Reflective+Essay

=The Reflective Analysis= =AP Lit. and Comp.= **Mr. Mullen** For the final portfolio I’ll be collecting on Monday, January 19, I’d like you to write a reflection analysis. Using your discussions from class, conferences with me, and your own experience as a writer, you will write a 2-3 page paper on the challenges you faced as a writer this semester and how you dealt with those challenges. Try not to talk in general terms when writing this essay, but instead, think specifically about what strategies you used as a writer to improve the papers you selected to submit in the portfolio (i.e. did you focus your thesis, create better topic sentences, alter diction, find better ways to hook your reader, understand a grammatical concept better, learn how to illuminate, etc).

One of the things that’s vital for this kind of essay is to recognize that it is an analysis. Be careful about merely summarizing your writing process. Instead, break down the process and figure out what worked and didn’t work so far this semester. In addition, **you should cite examples from your essays** within the reflective essay to show the changes you’ve made. This will give your reader a clear indication that you understand how the changes you’ve made affected the quality of the portfolios you submitted.

Finally, keep in mind that this reflective analysis essay doesn’t have to be a “Disney movie.” You don’t have to make it seem like you’ve suddenly discovered the perfect process for writing excellent essays all of the time, nor must you make the reader think that you were absolutely terrible as a writer coming in and you’ve suddenly become William Shakespeare. Be sincere, thoughtful, and precise, and you’ll most likely produce a real quality essay.

Here are some areas of knowledge you **should** **think** **about** when preparing to write this essay:


 * 1) **Self Knowledge** – What knowledge of myself as a writer have I gained from writing and revising these essays? What changes, if any, have occurred in my writing practices and my sense of self as a writer? How did I approach one essay differently from another essay, and how are these different approaches reflected in the quality of the essay?
 * 2) **Content Knowledge** – What patterns exist in the content of my various essays? What new perspectives did I gain about particular novels by studying multiple viewpoints (i.e. different lenses, point of view, etc)? Am I still exploring tensions with the subjects of my essays or complicating these ideas?
 * 3) **Rhetorical and Task Knowledge** – What choices have I made to accomplish my purpose or appeal to my audience? In other words, how did I make my purpose clear? How did I keep my audience interested? How did I make them believe me? Did I use examples, evidence, anecdotes, etc? How did I establish myself as someone who has something to say on the topics I am writing about? What choices were particularly effective? Which ones were not?
 * 4) **Critical Knowledge or Judgment** – Of the essays in my portfolio, which is the best and why? Which is the weakest and why? What effect has peer, teacher, or other reader’s feedback had on my work? How would I improve these essays if I had more time? How has my writing changed over the quarter? What things in my writing do I still need to work on?

Due Date: Monday, January 19, 2009 (NO LATE PORTFOLIOS WILL BE ACCEPTED!)

Come see me if you need any help.

Yours in solidarity!

Mr. Mullen