Essays that reflect on the writer's experiences and how they affected personal transformation tend to be called reflective essays. Self-reflection is a component of reflective writing.
Definition
Usually, the author looks back on the past and evaluates it in light of the present. This isn't like an informational essay, where the author would give information about a specific topic from a non-biased viewpoint. In contrast to informative essays, which call on the writer to maintain objectivity, reflective essays allow the writer to communicate their perspective or thoughts regarding a topic. Narrative essays and reflective essays are frequently contrasted. The main distinction is that a reflective essay focuses on the writer's personal changes as a result of their experiences, whereas a narrative essay concentrates on a particular event in time.
Example
In his essay "Mr. Lytle, an Essay," well-known magazine author John Jeremiah Sullivan recalls how Southern Renaissance author Andrew Lytle mentored him when he was in his twenties. Sullivan writes about the Old South, male relationships, and the futility of art with such ease. The Paris Review has Sullivan's reflective article available online.
E.B. White wrote a contemplative essay titled "Once More to the Lake." White, a well-known author of children's books like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, was also a skilled essayist. White recalls his week-long vacation with his son on a lake in Maine in this reflective essay. The lake is the same one that White went to as a child with his father.
Conclusion
The reflective essay's goal is to give the writer a chance to consider their own personal development. The reflective essay is therefore frequently given to high school students or those getting ready for college. Universities frequently request reflective essays from applicants along with their applications. Reflective essays are also employed in circumstances that are more business-like, when employers are searching for signs of maturity, growth, and the capacity for analysis and critical thought.
