How to write a reflective paper?

How do I write an reflective response paper to a novel?

• I am reading a book by Tim O'brien "The things they carried" and I am having difficulty writing a reflective response to the first 3 chapters because I dont want it to sound like I am summarizing it. anyone know any tips and tricks?

• Answer:

  Do you understand what 'reflective response' is? You do not summarize or re-tell the story. You need to write your reaction to the story. If you have written out a 'summary' type set of notes, you can then write NOTES on the margin about how it made you feel, did you react in any manner to each chapter, paragraph or line? did it make you sad? happy? nervous? etc. Did you think about the topic discussed, long after you read it ??? Reflective response is a type of paper that discusses not only the who, what, when, where and general action but delves deeper, into your, the reader's, response to those words.