Composing – as many may think – is one of the most challenging writing jobs in school. Indeed, when preparing it, the student needs to write a competent text and approach it creatively. And all this in one or two lessons! It sounds terrifying, but in reality, it’s not at all like that. We tell you how to write a nursing reflection paper or on any topic quickly.
First, let’s figure out what is meant by reflection. Different sources give different definitions, so we’ll try to combine them into one.
Reflecting involves a logical and consistent presentation of your thoughts on a particular issue or problem. In reflection, evidence and arguments are used, based on which certain conclusions are drawn. The structure of thinking, which we shall describe later, includes statements and conclusions.
Your objective is to utilize the thesis (any assertion) and arguments (why you believe so or don’t think so) to uncover and describe the causes of diverse events. The thesis comes first, and it is this that arguments must prove.
Surprisingly, your work might be based on either a statement (that the thesis given is valid) or a rebuttal (that the thesis presented is incorrect) (proof that the thesis is false). As proof tools, you can use plain facts or arguments from the opposite, relying on personal experience or films, giving examples from life or literature.
What Is a Reflection Essay?
We will not give you a definition from the dictionary of terms because everything is clear from the name: reflect on the topic. By the way, in the essay description – to describe everything to the smallest detail, in the essay-narration – to focus on the development of events. Accordingly, in an essay-reflection – to explain your point of view, supporting it with arguments.
Another question – what does it mean to “reflect”? As a rule, the topic of the essay that is given to you is a thesis that needs to be either proved or refuted. In both the first and second circumstances, you must provide evidence to persuade the reader that your point of view is valid.
How to Write a Reflection Essay?
In writing any texts where you have to defend your point of view, we advise you to adhere to the “rule of three.” Various coaches, speakers, and business people often use this method in their speeches when they need to convince their audience of something.
According to the “rule of three,” you can also build a nursing essay:
- Introduction = your assessment (agree or disagree) of the thesis.
- The central part = proof of your point of view (arguments).
- Conclusion = generalization of all the above and conclusions.
So, reflection is thoughts presented following logic, supported by evidence, linked by a chain of arguments, and growing into convincing conclusions.
Writing reflection will become more convincing under the following conditions:
- The central thesis corresponds to the topic of the essay,
- The selected evidence is strong enough,
- There is a close logical connection between the parts of the paper,
- The conclusions are clearly articulated.
Reflection identifies and describes the reasons and the relationship of any phenomena. Typically, a thesis is presented in the introduction of the paper – a statement whose integrity must be demonstrated via the use of strong and compelling arguments. The essay can be based on both reasoning statements (the truth of the put forward thesis is proven) and reasoning-refutation ideas (the reality of the put forward thesis is refuted) (the falsity of the set ahead essential position is established). The writer is given the option of using straight facts and evidence to the contrary on occasion. An essay’s author might draw on personal experience, newspaper and magazine articles, films, and real-life and literary examples when constructing the proof.
Before starting work on an essay, you have to formulate the thought and prove it. Then, a plan for future creative work is drawn up based on a statement that requires argumentation.
Reflection Paper Scheme
- Introduction;
- Thesis;
- Arguments: arguments, proofs, explanations, justifications; examples, cases, facts, figures; opinions of authoritative people, statements, quotes;
- Conclusion.
The introduction to the paper is a short introduction to the main thesis. You should formulate it as a quotation or a question. The thesis put forward will become the first point for the following arguments, and most of the essay will be argumentation – at least 2/3 of the total volume of the text. It is believed that the optimal number of arguments for a reflection paper is three.
The arguments can be:
- Historical facts;
- Statistical data;
- Episodes, storylines of literary works, confirming the proven idea;
- Proverbs and sayings, aphorisms;
- Opinions of authoritative people
The most convincing argument, in your opinion, is best to have the latter.
The conclusion completes your essay. Because it is a conclusion, a result, and a consequence of your logic, it must be compelling. It virtually replicates the thesis, but by using generalizations and potentially predictions, it elevates it to a new level. The conclusion can be formulated using the following words and expressions: so, generalizing what has been said, thus, proceeding from our reasoning, therefore.
The form of the conclusion (in particular, the proof) is correct if not a single rule of logic is violated in it.