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
1. 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.
2. Gather any materials (examples, graphs, artwork etc.) or proof you will include
with your essay in you portfolio.
3. 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.
4. 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
1. Introduction and Backward Looking Question
A. 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.
B. Describe the project. This is important step. Let the reader know what you
will be talking about.
C. Address a Backward looking question. Be specific and give details.
D. Transition sentence for next paragraph
2. Inward Looking Question
A. Address an inward looking question.
B. Make sure to use one or more examples that illustrate your answer to
inward looking question.
C. Give details.
D. Transition sentence for next paragraph
3. Outward Looking Question
A. Address an outward looking question
B. Make sure to use one or more examples that illustrate your answer to
outward looking question.
C. Give details.
D. Transition sentence for next paragraph
4. Forward Looking Question and Conclusion
A. Address a forward looking question.
B. Make sure to use one or more examples that illustrate your answer to
forward looking question.
C. Give details.
D. 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
1. Web Design Assignment
A. Me? Helping Eagles fly.
B. Web Design for Fraternal Order of the Eagles #31
C. Challenged by making a site and satisfying my web assignment
D. Invite reader to look at work that I am pleased with.
2. Inward Looking Question – How I am proud of my work
A. I am proud of work
B. Learned PHP code
C. Helps user to use site easier
D. Compliments from members and Konni Maier
3. Outward Looking Question – What I want people to notice
A. Creating code is complex and hard to do
B. Web users don’t know how much work it is
C. Helps to navigate
D. Makes finding info easier
4. Forward Looking Question and Conclusion - What I want to do next
A. Learn more PHP and other programs
B. Work in industry/web designer
C. Rewarded by the project
D. 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 much more useable than the
first. One important aspect that I included was server-side code, which allows users to
make updates to the site more easily. As a result, I have received a great deal of positive
feedback from members of the Bellingham Eagles. They are glad that the club finally has
a quality website for guests and members to quickly navigate for information.
Additionally, I have received compliments for Konni Maier (Eagles Newsletter Editor
and Past President) whom I have been working with to update the site with new
information each month.
When visitors see my work, I would like them to recognize the effort that went
into the project like this. A site having code that responds to user information is not an
easy thing to create. Most users of the web are unaware of this. I am also hopeful that
users can easily navigate through my pages so as to find the information they are seeking.
For my next web project, I would like to learn more about server-side code (PHP)
and learn to write more complicated programs. Working in the software/web industry is
one of my professional career goals, and I feel that these types of community projects are
going to help me in the long run. Overall, designing a website for the Eagles was a great
learning experience. Creating a product that is useable by members of the community is
an extremely important part of my education. I look forward to future projects in this
area.
STEP 4: WRITING A REFLECTIVE ESSAY - FINAL DRAFT
Important steps before you print your final draft.
1. Proof read your finished rough draft. Read it out loud to yourself. This is a very
important step!
2. Make fluency corrections. Correct spelling. Perform a spell check and grammar
check.
3. Make sure you have a catchy introductory sentence and concluding sentence.
4. Go back a see where you can replace common words with richer, more
descriptive words. Challenge yourself to use at least one new word in your essay.
Use the thesaurus tool in your word processing document for ideas.
5. Format the essay using MLA and print a copy.
6. Have a friend and/or teacher proof read your essay and give you suggestions for
improvement.
7. Make corrections.
8. If you are unsure about a comma placement or other syntax item ask your advisor
or another teacher to help you.
9. Put the correct heading on the essay and print it out.
10. Print a copy for your advisory teacher and then save the document to your
Portfolio Collections folder on your H drive.
STEP 4 EXAMPLE: ESSAY FINAL DRAFT
PLEASE SEE BELOW
David Windward
January 4th, 2007
Reflective Essay 1
Me, helping eagles fly? 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 provided an authentic opportunity to create a professionallooking page for an actual client. I was challenged to meet the website needs of this client
while also meeting specific criteria for my Web Design class; a rewarding aspect of the
assignment. Designing a good web page is challenging and I spent two months improving
upon my first design attempt. I am pleased to say 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 this webpage turned out. Upgrades and design improvements
made an immense difference to the final product. The current version is, by far, more
“user friendly” than my first version. An example of a specific improvement included
incorporating server-side (PHP) code in the design. PHP code allows users to easily
update a site. As a result of this design enhancement, I have received a great deal of
positive feedback from members of the Bellingham Eagles. They are glad that the club
finally has a quality website for guests and members allowing quick navigation for
needed information. Additionally, I have received compliments for Konni Maier (Eagles
Newsletter Editor and Past President) whom I have been working with to update the site
with new information each month.
