment of Change
- Lessons From Failure
- Impact of Relationships
- Cultural Identity
- Goals and Aspirations
- Emotional Growth
- Influence of a Mentor
- Balancing Responsibilities
- Defining Success
Steps on How to Write a Self-Reflection Essay
To write a self-reflection essay, people select a specific experience to analyze, articulate their thoughts and feelings about such a situation, discuss key lessons learned, and conclude with how this response will influence their future actions or decisions. For example, a correct writing structure of a self-reflective essay includes an introduction that outlines a chosen experience or topic, body paragraphs that explore personal aspects and insights, and a conclusion that summarizes key reflections and their implications for future growth (Williams et al., 2020). In academic writing, self-reflection refers to a unique practice of evaluating one’s learning experiences, thought processes, and personal growth in relation to specific coursework or projects, often incorporating critical analysis to enhance understanding and future performance. Besides, an example of self-reflection is considering a recent failure, analyzing a person’s emotional response to this situation, identifying what went wrong, and determining how an individual can apply key lessons learned to future situations (Bassot, 2023). In turn, some basic writing steps to follow are:
- Choose a Topic: Select a specific experience or aspect of your life that you want to reflect on deeply.
- Brainstorm Ideas: Jot down your thoughts, feelings, and lessons learned related to your chosen topic to generate content for writing your self-reflection essay.
- Create an Outline: Organize your ideas and experiences into a structured outline, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
- Write an Introduction: Introduce your topic or experience and provide a brief overview of an entire content and what readers can expect in your essay about self.
- Develop Body Paragraphs: Write detailed paragraphs that explore your experiences, feelings, and insights, using specific examples to support your reflections.
- Analyze Your Experiences: Critically examine your thoughts and emotions related to some experiences you have described, highlighting personal growth or improvement of your sense of self.
- Reflect on Lessons Learned: Discuss key takeaways from your experiences and how they have influenced your beliefs, senses of self, or behaviors.
- Craft a Conclusion: Summarize your main insights and consider how your reflections will impact your future decisions or actions.
- Revise and Edit: Review your self-reflection essay for clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy, making necessary changes to improve your writing.
- Seek Feedback: Share your paper with peers or instructors for constructive feedback, and incorporate their suggestions to enhance your work.
Structure
Introduction: Experience
An introductory section of a self-reflection essay provides background information. For example, to write a self-reflection on myself, people start by selecting a specific experience or aspect of their life to talk about, articulate their thoughts and feelings about this situation, analyze what they learned, and consider how it impacts their future actions or decisions (Palmquist & Wallraff, 2023). In writing, it is necessary for a person to understand some circumstances surrounding a self-reflection process, and a specific source of motivation may vary for each author, for instance, exposure to a theory or a recent personal experience. Moreover, writing an essay’s introduction enables students to communicate crucial conditions or incidents that triggered their need for self-reflection (Williams et al., 2020). Besides, this opening section concludes with a typical thesis statement. In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a self-reflection essay are:
- A specific moment that changed everything for me was … .
- Reflecting on my experiences, I realize that … .
- One of the most significant challenges I faced was … .
- As I look back on my journey, I can see how … .
- This past year has taught me that … .
- I never expected to learn so much from … .
- At a pivotal point in my life, I discovered that … .
- The relationships I have built have shaped my understanding of … .
- Through my failures, I have gained valuable insights about … .
- My cultural background has profoundly influenced my perspective on … .
Body Paragraphs: Change
During an entire development of a body’s content in writing self essays, students must explain noticeable differences in their line of thought. For example, readers must comprehend an author’s state of mind before and after a trigger event (Murphy & O’Mahony, 2023). Moreover, an elaborate presentation of this information ascertains that an intended audience readily extracts a correct meaning. In essay writing about self, each variation precedes a corresponding explanation regarding a specific association between previous and current ideologies.
Causal Relationships
An entire interpretation of a change requires an author to outline his or her rationale and write about it. For example, to do a self-reflection on myself, people set aside time to honestly assess their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, ask themselves probing questions about their actions and motivations, and write down their insights to clarify their understanding and promote personal growth (Palmquist & Wallraff, 2023). Basically, this explication acts as a justification for an entire transition from one point of view to another when writing self essays. Further on, academic principles of a formal argument guide an authorship of this material (Williams et al., 2020). Besides, a direct link between a mentioned perception modification and a specific cause of an alteration ought to employ a straightforward demonstration technique.
Evaluation of a Change
Authors have a responsibility to point out a specific extent of disparity between their opinions and conventional moral and ethical positions. For example, writing a self-reflection essay discloses an alignment of a newly acquired standpoint and an author’s primary value (Bassot, 2023). Moreover, in their self essays, students need to state whether they consider an entire transformation of their views as positive or negative outcomes. Based on a person’s level of certainty in his or her belief, an individual may recommend approaches to propagate his or her stance on a given subject as one of the points in writing an essay.
Conclusion: Future
A concluding paragraph focuses on the future rather than the past and present. For example, writing this section of a self-reflection essay may indicate behavioral adaptations (Palmquist & Wallraff, 2023). Basically, authors intend to practice in their day-to-day activities. In writing, students may speculate on a permanency of their redefined awareness and a possibility of further evolution (Williams et al., 2020). As a result, such an essay ends with a holistic summary of implications of self-reflection at individual, family, and society levels.
