How To Write A Reflection Paper
Uploaded by
Ethel Jasmine VillanuevaHow To Write A Reflection Paper
Uploaded by
Ethel Jasmine VillanuevaHow to write a Reflection Paper
A Reflection Paper gives you the opportunity to explore a theory, concept, or model and
connect them with your personal experiences, observations, beliefs, and assumptions.
In a way, it develops and enhances your analytical skills and higher order thinking since
it does not only require you to incisively comprehend a new phenomenon (i.e., an idea,
proposal, policy, journal article, published material, reading text, news article,
documentary, or theater show) but also inspire you to go deeper introspectively within
your subconscious mental models or preconceived ideas that shaped your thoughts and
dispositions. Thus, reflection is both looking outside as well as revisiting what is inside
us. It is a powerful tool for external and internal analysis.
In your Reflection Paper, it is important to both analyze and synthesize the theory and
practice in the encounter considering that your program demand high-level cognitive
thinking. You need to reflect upon the experience with respect to yours but also
evaluate it on the basis of the new learnings, insights, and perspectives drawn from the
classroom. It is also helpful to cite authoritative journals and readings to present your
discussions as academically informed, empirical, and evidence-based. The last thing
we want is that your paper becomes a colloquial diary of your personal experience. You
are even expected to genuinely confront and perhaps, critique the concepts and models
in the reading text, employ reflective inquiry, and not merely acquiescence to its
propositions.
In writing your Reflection Paper, you may consider the following outline and guide
questions as reference:
1. Introduction of the concept. What were the specific points of arguments or
theoretical expositions of the reading material? How are they relevant to the
study of field of Public administration in terms of theoretical concepts, feasibility,
and applicability in the real-world experience? Were there any contradictions,
divergences and competing theories and literatures? Identify debates and
conflicts in the evolution of the concepts, principle or phenomenon.
2. Personal experience. Based on your personal understanding of the reading
text, how does it fit or contradict your personal experience as a leader, public
official, lawmaker, citizen, scholar, or advocate? What specific learning/s have
struck a strong connection to your internal clarity or self-awareness, and why do
you say so?
3. Synthesis. Do you think the reading can contribute any insights and eureka
moments in helping us improve the field of Public Administration? Is the reading
blindsided to the counterintuitive effects of governing without considering the
peculiar context and culture of the Philippine situation? Would you recommend it
to future scholars of the field?
Format
A4 paper; Font size 12, Font style (Arial); and Single Space
MS words
Maximum of 1000 words (Not more than three pages)
Cite references using APA format
Grading rubrics
Scale Description Narrative
96 – 100 Outstanding Student was able to critically analyze the reading text, explore its
strengths and weakness by referring to authoritative citations and
discussions in class, connect them with the richness of his/her
personal experiences and assumptions, and synthesize the theory
and practice through new learnings in a clear, concise, and logical
manner.
91 – 95 Very satisfactory Student was able to frame the discussions in the reading text,
explore its strengths and weakness but unable to cite references
to support his/her claims, connect them with his/her personal
experience and assumptions, and conclude by reiterating his/her
learnings.
86 – 90 Satisfactory Student revisited the reading text, summarized some points and
arguments, connect them with his/her personal experience and
assumptions, and used his/her learnings but not essentially
related to the class discussions.
81 – 85 Fair Student was somehow able to illustrate the points in the reading
text, incorporate his personal opinions and views but with little
connection, and was effective in proposing new learnings not
relevant to the subject.
76 – 80 Poor Student was unable to explain the points in the reading text,
employed personal opinions and views, and was deficient in
connect the article with his/her personal experience.
