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Cynthia Serrano
Professor Batty
English 113B
10 May 2016
From Weaknesses to Strengths
Transitioning into college is not easy. In college you learn to become an adult, you learn
responsibilities and learn the most important thing, time management. As an incoming freshman
I have always struggled with my writing. I never understood how important a thesis statement
was and how significant they are for an entire essay. In my English 113A class with Professor
Martin, she taught me things I consider now my strengths in writing today. She taught me the
importance of citations and how to construct a proper thesis statement. With professor Martins
help I have mastered quotation sandwiches and became very comfortable with constructing a
thesis statement. Although I have learned many things last semester, I continued to struggle with
my writing. I struggled with my counter argument and struggled getting my points across. My
English 113 B class has definitely help me improve and perfect my writing. However, I
understand revising and my fixing my essay is a never ending process, but now I am a confident
writer. I have learned many strategies in Professors Battys class. For example, they say I say,
so what who cares and to spell things out to my reader by using repetition, key words and
pointing words.
They say I say is an important tool that I learned this semester. It has taught me how
important it is to address the counterargument by telling my reader the naysayers point of view
and including an opposing view to my argument by anticipating the readers opposing point of
view. They say is where a writer can tell their reader what their argument is going to be about

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and give their point of view and opinion. The I say is where a writer gives their viewpoint and
addresses their argument. They say I say gives credibility to the writer because it is taking
away any bias viewpoint by stating both sides of an argument. I learned that this has help make
my writing a lot stronger and has helped me write and develop a solid counterargument.
The so what who cares is basically when the writer tells their reader why their writing
is important and relevant. It also tells the reader, to what the writing applies to or whom it
concerns. It answers the question, who is your audience? The so what who cares plays a
major role in my writing because it allows me to explain why and to who my argument is
relevant to.
Lastly, I have learned how it is important to spell things out to my reader by using key
words, repetition and pointing words. Writers arguments can sometimes be unclear and a reader
may misinterpret the viewpoints of the writer. Therefore, it is important for the writer to spell
things out for the reader and guide them through the writers points and arguments. Using
keywords and repetition can be helpful because they let the reader know how you are connecting
your points. Pointing words merely help direct your reader as the read through your writing.
Overall learning these strategies this semester has made me a more proficient writer.
Writing a counter argument has always been my weakness as a writer and now I know how to
tackle it. By using they say I say writing a counter argument has become a strength of mine. I
now have the confidence and knowledge to continue growing in my writing skills. Thanks to my
English 113 classes I understand how to write a proper thesis, when to use proper citation and
quotation sandwiches. I learned how to use a counterargument and direct my reader through my
argument to get my point across. These skills will without a doubt will help me succeed in all my
future classes.