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Sandvig Steven

Professor Batty

English 101

30 May 2019

The Next Chapter

I had absolutely no idea what to expect as I approached room 115 of the Humanities

building on that crisp February morning. It was the first day of the Spring semester at Los

Angeles Valley College, and my first day of English 101. As much as I hate to admit it, I had

been putting this class off for the last four semesters. Not because I wasn’t eager to take it, or felt

uninterested in reading, writing, and critical thinking. I was simply terrified. That may seem a

little dramatic, but I mean it most technically. The preceding semesters were filled with science

and mathematics; objective truths that are dictated by the laws of nature. This kind of subject

matter had always been my bread and butter, but now it was time to think and write for myself.

But what would I say? How would I say it? Would it even be worth reading? This lack of

confidence in my abilities to cogently and concisely lay out an argument have been with me for

as long as I can remember, but it was finally time to attack them head-on. Professor Batty’s

English 101 course has proved to be one of the most important and influential exercises of my

academic journey. Although this journey is far from complete, this course has equipped me with

the ability to better process, interpret, and retain information as well as think critically about it.

Furthermore, my confidence level as a writer has increased remarkably. These foundational skills

will continue to serve me for the rest of my life.


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Critical thinking is a key part of being a thinking person. We all engage in it every single

day whether we realize it or not. Be it analyzing the words of someone else during a

conversation, or searching for the perfect parking spot, critical thinking is a constant. When it

comes to critical thinking in and for academia, the stakes are increased significantly. I learned

this very early on in the semester. For me, the biggest takeaways from this revelation was the

idea of multiple perspectives, and counterarguments. Applying these to my essays proved to be a

big challenge. I knew what my argument was, but now I must not only introduce a concept that

goes against it, but then come back with a reason or reasons why my argument is stronger than

the naysayers. This is a concept that was completely foreign to me. Not because I don’t value

other opinions, but because in workaday critical thinking, this is not a practice that I routinely

engage in. That being said, I am most grateful for this lesson. I believe I am now a better overall

communicator because of it.

Another lesson in communication that I took away from this course is the way in which I

engage with books; specifically novels. Before this course, my relationship with fiction was akin

to a child’s relationship with lullabies. It was merely a tool to aid in unwinding at the end of the

day. Professor Batty’s lecture on Active Reading changed all of that. While reading Alex

Espinoza’s Still Water Saints, the professor encouraged us to have a pencil and notebook handy.

When a passage, a word, an insight jumped out at us, we were to write it down along with any

thoughts we had about it. This practice has completely changed the way that I view fiction. I am

now more engaged, interested and curious when examining the text. I feel like a collaborator

rather than a passive observer. I look forward to passing this down to my 6 year old as he

becomes more enthusiastic about literature.


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Finally, the most profound takeaway from this course is the confidence that I gained in

expressing myself through written word. There is still plenty of room for growth, but I can

confidently say that I have a solid foundation from which to build on. I credit this to Professor

Batty’s incredible teaching style in lecture, and the prewriting homework assignments leading up

to our first essay. Starting with topic selection, through prewriting and research, revising, all the

way up to final submissions, these assignments were incredibly beneficial. They not only gave

me a clear sense of direction, but also revealed the area in which I was weakest. My previous

idea of an essay was the standard 5-paragraph theme consisting of an introduction, 3 points and a

poem. This course has taught me to be even more specific, nuanced and ambitious when

composing a thesis. A thesis that is arguable and compelling.

As the Spring semester comes to a close, I cannot help but feel slightly sad. Room 115,

with all of its’ big, scary unknowns, has become one of my favorite places. A place where ideas

and collaboration run wild. A place where students from all walks of life, demographics and age

groups are made better with the help of a professor who clearly loves her job. I am and will

remain eternally grateful for these lessons that I will carry with me in life and career.
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