Reflective essays are just that: reflections from the author that set down, discuss and, in some cases, analyze his experiences, his development and his progress with any particular aspect of his life. They also may discuss the author's ideas or philosophical outlooks on a set of problems. They do not usually require a thesis as such, since their structure is far less stringent or evidence-laden. They usually are offered to students at the end of a course of study, to reflect on the whole experience or a part of it.
