conversation2e

Explore Your Experiences

Brainstorming provides a good way to generate ideas for the subject of a reflective essay. Start by asking questions about your past or recent experiences, such as the following:

Why is my favorite childhood memory so special to me?
Did I learn anything about myself this weekend?
What surprised me in my history class this week?
What story that is currently in the news annoys me the most?
What is the last thing that made me laugh?
What do I worry about most?
What in my life do I wish had gone differently?
What am I most proud of, and why?

Use your imagination to come up with questions about your personal, academic, and professional experiences. Quickly jot down answers to your questions. Then review your answers to identify a subject that will meet your purpose, interest your readers, and be suitable for the context, requirements, and limitations of your writing assignment. If you’re still not sure you’ve found the right inspiration for a topic, check the writing project ideas at the end of this chapter for additional suggestions (Project Ideas).