Reflection papers are usually assigned for a few different reasons. They might part of a free writing assignment, or they might an assignment to review coursework, injected with your own experiences.
Whatever the reason you've been assigned a reflection paper, the common components include:
The purpose of a reflection paper is to dig deep into the subject matter, and see what comes out of it. Don't force any sort of absolution, or try to tie up your reflection in a neat package--as Judith Barrington says,
Don't shortchange the reality of life in which significant events are rarely put aside in a moment of insight, but continue unfolding into the future.
Source: Meghan Dusek, Judith Barrington
An alternative style of presenting some ideas for reflective writing. They talk a bit fast at times, but it gives great rationale for reflective writing as well as structural advice.
You've probably heard it during test preparation: you're first reaction is usually the right one. The same is true when writing a reflection paper--the difference is that there is no right or wrong reaction. As long as you can support your reaction by identifying your feelings and bringing those two sections together in the analysis section, you're on the right track.
When writing your reaction, it's important not to use this section to summarize what you read or have done. Reflection papers, at their core, are little more than formalized journal entries. Avoid informal language, but you don't need to keep it strictly academic, either.
Think of reflection papers like paintings (or, if you're a Shrek fan, like an onion). Paintings are completed and enhanced through layers (like onions); your reaction is just one layer of the reflection, to be enhanced by your feelings and analysis.
Once you've identified your feelings and what prompts them, the analysis section should explain why you feel the way you do in relation to the subject. In most cases, you won't be downgraded for lack of breadth in your discussion, but rather a lack of depth. This is the part of the paper where you'll demonstrate a true understanding of the situation or material by displaying a wider knowledge on the subject.
Other tips:
