What Is a Reflection Paper?

A reflection paper is a type of paper that requires you to

write your opinion on a topic, supporting it with your
observations and personal examples. As opposed to
presenting your reader the opinions of other academics and
writers, in this essay you get an opportunity to write your
point of view—and the best part is that there is no wrong
answer. It is YOUR opinion, and it is your job to express
your thoughts in a manner that will be comprehensible and
clear for any and all readers that will read your paper. The
topic range is endless.
How to Write a Reflection Paper in Poetry?
Not everyone understands poetry. These
pieces of literature can sometimes be hard to
understand as poets are often inclined to
express their thoughts not with direct speech
but with symbols, imagery, peculiar rhythm
and rhyme. Thus, people who tend to have a
more mathematical organization of mind may
have obstacles with analyzing a poem.
What Is a Reflection Paper In Poetry?
A reflection should give a reader not only a summary of the
poem but also an understanding of how you feel and what
thoughts that particular poem wakes up in you.

What is the purpose of writing such a paper? First of all, the

aim is to get a deeper understanding of what you have
recently read, to make connections to things you already
know. By analyzing, questioning and evaluating your
experience as a result you may develop new insights and
perspectives. Reflective writing is a chance to think critically.

What should be included in your reflection?

 A summary of the poem;
 Answers to “Big” questions;
 Text references to the poem.
What are ‘big’ questions? Those are the
questions that should provoke some
thoughts about this poem. They are the
following:

 Why did the poet write that poem?

 What is the message of the poem?
 What is its impact to the readers?
 If you were the persona in the
poem, how would you feel?
A Step-by-Step Plan on How to Write a
Reflection Paper In Poetry
1. Read the poem twice. Try to sneak into its meaning,
write down your first impression and comments.

2. Research the poet. The author’s biography and the

background of the poem would give an understanding of
what or who inspired the poet and gave rise to his idea.

3. Read the poem once again, this time slower. Pay

attention to the style, the use of poetic figures. If any
unknown words are met, find out their meaning in the
dictionary. Poets sometimes use ancient myths, history,
words from other languages, special language – don’t
neglect these as they can play a significant role in
preserving the poem’s idea.
4. Answer the ‘big’ questions.

5. Analyze the figurative language used. Reflect on the poem’s

rhyme and the structure of each stanza. Define each alliteration,
metaphor, hyperbole, personification, simile and provide
examples to each of them.

6. Try to identify the mood of each stanza. Maybe the mood

changes as the poem progresses.

7. Reflect. Give your feedback, your thoughts, ideas, resort to the

poet’s background and use of figurative language.

8. Conclude. It’s important to mention here whether you liked

the poem or not, whether you find the problem it raises relevant
in the modern world. Maybe this piece motivated you for some
actions or changed your beliefs in a certain way – this is the
appropriate paper to write about it.
The Outline of the Reflection Paper In Poetry

A. Introduction
That part is the ‘face’ of your paper.
Why? If a reader finds your
introduction not fascinating, he will
lose interest and won’t estimate the
beauty of the body paragraph at its
fullest. The main rule – don’t be
bland. 
B. Main Body
 Remember the difference between the essay
analyzing the poem and a reflection paper
expressing your thoughts on it.
Once you have conducted research on the poet’s life
try to walk in his shoes. You can even highlight
specific lines that caught your interest. Beware of
writing in bold. By reinforcing your statements with
a correct quote you help the reader learn your
opinion and assumptions about the key ideas given
in the poem. Here is a helpful approach.
 Relate the idea of the poem to your experience or
knowledge;
 Consider how the poem helps to understand or even
challenge your ‘life baggage’ and vice versa;
 What are the implications of this in terms of your
intellectual development, individual growth?
C. Conclusion

 Everything is simple here. Like the introduction, it

closes the text and has to leave a positive residue on
the reader’s heart. Summarize your thoughts, you
may also want to explain how this reading will
change your actions in the future. Unlike the usual
research essay, which must not contain any new
ideas in the conclusion, in reflection paper you can
even challenge prior assumptions.
 Activity:
1. Make a Reflection paper about the
poem “ The Man with a Hoe” by
Edwin Markham.
2. To be submitted on January 30, 2022
(Monday).
CRITERIA Sophisticated (8) Very Competent (6) Fairly Competent (4) Not Yet Competent (2)

Accuracy (Grasp of Paper represents the Paper represents the Paper represents Paper misrepresents
readings authors’ ideas, evidence author’s ideas, evidence the authors’ ideas, the authors’ ideas,
or conclusions accurately, and conclusions evidence and evidence and/or
conclusions
fairly and eloquently. accurately accurately but conclusions. Major
Shows a firm not sufficiently clearly. inaccuracies. Or
understanding Minor inaccuracies. does not distinguish
of the implications of each between major ideas
author’s argument(s). and less relevant points.

Argument (depth of Paper fully meets Paper fully meets the Paper does not Paper does not
analysis) requirements of requirements but does address some address the
assignment. not exceed them. aspects of the assignment
Explores implications of
chosen ideas for the arts
Makes good case for assignment.
in why
classical Greece or today selected key ideas
in thoughtful and/or connect
original (or contradict) two
ways. Makes convincing texts,
case for why selected key and/or connect
ideas connect (or
contradict)
(contradict)
two texts, and/or connect texts and lectures.
(contradict) texts and
lectures.
Clarity Consistently precise and Mostly precise and Imprecise or ambiguous Consistently imprecise
unambiguous wording, unambiguous wording, wording. Confusing or ambiguous wording,
clear and lucid sentence mostly clear sentence sentence structure. confusing sentence
structure. All quotations structure. Mostly Poorly chosen structure. Quotations
are well chosen, effective choice of quotations, contradict or confuse
effectively quotation. Mostly or ineffective framing and student’s text.
framed in the text and effective framing and explication of quotations Quotations used
explicated where explication of quotation to replace student’s
necessary. where necessary. writing.

Presentation Paper is clean, Paper is clean, correctly Paper is clean, correctly Paper is sloppy or
correctly formatted (12-point font, formatted (12-point font, incorrectly formatted,
formatted (12-point Times New Roman, Times New Roman, not written in full
font, normal normal margins), written sentences. Many
margins), written in full in full sentences. Some improperly attributed
Times New Roman, sentences. Quotations improperly attributed quotations or
normal are all properly attributed quotations and/or inconsistent
margins), written in full and cited in a consistent inconsistent citation style of citation. Many
sentences. Quotations style. A few minor style. spelling or grammatical
are spelling A number of spelling or errors.
all properly attributed or grammatical errors. grammatical errors.
and
cited in a consistent
style.
Virtually no spelling or
grammatical errors.