10 Tips for Writing a Health Care Reflective Essay

Updated on October 9, 2020

For some students, writing a health care reflective essay can present challenges. While the essay will be written like any other research paper, there are a few minor differences. An ethics paper requires you to present the arguments and counterarguments, and then for you to defend your specific position. A strong health care reflective essay is more about an overview of a particular issue and your personal thoughts. Reflective essays will allow you to communicate with your professor about how a specific lesson, article, current event, or personal experience better shapes your understanding of class-related material. A professional team of academic essay writers can also help you prepare top-notch custom health care papers from scratch if you ask them for assistance. 

Here are 10 tips to help you with your reflective essay.

1. Write a strong title

Every good reflective health care essay begins with a great title. This is critical when you are trying to capture the eyes and attention of your audience. 

2. Focus on strengthening your lead paragraph

The lead paragraph is just as critical. A good lead will convince your readers to read further.  This is where you also want to describe the point of your essay. This is where you want to summarize specific lesson, article, current event, or personal experience in one to three sentences. It should be both descriptive but straight to the point.This is also the section where you should identify any expectations you had. At the end of this section, you should also write one sentence—your thesis statement—that best explains your transition from your expectations you had to your final conclusion. When you write a strong lead, your readers will have no choice but to read more! 

3. Be clear

Don’t worry about trying to be clever—get to the point right away. It’s more important for the readers to understand what your essay is about. 

Be clear and to let your audience know what the article is about rather than impressing them with your wit. You can do that in the body of your essay.

4. Make it interesting

The first four to six sentences of your essay are the most important, because if you don’t hook your audience, they will get bored and click away. While A health care reflection essay is personal and objective, you should still be sure to keep all of your thoughts organized and sensible.

5. Keep paragraphs short

Your middle paragraphs should explain the conclusions you reached by the end of the specific lesson, article, current event, or personal experience. 

Here, brevity is essential as is keeping the language simple. There is no need to impress with verbosity or big words.  If all else fails, try injecting some humor. Impart it cautiously but don’t be afraid to use it even under the most serious of circumstances.

People don’t like to read long essays because their attention span is short. Instead, say what you have to say short and sweet, then move on. Also, keep your sentences short.

Your conclusion the essay should also be short and sweet. You want to describe the overall feeling or understanding you arrived to as a result of your specific lesson, article, current event, or personal experience. 

6. Write the lead paragraph last

Rather than stare at a blank sheet of paper for hours on end, just start writing. It will save you a lot of time in the long run. 

This way you can sum up what the essay is about, and at that point you’re well into the groove of writing so figuring out something catchy comes easier.

7. Tell a story

Telling a fascinating story or an anecdote are both common ways to start reflective essay. Don’t be afraid to get personal. This should demonstrate exactly what readers can learn and why it’s important to them.

People enjoy reading stories and real-life anecdotes. Personal anecdotes work best. Oftentimes, your readers can better relate. It also can capture and enthrall the reader and bring some personality and flavor to the piece.

8. Use humor

While we cautioned against being witty, using humor can oftentimes get your readers to continue to read.

It doesn’t have to be belly laugh all of the time but simply something that leaves them smiling will always have them seeking out whatever you have to say.

9. Avoid jargon

To grab and hold your readers’ attention, paragraphs should be brief, interesting, endearing, and not overly hyped or jargon-filled. A clear, well-written essay must have clear, well-written sentences.

10. Use subheads to improve readability

Break up your essay with subheads throughout. Subheads help readers scan your content quickly. You may also want to include some bullet points. Not only is it beneficial to helping to keep your content reader-friendly, but it has been shown to help make a solid argument.

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