The Reflective Essay

This type of essay means that your writing is reflecting on some aspect of your life. If it is a past event, you need to write about your thoughts now on that past event. Do not just describe that event: that is not reflection; that is description.

Some students find that it helps to imagine that they are writing about a different person. This makes sense, as the person we were in the past is often different to the person we are now. Your writing should show an awareness of that. If it does, it may have phrases such as “looking back at the person I was then …”.

Make sure that your essay addresses your thoughts and feelings about some aspect of your life and how that has helped mould the person you are today.

Read the reflective pieces on the BBC's My Story site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mystory/