Adapting Tone and Style for Different Essay Types

[Fflmanno]

Last week I had to write a reflective essay for the first time and honestly, I had no idea what I was doing. I kept writing it like a personal diary entry, full of “I felt this” and “I thought that,” but when I got it back, my lecturer said it lacked structure and actual reflection. Apparently, just saying what happened isn’t enough—you’re supposed to analyze the experience too? I thought reflective just meant… reflecting! Guess not.

[palmariums]

I had the same problem during my first year. I was just narrating events with no real insight, and my professor basically said it read like a blog post. What helped me improve was understanding that reflection means connecting the experience to ideas or theories, not just storytelling. I found this guide super helpful when I had to rewrite mine: https://www.ozessay.com.au/blog/how-to-write-a-reflective-essay/. It breaks it down in a way that actually makes sense—not too academic but still solid advice.

[BugMeNot]

I’ve noticed that essays that feel the most authentic usually come from a mix of personal engagement and just enough structure to guide the flow. Too much structure, and it sounds robotic. Too little, and it’s just a stream of thoughts. Same thing goes for presentations, really—people connect way more when you’re clear but still sound human. That balance is everything.