Tips on Writing a Winning Reflection Paper in College

Published on: 24 April 2018 Last Updated on: 07 October 2020

When it comes to college writing, most students quickly adapt to the rhythms of producing a fact-based paper. You visit your school’s online library, research some material, and slot it into a five-paragraph essay template, or a similar standard format. Bang! You’re done. But what happens when you are assigned a completely different type of paper that doesn’t fit neatly into the standard essay formats you learned in high school or in freshman composition class? When it comes to the personal reflection paper, many students struggle precisely because this type of essay is so different from most that they’ve written in their other classes. Fortunately, there are a few tips that will help you with this type of paper.

Before we get to the tips, it’s important to make sure we are all on the same page when it comes to what exactly a personal reflection paper is. As the name implies, a reflective essay looks back on something, and a personal reflection offers your own feelings and reactions. Typically, a personal reflection paper is intended to allow a student to share with the instructor his or her feelings about a course and how the course has impacted them. Some personal reflections, however, may examine other topics with which you have had personal experiences, such as a job or a volunteer opportunity. In most cases, the instructor is looking for you to draw connections between course material and your own experiences in order to discover how course content can be or has been relevant to your lived experience.

In order to write a terrific personal reflection essay, follow a few simple tips:

Start with simple pre-writing activities :

Before you even begin writing, make sure you have read the essay question and understand it completely. For a personal reflection, you won’t likely be doing heavy research, the next step isn’t usually a visit to the library. Instead, you should make notes about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences so you can better understand your reaction to the essay topic. By writing down your thoughts, you can begin to organize them into categories so you can structure your paper around a few key themes. Try asking yourself key questions to guide your note-taking such as:

How has the essay topic affected me personally?
How has the essay topic changed the way I think about an issue or experience?
Has the essay topic sparked any questions I want answers to?
How does the essay topic relate to other course content or content in other courses?

Begin organizing your reflections :

The exact format you use for your paper will vary depending on your instructor’s requirements and the essay question, but in general, you will adapt a standard essay format for a reflective essay. You will still have an introduction with a thesis statement and a conclusion, but the body paragraphs might be organized somewhat differently. Depending on the essay question, you may follow the standard format and offer three reflective points (one per paragraph) which you support with evidence. Or, you might have a different format, such as telling a story about your reflective journey in chronological order or exploring one particular reaction across multiple paragraphs. Whichever style you choose, try to match it to the essay question so you are sure to answer the instructor’s question.

Remember that the personal essay is, well, personal :

The biggest difference between a personal essay and an expository essay like a term paper is that it involves your own views and opinions. In this genre of writing, it’s OK to refer to yourself and to talk about your thoughts and feelings without having to phrase them in an awkward third-person format (“One often feels…”). Don’t be afraid to share your honest views, but keep your instructor in mind. Even if you had a negative reaction, avoid insulting the instructor or viciously attacking course material. Instructors are open to reasoned disagreement, but they don’t want to find out that you want to set your textbook on fire.

With these tips, writing a professional reflection paper from scratch should be an easy and refreshing change of pace from the standard academic term paper. The hardest part is getting your thoughts and feelings down on paper. Once you’ve mastered the art of sharing your feelings in written form, you’ll quickly find that these essays are quick to produce, and you’ll look forward to having time off from the more detailed research papers that take up a lot more time.

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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4 Reasons Why Food Handling Training is Important

Did you know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that each year nearly 48 million Americans get sick because of foodborne illnesses? Additionally, they state that 128,000 of those people will end up hospitalized, and a whopping 3,000 people will die. If that is not enough for you to understand the importance of food handling training, I don’t know what is. 4 Reasons Working Behind Food Handling Training However, today we are going to look at why food handling training is so important and why those in the food industry should take their food handling safety classes seriously in an effort to lower these numbers and create a safer environment for those eating out at restaurants of all types. Here are the four reasons which are working behind the organized food handling training. 1. It’s Required by Law Food handler training is required by law in most states. In fact, because of this mandate, many employees in the food industry are not allowed to handle food without proof they completed the required training. For example, Texas food handlers are required to complete an accredited food handler training course within 60 days of employment in order to continue working for that food establishment. 2. It Preserves Food Quality When a customer frequents your restaurant, they expect the highest quality foods. After all, they are not only paying you for their food, but also entrusting you to store, prepare, and serve safe, agreeable foods. Food handling training teaches people how to properly store foods at their right temperatures, and prepare them using the right equipment, so that they maintain their fresh aromas and textures. 3. It Makes Food Prep Safer Generally, those who handle food prep improperly are inviting bacterial growth to occur, which makes food unsafe from that moment forward. In fact, some foods are known to grow heat-resistant bacteria that, even after cooking, remain on the food. If this happens, the person eating said food is at a higher risk of developing a foodborne illness. Do not take shortcuts when it comes to food prep – specifically when it involves thawing of meat. Instead, follow what you learned during food handling training and take your time to do it right. 4. It Saves You Money (and Your Reputation) Let’s say you run a local restaurant that is known for serving many customers each day. In fact, you might go so far as to say you run a “local hotspot”. If one of your employees serves up contaminated food (possibly because of a lack of food handler training) and one of your customers become sick as a result, you can expect your restaurant to experience a whole host of issues: You may be liable for any doctor’s bills Your restaurant’s insurance may skyrocket, especially if you are sued Word of mouth that your restaurant was responsible for a foodborne illness will spread quickly, especially if the media gets involved Not only will you be on the hook for any immediate damages resulting from your employee’s mistake, but your restaurant also stands to lose a lot of business once the community finds out. Depending on the seriousness of the outbreak, (i.e. it affected one customer versus an actual outbreak involving many), your restaurant may never fully recover. Conclusion: In the end, even simple mistakes such as leaving food out too long, storing food at the wrong temperature, or simply cross-contaminating foods that are not supposed to mix, can result in a foodborne illness that has the potential to reach a large number of people. That’s why encouraging your employees to take food handling training seriously is so critical. Your business, and the health of everyone that frequents your restaurant depend on it. Read More : The Relationship Between Oral Health And General Health Top 5 Life Hacks Of Dealing With The Symptoms Of Menopause 8 Fitness Hacks That Will Make Your Life Better

