Reflective essays, like other kinds of academic essays, should have a point. Before you begin writing, try to express your main idea in the form of a tentative thesis statement, a single sentence that articulates the most significant aspect of your reflections on your subject. By framing your main idea in a particular way, you can focus your efforts and help your readers see why your reflection should matter to them.

Consider the differences among the following tentative thesis statements about pursuing a career as a writer:

Without commitment and discipline, pursuing a career as a writer would be a waste of time.

Without a genuine love of words and a desire to share your ideas with others, pursuing a career as a writer would be a waste of time.

The paths that lead to a career in writing are as varied as the writers who follow them.

Each of these statements would lead to significantly different reflective essays. The first frames becoming a writer as a test of character. It implies that writers can’t succeed unless they are prepared to dedicate themselves to the hard work of writing. The second thesis statement shifts the focus from discipline and commitment to the writer’s relationship with words and readers. It paints a warmer, less intimidating picture of what it takes to become a writer. The third thesis statement shifts the focus completely away from the qualities shared by successful writers, suggesting instead that each writer has different reasons for pursuing a career in writing. You can read more about developing a thesis statement in Chapter 14.

Even though having a main idea is necessary, the final draft of a reflective essay doesn’t always include a formal thesis statement. Depending on the nature of the reflection, writers sometimes choose to use their observations to create a dominant impression of a subject. That is, they tell a story or build up details to show — rather than state outright — why the subject is significant.