Reflection essay should reflect the writer’s personal experiences about the selected personal event (something the writer has heard, seen or read). The writer should demonstrate how the selected event reflects people or social issues. Unlike many other types of essays, the purpose of the reflection paper lies not in an exhaustive discussion of the subject, but in exploration of ideas, and so such an essay is of philosophical character, though it frequently leaves no solid conclusions or definite statements. This type of essays should be treated as opportunity for free development of ideas and their comprehensive trial. For example, unfortunate love experience could lead to a reflection about philosophic categories connected with this feeling: What is love? What is the difference between love and desire? Is unfortunate love beneficial? Why or why not?

It is clear that the topic of a reflection essay should be wide enough to raise the interest in reader and provide a sufficient variety of rhetoric questions. The writer should pick out several ideas or subtopics and make sure that coherence is maintained through the entire essay. It is useful to insert transitional paragraphs before beginning to explore the new idea or subtopic. The writer should present his own experiences in an interesting manner, carefully considering the target auditorium. It is important to get the reader involved in the story, and this objective may be reached through introduction of the remarkable details and utilization of the vivid writing style.