When visitors see my work, I would like them to recognize the effort that went into a
project like this. A site having code that responds to user information is not an easy thing
to create; encoding information is a complex and precise task. Most users of the web are
unaware of the time and specific steps a designer must use to create this seemingly
simple maneuver on a site. I am hopeful that my efficient design allows users to more
easily navigate through the pages of the site to find the information they seek.
For my next web project, I would like to learn more about PHP and learn to write
other complicated programs. Finding work in the software/web industry is one of my
career goals. Certainly, authentic community projects and academic assignments, like
designing a web page for the Eagles, will help me successfully achieve my professional
aspirations. Overall, designing a website for a real client was a fabulous and rewarding
learning experience. Creating a useable product for a community member is an extremely
important and valuable part of my education. I look forward to future projects in this
area, spreading my wings and the skies the limit!
Reflective Essay Rubric
Name:_____________________Advisory:________
Assessment
Format
Form
Grammar
Content:
Backward,
Inward,
Outward,
and
Forward
looking
reflective
questions are
addressed.
Time and
Effort
Essay
Evidence and
storage
Superior
Paper is
formatted
using
designated
heading and
all required
MLA
guidelines.
Essay form is
used with
expertise.
Syntax is
exemplary
and dynamic
and all
spelling is
correct.
Each
reflective
question is
thoroughly
addressed
using rich,
descriptive
detail with
verve and
graceful,
effortless
language.
The essay
flows
smoothly and
engages the
reader fully.
The student
made
excellent use
of time in
advisory and
met the turn
in date.
Stellar effort!
I have saved
the essay and
evidence to
my: Portfolio
Collections
folder on the
H drive.
At Standard
Paper is
formatted
using
designated
heading and
all required
MLA
guidelines.
Essay form is
used.
Developing
Paper is
formatted using
designated
heading and
some required
MLA guidelines.
Needs Work
Paper is
formatted using
a heading and
few or no
required MLA
guidelines.
Student used
question/answer
format.
Some syntax is
correct. There are
one or more
spelling errors.
There is no
discernable
form.
Little syntax is
correct. There
are one or more
spelling errors.
Each
reflective
question is
thoroughly
addressed
using
descriptive
detail and
effortless,
efficient
language.
The essay
flows easily
and engages
the reader.
Each reflective
question is
addressed using
some detail and
awkward
language. The
essay flows
unevenly and the
reader is
somewhat
confused.
Few or none of
the reflective
questions are
distinguishable.
Little or no
details are used
and the essay
stumbles
awkwardly. The
reader is
uninformed and
indifferent.
The student
made good
use of time in
advisory and
met the turn
in date.
Good effort!
The student made
some use of time
in advisory, but
was distracted
and turned in the
essay late. Some
effort was made.
The student
made no effort in
advisory, was a
distraction to
others and failed
to meet the turn
in date.
I have saved
the essay and
evidence to
my: Portfolio
Collections
folder on the
H drive.
I have saved the
essay and to my:
Portfolio
Collections
folder on the H
drive.
I have not
saved my
essay.
All syntax
and spelling
is correct.
Comments
GUIDELINES ACADEMIC REFLECTIVE ESSAYS
Format for Reflective Essays
1. Paper – White, standard, 81/2 x 11.
2. Length – Depending on how you answer the prompts using thoughtful descriptive
language.
3. Type - Times New Roman, 12 point, typed or word-processed, one side, and
black ink only.
4. Margins – Using MLA guidelines, 1 inch on all sides. Indent first word of each
paragraph five spaces.
5. Spacing – Essay should be uniformly double spaced.
Heading
Please use the following heading on all your reflective essays.
Wendy Windward
January 16, 2007
Reflective Essay
Format
Essay form is to be used. Please DO NOT use a question and answer form.
General Compositional Guideline for Writing
1. Avoid informational abbreviation (e.g. &, w/o, $)
2. Avoid contractions (e.g., he’s, don’t, we’ll)
3. Spell out numbers between one and ninety-nine, unless they are specific statistics
(e.g. The works of ten students were included: the work represented 25 percent of
the class.) In some disciplines (e.g. business and journalism), it is acceptable to
spell out only numbers on through ten.
4. Hyphenate works properly, or just move to the next line. Do not squeeze in a
work on the edge of the paper.
5. When writing about literature, use present tense verbs.
6. A paragraph should not end with a quotation.
7. Use consistent verb tense.
8. Use action verbs (walk, talk, think, and so on) instead of linking verbs (is, are,
was, were, and so on.)