STEPS FOR WRITING A REFLECTIVE ESSAY

All students – please use this process to create your reflective essay. Note that there are examples included.

At the end of this document is the final draft of the example essay. You may wish to read the final draft first, and then come back and review how the student got there.

STEP 1: WRITING A REFLECTIVE ESSAY – PRE-WRITE
Select a piece of work you would like to use for your reflection. The work must be academic and from one of your current classes, but not necessarily one in which you received an A. It is more important to be able to write about a rich experience. Papers, creative projects, tests, design work, group or individual projects are all appropriate materials for a reflective essay.
Gather any materials (examples, graphs, artwork etc.) or proof you will include with your essay in you portfolio.
Without thinking about form, syntax word choice or spelling, spend 10 - 15 minutes writing about the assignment you selected .Let your mind remember anything it wants to about the assignment. No idea or thought is too silly. Let yourself reflect without editing. Write down everything you can recall as you went through the process of the assignment. This is the important key element of the reflective process.
If you want, review the list of Reflective Essay Questions on the website or posted in your advisory.

STEP 2: WRITING A REFLECTIVE ESSAY – OUTLINE FORMAT
Introduction and Backward Looking Question
Introductory Sentence – Hook the reader! If you can think of a catchy phrase write it down, although many times catchy introductory sentences come after you have written your paper.
Describe the project. This is important step. Let the reader know what you will be talking about.
Address a Backward looking question. Be specific and give details.
Transition sentence for next paragraph
Inward Looking Question
Address an inward looking question.
Make sure to use one or more examples that illustrate your answer to inward looking question.
Give details.
Transition sentence for next paragraph
Outward Looking Question
Address an outward looking question
Make sure to use one or more examples that illustrate your answer to outward looking question.
Give details.
Transition sentence for next paragraph
Forward Looking Question and Conclusion
Address a forward looking question.
Make sure to use one or more examples that illustrate your answer to forward looking question.
Give details.
Tie it all together. Conclude with another catchy or crisp sentence. Sometimes it is useful to connect your concluding sentence to your introductory sentence. The concluding sentence should leave the reader laughing, thinking or just plain impress!



STEP 2 EXAMPLE: ESSAY OUTLINE

Web Design Assignment
Me? Helping Eagles fly.
Web Design for Fraternal Order of the Eagles #31
Challenged by making a site and satisfying my web assignment
Invite reader to look at work that I am pleased with.

Inward Looking Question – How I am proud of my work
I am proud of work
Learned PHP code
Helps user to use site easier
Compliments from members and Konni Maier

Outward Looking Question – What I want people to notice
Creating code is complex and hard to do
Web users don’t know how much work it is
Helps to navigate
Makes finding info easier

Forward Looking Question and Conclusion - What I want to do next
Learn more PHP and other programs
Work in industry/web designer
Rewarded by the project
Look forward to next project – Some kind of skies the limit.



STEP 3: WRITING A REFLECTIVE ESSAY ROUGH DRAFT

When writing a rough draft, use your outline. Start by writing complete thoughts about what you have in your outline. Follow the outline and paragraphs will begin to form. Pay attention to descriptive language and make an effort to use active, not passive, language. Make sure to read back what you have written. Be concise and clear. Do not worry about the heading or formatting at this point. Make sure at this point you do use essay form, rather than just writing out a reflective question and then answering it.

STEP 3 EXAMPLE: ESSAY ROUGH DRAFT

As part of my Web Design class at Windward High School (WHS), I created a website for a local organization called the Fraternal Order of the Eagles #31. The assignment was an authentic one as I was able to create a professional page for an actual client. This aspect was rewarding. I was required to meet the needs of a real client while creating a website that matched my studies at WHS. At first, I was not satisfied with my work. To improve upon my original design, I worked for two months to improve the product. The site is now up and running. To see the result of my work, please go to http://www.foe31.org.

I am very proud of how the webpage turned out. I feel that my upgrades made a big difference to the final product as the current version is