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Self - Reflection Notes

This document provides guidance for writing a self-reflection essay. It explains that the essay should be expository in nature, explaining changes in the writer as a result of life experiences or readings. The essay can reflect on any of several areas related to self-reflection, including understanding motivation, values, and others' perspectives. The writer should choose three areas to explore from given prompts. The essay should have an introduction with a hook and thesis statement, and three body paragraphs following a Topic Sentence, Significance, Support, Significance structure. The conclusion should connect the three main ideas back to the thesis statement and project the importance of self-reflection into the future.

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483 views3 pages

Self - Reflection Notes

This document provides guidance for writing a self-reflection essay. It explains that the essay should be expository in nature, explaining changes in the writer as a result of life experiences or readings. The essay can reflect on any of several areas related to self-reflection, including understanding motivation, values, and others' perspectives. The writer should choose three areas to explore from given prompts. The essay should have an introduction with a hook and thesis statement, and three body paragraphs following a Topic Sentence, Significance, Support, Significance structure. The conclusion should connect the three main ideas back to the thesis statement and project the importance of self-reflection into the future.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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NOTES for SELF-REFLECTION ESSAY (IB class)

This will be an Expository Essay. Exposition means that your major purpose is to
explain the significance of something. In this instance, you will mainly be explaining
changes in yourself as a consequence of life experience (your tall ship experience or
other experiences this school year) and/or your reading/viewing experience (The Book
Thief, The Great Dictator). Alternatively, you may explain your perception of a need for
change and how you came to that realization. Self-reflection is not limited to change/
need for change, but it is a good place to start. Or, you may reflect upon problems or
issues (related to the prompts) and how you chose to resolve these.

From your prompt sheet, you will recall that this essay may deal with any of the
following areas that can be linked to self-reflection: a better understanding of
personal motivation, values, beliefs, others points of view, role conflicts and unintended
consequences. You may also reflect on the need to overcome limitations or fears, or
the need to balance the individuals needs against the groups needs. You will need to
choose three areas to explore from your 12 prompts.

Exposition will form the frame of your essay. Narration (story), if you choose to use it is
in a secondary (supporting) role. Therefore, do not use long narratives followed by a
small amount of self reflection. Explain your point in a topic sentence, then support it
with a narrative example.

Essay Title (Try to make it interesting)

Introduction: Hook: an interesting image or question to hook your readers attention

Followed by: a connecting sentence that links your hook to your TS

Thesis Statement: a generalization covering the main ideas of your essay

TS = Topic + Controlling Idea

Your Given Topic + Your Approach to or Treatment of Your


Topic (Development of topic)
(What) (How)

Specific: Self-Reflection + How you choose to develop this idea:


You will link your topic to
one of the following:

These are all similar: self-development


the word choice is yours. < personal growth
the process of maturity
Whatever word choice you wish to use becomes your Key Word(s) that you will
repeat throughout your essay to give your essay structure.

TS = Thesis Statement = Topic (Self-Reflection) linked to Key Word(s) example


personal growth then linked to the specific areas you wish to explore (often 3).
These three areas would be shortened forms of your prompts:
example: asserting ones opinions
resolving conflicts
understanding motivation
facing ones fears
etc. (consult prompts)

Sample Thesis Statement: Self-reflection is essential to personal growth because it


helps me to assert my opinions, face my fears and resolve some of my conflicts.
(Using parallel infinitive phrases)

First Body Paragraph: T S S S format (follow this sequence)

Topic Sentence: connects (through key words) to the Thesis Statement


Significance: two sentences (minimum) that develop the Topic Sentence
Support: this may take varied forms (see below)
Significance: further insights drawn from your support. In a formal essay this
may be followed by a summary or a transition sentence.

What form will your support take? You may choose illustrations, details, examples,
narrative examples (short narratives), comparisons or other means to support your topic
sentence.

First Body Paragraph:


Topic Sentence #1 is a mirror fragment of Thesis Statement but introduces only the 1st
main idea.

Self-reflection made me realize that, in order to grow as a person, I might need to


become more assertive. (This topic sentence links topic word (self-reflection) to
chosen key words personal growth and first area assertiveness). Since I am a
quiet, shy teenager, expressing my opinions with confidence is challenging for me.
However, I know that I need to practice speaking up for my beliefs, and that this will give
me greater respect from others as well as greater self respect. (Two sentences
exploring the significance of my topic sentence.)

A recent experience made me aware of the need to make my opinions heard.


(Introduction to support). After soccer practise one Saturday (Followed by a mini-
narrative that supports topic sentence in the paragraph above.) . This
experience showed me that (Follow with summarizing the need for assertiveness
in some circumstances.)
(Further development of idea #1 in a new paragraph) Asserting ones
opinions was difficult for a citizen of Nazi Germany, I learned from reading The Book
Thief. In this novel, the child characters would like to speak up on their own behalf or to
defend another character, but voicing their opinions could lead to extreme punishment.
For example, Liesel, the main character,
(Use a brief, specific example from the novel but place it in the context of the
plot). Then transition from the fictional world back to your world for
example.) Living in Canada in the 21st century, I do not face extreme punishment for
speaking up to an authority figure. However, I sometimes need to defend myself or my
friends. (Follow with second support for Topic Sentence #1. Perhaps a
discussion of this idea with some brief examples, details, illustrations.) Etc. Etc.

Topic Sentence #2 (topic reflection or close synonym I have pondered/


contemplated) + key word(s) repeated (personal growth or close synonym) +
main idea # 2 chosen from prompts example facing ones fears.
Again, follow with two (or more) sentences exploring the significance of this idea. Then
provide your support. You may need to develop this idea with a number of examples
given in multiple paragraphs. You might choose to include examples drawn from the
Chaplin movie or documentary discussing Chaplins motivation for and difficulties
making The Great Dictator. If you do so, transition back to your own life before
continuing with Topic Sentence #3 (Same format: topic + key word + main idea 3
example, resolving conflicts.) Remember, repetition of key words and clear
development signalled by topic sentences build essay structure.

Your conclusion should attempt to connect the three main ideas that directly
support your thesis statement & the need for self-reflection and its relationship to
personal growth. A nice way to conclude is to project into the near future the
importance of what you have learned.

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