The Reflection Essay assignment asks students to reflect on the assigned reading and identifythree of the author’s important ideas that readers find interesting or appealing. Additionally,students will respond to the author’s ideas by explaining what society might learn from theidentified ideas, why these ideas are relevant or important in our society today, and whatlesson(s) we might learn from them. The reading assignment connected to this essay is “TheDamned Human Race” by Mark Twain.
FormatThe length of the assignment is a doubled-spaced essay of two and a half (2.5) to three (3) pages.The essay will include a short introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs (one for eachidentified lesson), and a conclusion paragraph. Do not include any outside sources or quotations,but you must include a short quote in each body paragraph to support your ideas. Make sure yourfinal paper includes an MLA heading in the upper left corner and a title: Reflection Essay. Indentthe paragraphs and make sure the paragraphs are double-spaced. Include a formal MLA WorksCited page in the proper format.
SkillsSome of the skills included in this essay include developing a clear, strong thesis statement;developing clear, focused topic sentences; developing effective transitional words and phrases;supporting the thesis with thoughtful analysis and textual evidence; building complex sentencestructure; incorporating college-level vocabulary; constructing purposeful introduction andconclusion paragraphs; and formatting an MLA essay.
IntroductionProvide a broad overview and the current thinking about the topic, issue, or problem. Do notinclude any quotes, evidence, or facts. Include a strong, purposeful thesis statement at the end ofthe introduction. Sample argumentative thesis: Analyzing Mark Twain’s “The Damned HumanRace” provides readers with insight into why Twain’s work remains relevant and leavesimportant lessons that we can apply to our lives in the twenty-first century.Body Paragraphs 1, 2, and 3Begin with a topic sentence that mentions one of Twain’s main points.Provide context by explaining the main point (2-3 sentences).Introduce outside source #1 (quote, facts, data) that relates to the topic (1 sentence).Explain the source information by providing additional insight or understanding. Do not merelyrestate what is already stated or implied in the source.In each of the three body paragraphs, be sure to answer the following questions: Why might amodern reader find Twain’s example interesting? Why might a modern reader find Twain’sexample relevant or applicable to human nature or to our society today? What is the lesson wecan learn from Twain’s example? What steps might we take as a society to overcome the flaw inhuman nature that Twain identifies? Answering these questions directly helps the student writerbuild the body paragraphs.
ConclusionEncourage the reader to keep thinking about the topic by answering one or more of the followingquestions: Why do these laws of power matter? Based on the evidence analyzed in the essay,what do we know that we might not have known before investigating the topic? Who mightbenefit from learning about this topic? What new ideas or conclusions can we develop based onthis examination of the topic? End with a bold statement or a call to action. In any event, do notsummarize the main points already mentioned in the essay.Revised: Spring 2025