Features To Look For When Investing In Teacher Desks For Your Institution

If you are a teacher, you know how important it is for you to be equipped with the right desk. As teachers, we spend an incredibly long time on our desks. From grading papers, to eating our lunch, we well as using it as a pedestal to keep books and charts, the perfect teacher desk can be an asset to encourage a conducive learning environment. Given how important teacher desks are, it is surprising to note that that not a lot of attention is paid to the selection process. Most educational institutions can be guilty of just taking into consideration the pricing and virtually ignoring every other aspect that should be considered. In this article, we are going to look at important features to consider when buying teacher desks. Why Teacher Desks are Important? You need to think of a teacher’s desk as being the perfect partner for them. If you are equipping your teachers with the best desks, you are contributing towards increasing their productivity, efficiency and overall convenience. Remember all the stuff that our teachers had piled up on their desks. We are talking about tons of binders, projects, books, charts, papers, stationery, and so many other things. One of the most important things that a good desk helps teachers with is organization. If the teacher’s desk is organized and optimized, the entire classroom can also be considered to be organized. The proper organization ensures that the teacher is able to locate and find everything that they want to and there are no unnecessary delays to the process. From single or double pedestal desks to the ones that have locked drawers, to having the ones that come with inbuilt plug points and charging stations (for laptops and tablets), the modern teacher desk comes in different forms, features, and sizes. List of 5 Features to look for when investing in Teacher Desks 1. Durability and Safety of the Teacher Desk- Ideally, you would not want to keep buying teacher desks every other academic year. This is why it is best to invest in one that is sturdy and durable. Given the times we are living in, make sure that the desk is made of materials that are easy to clean and sanitize regularly. If the material is not conducive to frequent wiping and cleaning, it might get damaged. 2. Ethical Protection for Dresses in the Teacher Desk- The teacher’s desk is often placed facing the children. In between the two legs of the table, the open portion in the front where the legs are placed should be covered from the student-facing side. This will ensure protection for female teachers that wear dresses or skirts. This is something simple but should be accounted for when investing in a teacher’s desk. 3. Security and Locking of the Teacher Desk- Teachers are oftentimes required to safely store grade answer scripts, question papers, and other sensitive documents in their desks. Having a proper lock and key ensures that the same does not get into the wrong hands at any point in time. There are different locks that come with the best teacher desks. From numbered ones to old-fashioned locks that are accessed with a key. 4. Charging and Plug Points in the Teacher Desk- Modern educational environments require smart classrooms. This means that there is an emphasis on using technological tools like laptops, tablets, and other devices to stream video and teaching material on projector screens. This is why you need to go for teacher desks that come inbuilt with plug points and charging devices for electronic gadgets. 5. Features and Convenience of the Teacher Desk- In addition to the security and plug points, teacher desks should also have multiple drawers to help store academic stuff and stationery. The material of the desk should also be able to withstand the pressures and loads that it would be routinely subjected to. If the same has the provision of wheels, it could also be moved around depending on the requirements. The Bottom Line You need to pay a lot of thought and attention to teacher desks. While it might look like something that does not deserve a lot of attention, the reality is different. A good teacher desk can help improve the efficiency and productivity of the teacher. If you have any other questions that you would like us to address, please let us know in the comments section below. Read Also: How to Learn Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning Here Are the Benefits Of Continuous Learning 5 Golden Rules of Children Language Learning 4 Factors to Consider When Making a Great eLearning Course

What Is The Difference Between Scrum And Agile?

