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The Reflective Essay Created by: Prof. I. Cortés. Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines. What is an Essay?. An ESSAY is a “short piece of writing on a particular subject” (Broukal 2010). Such essay could be: Argumentative Analytical Expository Reflective.
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The Reflective Essay Created by: Prof. I. Cortés Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines
What is an Essay? • An ESSAY is a “short piece of writing on a particular subject” (Broukal 2010). • Such essay could be: • Argumentative • Analytical • Expository • Reflective
What is a Reflective Essay? “A reflective essay is an exploration of a topic using personal thought and experience” (Farleigh).
Reflective Essay: As a Group • Objectives: • Combine reflections in an organized manner following the essay format. • Showcase the group’s: • thoughts about the topic • experience/group interaction • throughout the activity As a group, you may combine 1 and 2.
Reflective Essay: Language Example: “We chose this topic because… However, Sandra explains that… She then realized…”
Oh no… Do I have to write a Thesis Statement? Yes! Do not be scared; it is just a sentence.
Thesis Statement …is a sentence which is the main idea of the essay. 1 2
Thesis Statement …is the main idea of the essay.
Thesis Statement …is the main idea of the essay.
Thesis Statement Avoid these… - Too vague: Scientists should understand stem cells are bad. Too broad: Scientists should understand everything about stem cell research. Too narrow: Scientists should understand stem cells research is bad because such cells are extracted from fetuses. Strong Thesis: As a group, we believe stem cell research has both positive and negative aspects when used in the development of medicine.
Thesis Statement Concluding Statement BodyParagraphs
The Conceptual Map of a Reflective Essaya.k.a. Graphic Organizer
The Conceptual Map in Groups: Essay Quote1: According to Blake (2004)… Quote 2: Smith (2008) explains… Topic S = Topic Sentence As a group, we believe stem cell research has both positive and negative aspects when used in medicine.
The Conceptual Map: Body Paragraph Quote 1 Quote 2 Supp = SupportingSentences
The Conceptual Map: Body Paragraph • The supporting sentences develop the topic sentence. They give the reader: • Reasons • Examples • Details All supporting sentences must be related to the topic of the paragraph.
Conclusion: Final Paragraph Concluding statement: 1. Sums up the main points 2. Restates the main idea in a different way —Broukal 2010
Sample Introduction: Math According to Sullivan (2001), pre-calculus provides the background for the mathematical concepts, problems and techniques that mathematicians confront (25). Although true, this definition makes it sound as if the only importance of pre-calculus is to lay a foundation for mathematics. On the other hand, Blake (2005) explains that “math and medicine have had a long affair” (2). Upon researching and presenting on the importance of mathematics in medicine, half of the group agrees that pre-calculus is essential in medical research while the rest believes that it is only useful to mathematicians.
Activity As a group, work on a graphic organizer in which you include:1. One (1) clear thesis statement (complete sentence)2. Three (3) topic sentences, one for each of the three body paragraphs3. One (1) concluding statement (complete sentence)
References Broukal, Milada. Weaving it Together: Connecting Reading and Writing, Third Edition. Boston: Heinle, 2010. Folse, Keith, Vestri, Elena and David Clabeaux. From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays. Boston: Heinle, 2001. Folse, Keith, Vestri, Elena and April Muchmore-Vokoun. Great Paragraphs. Boston: Heinle, 2004. http//: owl.english.purdue.edu “Reflection.” Oxford English Dictionary. NY: Oxford UP, 2002. Strausser, Jeffrey. Painless Writing. NY: Barron’s, 2001. Strumpf, Michael. The Grammar Bible. NY: Owl Books, 2004. Strunk, William and E.B. White. The Elements of Style. NY: Longman, 2000.
Questions? Comments? Barat Norte 223 (BN 223) 787-728-1515 ext. 2294 E-mail:lad@sagrado.edu Web: http://www.sagrado.edu/lad