In academic writing, point of view refers to the perspective the writer takes. Sometimes a writer will choose to reflect on a subject as a detached observer. Rather than participating in the action, the writer stands outside it, making observations or showing what happened without becoming a part of the story. This detached point of view is characterized by the use of third-person pronouns (he, she, they) and a seemingly objective relationship with the subject. James Mollison, for example, adopts a detached point of view for his photo essay “Where Children Sleep.” By distancing himself from the lives of the children he has photographed, Mollison enables readers to consider his observations in a broader context.

At other times, a writer will reflect on a subject as a participant observer, someone who is centrally involved in the story being told. In this case, the writer shares experiences and observations from a personal perspective. This participatory point of view is characterized by the use of first-person pronouns (I, me, we) and a more personally involved relationship with the subject. By adopting this perspective, writers become key players in their own stories and can connect with their readers on a more intimate level. Consider, for example, “What Kind of Woman Are You?,” in which Cheryl Strayed uses the first-person point of view to personalize her reflections on the Pacific Crest Trail and the people she encounters while hiking it.

Your decision about point of view will depend on the subject of your reflection, your relationship to the subject, and the amount of information you want to reveal about yourself. If you are reflecting on a subject with which you have little or no personal experience, or if you want to downplay your involvement, it’s usually more effective to adopt the role of a detached observer. If, on the other hand, you want to directly convey your experiences with and perceptions of an event, or if you want to make an abstract subject more personal for readers, writing as a participant observer is often the better choice.