Self-Reflection Examples
| Example | Author | Year | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Things They Carried | Tim O’Brien | 1990 | A collection of linked short stories that reflect on the Vietnam War and its emotional toll on soldiers. |
| Educated | Tara Westover | 2018 | A memoir detailing an author’s life path journey from growing up in a strict, negative, and abusive household to pursuing education and self-discovery. |
| The Glass Castle | Jeannette Walls | 2005 | A memoir that reflects on an author’s unconventional upbringing in a dysfunctional family and her quest for stability. |
| When Breath Becomes Air | Paul Kalanithi | 2016 | A poignant memoir by a neurosurgeon facing terminal cancer, exploring life, death, and an actual meaning of existence. |
| Wild | Cheryl Strayed | 2012 | A memoir recounting an author’s solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail as an entire journey of self-discovery and healing. |
| Becoming | Michelle Obama | 2018 | A memoir by the former First Lady that reflects on her life, identity, and experiences in the White House. |
| I Am Malala | Malala Yousafzai | 2013 | A famous autobiography of a young activist for girls’ education, reflecting on her life in Pakistan and key challenges she faced. |
| The Alchemist | Paulo Coelho | 1988 | A philosophical novel about a shepherd’s journey to discover his personal legend and an actual importance of following one’s dreams. |
| Girl, Stop Apologizing | Rachel Hollis | 2019 | A motivational guide that encourages women to pursue their goals and embrace their potential through self-reflection. |
| Man’s Search for Meaning | Viktor Frankl | 1946 | A memoir and psychological exploration of an author’s experience in Nazi concentration camps, emphasizing an entire search for purpose amid suffering. |
What to Include
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Personal Experiences | Specific events or situations that have had a significant impact on your life and shaped your perspective. |
| Emotional Responses | Feelings and emotions associated with some experiences, providing insight into your internal reactions. |
| Lessons Learned | Key takeaways or insights gained from presented experiences, highlighting personal growth and understanding of self. |
| Values and Beliefs | Self-reflections on how experiences have influenced your core values and beliefs about yourself and the world. |
| Challenges Faced | Discussions of obstacles encountered during provided experiences and how you overcame them or grew from them. |
| Influential People | Recognitions of individuals who have impacted your journey, including mentors, friends, or family members. |
| Future Aspirations | Considerations of how your self-reflections will influence your future goals, decisions, or actions. |
| Cultural Context | Explorations of how your cultural background has shaped your experiences and self-reflections. |
| Critical Thinking | Analysis of your thought processes and how they have evolved as a result of your experiences. |
| Final Remark | A closing section that encapsulates your self-reflections and reiterates an actual significance of key insights gained. |
Common Mistakes
- Lack of Focus: Failing to narrow down on a specific experience can lead to a scattered and unfocused self-reflection essay.
- Overly General Statements: Making or writing vague or broad claims without personal examples diminishes a depth of self-exploration.
- Neglecting Emotional Insight: Failing to explore feelings and emotions associated with a presented experience can make an entire self essay superficial.
- Inadequate Analysis: Not analyzing a given experience or its impact on personal growth results in a lack of meaningful insight.
- Ignoring Structure: A disorganized paper can confuse readers, making it difficult to follow an author’s thoughts.
- Skipping a Conclusion: Leaving out a concluding section of a self essay can result in an abrupt ending that does not summarize key insights.
- Being Too Critical or Negative: Focusing solely on failures or negatives without recognizing growth can create a pessimistic tone.
- Plagiarizing or Using Clichés: Relying on clichés or copying others’ reflections undermines authenticity and personal voice.
- Overlooking an Audience: Not considering a target audience can lead to language and content that may not resonate with readers.
- Failing to Edit and Revise: Submitting a first draft of a self-reflection essay without proper revision can result in grammatical errors and unclear expressions, diminishing an overall writing quality.
Summing Up
Some fundamental guidelines on what is a self-reflection essay and how to write this type of paper aid an author in developing a high-quality composition. Basically, an author’s opinion should be easily distinguishable, especially in situations where other people’s responses play a crucial role as a starting point of writing an entire discussion. Then, change, causal relationship, and evaluation content on a particular topic have to preserve a sequential arrangement throughout this type of essay to enhance readability. Moroever, an entire application of contrasting sentence structures is compulsory to make sure statements starting with “I” do not dominate a text. In turn, the standard rules of academic writing and grammar are still in effect despite a unique nature of such an essay.
References
Bassot, B. (2023). The reflective practice guide: An interdisciplinary approach to critical reflection. Routledge.
Ezezika, O., & Johnston, N. (2022). Development and implementation of a reflective writing assignment for undergraduate students in a large public health biology course. Pedagogy in Health Promotion, 9(2), 101–115. https://doi.org/10.1177/23733799211069993
Murphy, C., & O’Mahony, T. (2023). Submitting the ‘right’ reflection. Reflective Practice, 24(3), 347–360. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2023.2198204
Olmos-Ochoa, T. T., Fenwick, K. M., Ganz, D. A., Chawla, N., Penney, L. S., Barnard, J. M., Miake-Lye, I. M., Hamilton, A. B., & Finley, E. P. (2021). Reflective writing: A tool to support continuous learning and improved effectiveness in implementation facilitators. Implementation Science Communications, 2(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-021-00203-z
Palmquist, M., & Wallraff, B. (2023). In conversation: A writer’s guidebook. Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Williams, K., Woolliams, M., & Spiro, J. (2020). Reflective writing. Red Globe Press.
