As a student in English Composition, you will often be asked to reflect. To reflect means to think thoughtfully about a given topic. Some instructors will ask you to
reflect on your writing process for a certain essay; others will ask you to think about your experience of reading a text; still others will ask you to examine some
aspect of your life. To reflect isn’t the same as to narrate, which means to tell a story. When you reflect, you explore and analyze a certain situation within your
life. You don’t explain every step in chronological order; you choose certain “pieces” or “threads” of an experience or situation and look at only these. Exploration
like this often leads to connecting themes or ideas within the situation. You won’t necessarily know the connections when you start to brainstorm: often, they are
surprises that only come to light through careful reflection and consideration. Thoughtful reflection can help you in any aspect of your life.
Sample Solution