Another comment was, “I might add the exact figure of casualties to give your letter more credibility.” This was on a letter to the editor. That showed me that being specific actually makes writing stronger. Instead of just speaking generally, adding real numbers or facts makes the argument more believable.

I was also told to “add a little more context here” on an interview and profile I did about a nurse. That made me realize I sometimes assume the reader already knows what I’m talking about. Now I try to include enough background so everything makes sense without confusion.

For my children’s storybook, I got the comment, “how did you create these images? What process did you undertake?”This made me think more about explaining my process, not just the final product. It helped me understand that the thinking behind the work matters too.

Finally, I was told, “Tanya, I am impressed with your ability to take constructive criticism and then improve your work! Keep up the great work!” on my poetry assignment. That stood out to me because it showed that I’m actually improving. It also made me more confident in revising instead of just settling for my first draft.

Overall, this feedback helped me realize I need to explain my ideas more, be more specific, and think about the reader.