Reflection Paper
A reflection paper focuses on your
feelings and analysis of a piece or
experience in a personal way more
than formal research or analytical
essay would require.
Include your thoughts and feelings to
the reading or experience. You can
present your feelings upon reading
what you read and why. You can also
use a reflection paper to analyze
what you have read but not merely
summarising the key points.
Maintain good organization of your
thoughts and cite specific passages, if
appropriate. Personal experiences
are okay to include but don’t rely
solely on your experiences. It should
be back-up with your overall
understanding of what you have
learned/read.
*Note that personal pronouns (I, we) are more common in reaction and reflection papers. Objective
language is used for critical review (although personal pronouns can be used when expressing
personal views).
Obtained from: http://resources.cleary.edu/page/Writing+Resources
Reaction Paper
A reaction paper features your
intellectual reaction to an
assigned piece (usually an
article/reading material or film
clip) or even a specific
topic/issue.
You goal is to tell your reader
very clearly and concisely what
the assigned piece accomplished.
In reaction paper, your personal
experiences are given less
emphasis.
When expressing your own
intellectual reaction, remember
to back up your claims (you may
use the textbook, other articles,
other video examples). Avoid
repeating what you get from
those readings. Your
thoughts/reactions on what you
have read are more important.
Your writing should be
purposeful and concise. Tell the
reader the scopes of reactions
that you plan to elaborate. Then
in the body paragraphs,
elaborate each reaction
accordingly.
Critical Review
Article: The critical review
summarizes and evaluates – in
this case – an article. Writing
the critical review usually
requires you to read the
selected article in detail and
read other related articles so
that you can present a fair and
reasonable evaluation.
Compare and contrast what the
article has presented with other
articles. You may also fix the
scope of your review based on
a specific theory.
Movie: A good film critique
provides the reader with a basic
idea of what the film addresses.
It provides the writer’s critical
assessment of the
success/failure or
effectiveness/ineffectiveness of
the film supported by the
evidence the writer gathers
from the film. It is more than a
plot synopsis or summary of the
movie. For the writer, the
critique is an opportunity to
exhibit a critical awareness of
the elements of the film as well
as to share the delight and
pleasure (or frustration and
disappointment) the film offers
the viewer based on specific
concept/theories.