What specifically is in opposition or, disturbs you, or draws your attention?

Writing Reflection Papers

Reflect: verb “to think carefully and often for a long time about something, or to express this type of thought”

Reflection: noun “careful thought, or an idea or opinion based on this”

Reflective : adj. “someone who is reflective thinks carefully and deeply about things”

(Longman’s Advanced American Dictionary, 2000)

A reflection is a personal essay with an argument. Evidence for the argument may be taken from an experience and/or a reading assignment. A reflection paper is neither a reaction paper nor a book review. The purpose is to think deeply and carefully about an experience or text, and analyze how that experience or text has/has not changed your thinking and/or practice. I would like to see integration between the new ideas you are learning and experiences with previously held ideas, application of what you learned, and critique reflecting what you’ve learned from lectures and other reading assignments. A reflection paper does not focus on summary or quotes, but on how the readings or experience challenge or cause you to reevaluate your beliefs.

A reflection paper should be an essay, not a list of answers to questions. Reflection does not mean stream of consciousness.

There are two common types of reflection papers those focused on experience and practice and those focused on academic readings and ideas. This paper will integrate both your experience and the course material. You will write your paper from a personal voice perspective

DIRECTIONS

You will choose ONE of the below questions to answer AND choose 1 topic to discuss for your reflection paper.
Use the rubric categories’ (see above) to structure your paper to earn full credit.
In the first couple sentences of your paper define the topic you chose using the textbook definition.
If you are critiquing or disagreeing with a topic or feel something is left out, ensure that you have read your textbook thoroughly first, as it may already address your concerns or your criticisms.
Indicate which question number you chose on your paper.

QUESTIONS (CHOOSE 1)

Has any of the topics challenged or have been in opposition to you, theologically, culturally, or socially? What specifically is in opposition or, disturbs you, or draws your attention? Describe what ideal you hold and how the topic has challenged or opposed the ideal.
Has any of the topics made you change your thinking in any way? Does it provide information that changes the way you will deal with people or situations going forward? Tell how your thinking or behavior will change and why. Be specific in your answer.
Is there any important fact, idea, question, or issue that you think needs to be considered related to the topics? Is something left unanswered or ambiguous? Do you find that the topic does not fully address an issue or the resolution of an issue? Did the authors leave anything out that you consider important? What is the issue and what information is lacking?
Is there a topic that you want to criticize or disagree with? Does anything make you uncomfortable? Tell me in detail which topic you are discussing and what about that topic you disagree with or makes you uncomfortable. Provide a compelling argument for you point of view.
Do any of the topics connect with other readings, lectures, or experiences you’ve had? How would you integrate these ideas or facts with what you already know or think about this subject? How could you apply what you experienced or learned to your existing schema (knowledge base)?
1. Is there anything in your past experience, cultural or ethnic background, or identity that resonates with or supports what you learned about the topics? Tell me in detail how what you learned about the topics resonates with you.