Every industry and every career has unique jargon and terminology that any outsider would need help understanding. Scrum and Agile are two terms that a project manager or someone who works closely with one will understand easily. So if you are planning on starting a career as a project manager, you must know about these standard terms and the difference between them. Many individuals just beginning their careers in project management need to avoid mixing up Scrum and Agile. A huge part of becoming a competent project manager is understanding the terminology and the process of working with various tools, systems, and methodologies. Creating a thorough project plan and implementing the right tools and techniques is essential for anyone in a project management role. So start by understanding Scrum vs. agile and what is effective in which type of project. What Is Agile? Agile is a vast methodology that is commonly used in project management processes. The project team follows an agile method to offer the best value to the clients efficiently. The process is iterative, making it easy to carry out changes in software development. An Agile project is more manageable as the work is split into smaller tasks, and outcomes are tested regularly. What Is Scrum? Scrum is an Agile framework that helps in accomplishing tasks in manageable portions. Continuous improvement is the primary goal during a Scrum project. Even in the Scrum process, the project is constantly under analysis, and regular experimentations and feedback are done. Additionally, Scrum enables individuals and teams to collaboratively and gradually generate value for the organization. The structuring helps understand the workflow and make better choices regarding the tools used. Difference Between Agile And Scrum Agile and Scrum rely on an iterative process, regular client involvement, and group decision-making, meaning it is easy to confuse them. If you want to differentiate the two, you must understand that the primary distinction is that Scrum is an Agile methodology. This means that Scrum follows all the Agile principles, whereas Agile has many other methodologies similar to Scrum. However, you must also understand that where Agile does follow an iterative approach, it still delivers the full result at the end of a project. Scrum, on the other hand, divides work into smaller deliverables, and results can be expected at the end of each sprint. Let us give you a better understanding of the differences between Agile and Scrum: Agile Scrum It is a relatively newer concept introduced in 2001 It has been around since the early 1990s It is a philosophy under which many other methods are included It is part of the Agile framework You will find easy alternatives like Waterfall Alternatives of Scrum include Kanban and Lean development This iterative process results in the continuous delivery of the product This iterative process results in continuous improvement of the process It is defined by 12 principles in the Agile Manifesto Is defined by 3 pillars in the Scrum guide What Are The Other Agile Methodologies? Scrum is only one part of the Agile methodology. There are other approaches you should equally be aware of. Besides Scrum, the two well-known project management techniques are Waterfall and Kanban. Waterfall Even though the Waterfall methodology is part of the Agile philosophy, it follows a different more linear approach. Working on a project with the Waterfall methodology, you cannot go back to the previous steps once you have completed them and moved on to the next ones. Smaller projects with closer deadlines benefit greatly from the Waterfall approach as the team stays focused on smaller portions of the project and ensures that everything is executed perfectly. Kanban Another Agile technique that varies from the regular Agile philosophy is the Kanban technique. A Kanban board is a tool used in this type of project management. A Kanban board aims to enhance the project management process through workflow visualization. A Kanban board has various columns to add cards or tickets on which you can write your tasks and keep track of them throughout the project. Depending on the task's stage, you can move the card around. Read Also: Project Management in a PRINCE2 setting Important Factors To Keep In Mind Before Choosing A Project Methodology If you were wondering whether you should opt for Agile or Scrum, you approached the situation the wrong way. Everyone wants to opt for the Agile method only some understand that Agile is just an umbrella term. Consider using these methodologies on your projects once you have a firm grasp. Scrum is part of Agile, so the choice is between Scrum, Waterfall, and Kanban. So these are the things you must take into consideration before choosing a project methodology: The team you are working with and their abilities Client's expectations from the final product The time you have to carry out the project before the deadline The budget for the project All the difficulties you might face during the project The accessibility of tools you might require for the project After considering all these factors, you'll better understand what project management tools and methodologies are ideal for a project. Conclusion The amount of time it takes to produce deliverables is one of the critical distinctions between all the various Agile methodologies like Scrum, Waterfall, and Kanban. They also have different ways of planning tasks and marking what is finished. Whatever the case, Agile, and Scrum are not two different things but part of the same family. Choosing Scrum as a project management methodology indirectly means choosing Agile. Read Also: Using Project Management to Maximize the Holiday Season at Work A Guide to Choosing an Enterprise Document Management Solution A Digital Asset Management Solution Overview

Tips on Writing a Winning Reflection Paper in College

Start with simple pre-writing activities :

Begin organizing your reflections :

Remember that the personal essay is, well, personal :

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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4 Reasons Why Food Handling Training is Important

Features To Look For When Investing In Teacher Desks For Your Institution

What Is The Difference Between Scrum And Agile?

Tips on Writing a Winning Reflection Paper in College

Start with simple pre-writing activities :

Begin organizing your reflections :

Remember that the personal essay is, well, personal :

Share this Article

Transform Portals Of Learning

How To Choose The Right Rock Climbing School

Tags

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related