The primary goal of writing a reflective essay is to analyze one's experience and learn from it. This type of essay does not require research or citing references. Instead, it focuses on an event in the past or present and analyzes its meaning from the current perspective. In order to write a good reflective essay, the writer must be honest about his or her thoughts and emotions. The final product should paint a clear picture of a person's personality.

An outline is essential when writing a reflective essay. It will help the writer pay for a essay on topic and ensure that the essay does not veer off the designated word limit. The outline should be as detailed as possible and include important points. A detailed outline will also help the writer keep track of the word count. While the structure of an essay can vary, the basic structure is usually similar. Reflective essays usually have an introduction paragraph and a body section. They also include a conclusion paragraph and references.