Reflective Essay

Reflective Essay
Reflective essay is an exercise in contemplation on any given subject. It tests the ability to think and describe, to order ideas and to draw on experience, imagination and general knowledge.
Reflective essays are of two types:
1. Descriptive-reflective which take the form of one-word titles and require a great deal of description as well as reflection. When writing, conclusions should be drawn.
2. Abstract in which the emphasis is on reasoning rather than description. They may also take the form of one-word titles when they refer to abstract qualities, e.g., Truth. Very often, the title appears as a phrase beginning with the word On …….. .
It is important to understand what is required by the subject before planning reflective essays. A reflective essay title may have a wide number of implications so that it is possible to interpret it in a variety of ways.
An essay may be well written and well organized but still lack substance. When this is the case, the fault usually lies in a poor interpretation of the subject. It is to avoid:
a. Making trite observations
b. Pseudo-historical approach (giving the history of the subject from the earliest times to the present.