Portfolio Assignment

English 1010

Summer 2016

Final Portfolio

As stated on the syllabus and throughout the course, your “final” for this course is a portfolio of your writings. The portfolio consists of the following: Final drafts for the Narrative, the Rhetorical Analysis, and Proposal Letter. A significant revision of TWO of your Major Essays.  These will be called your “Portfolio Papers.” Include a significant revision draft of this paper. A reflective letter that explains your progress in the course and your revision process for the portfolio paper.

1. Final Drafts

Because this is the course final, the portfolio will be revisiting the body of your work over the course of the entire semester. This gives you a chance to show how you have progressed, and what issues remain. Include all final drafts of the three major papers– submit the versions with my comments.

2. Significant Revision: Portfolio Papers

For this portfolio, select TWO of the papers you have written for this course and substantially revise them. What to do:

• Carefully respond to my comments. Note my marginal and end-comments on your first and final drafts and revise accordingly.
• Perform your own original revisions. As this is a final, you are expected to display the entirety of the knowledge you’ve learned in class. This means that you’ll need to employ all the writing strategies we have discussed in the course. No matter which paper you choose – even if you choose to revise the last one– there will be many issues you’ll need to address that I did NOT comment on when grading your paper. Your portfolio papers are an example of your best work.
• Get outside commentary from peers or the Writing Center. As this paper must be absolutely polished, outside perspective is important. Make sure the paper meet “Assignment Expectations” on the syllabus.
• Include a significant draft of this essay.  This is another way of showing your growth as a writer.  This will be the draft that shows the most dramatic revision and reworking.  It should be the draft that got written on by you and your peers.  It is the draft that shows the leap the essay went through to create this “portfolio paper” copy.

3. Reflective Letter

Your reflective letter is a formal letter that discusses your progress as a writer and reader in this course. A successful reflection will integrate a number of different elements:

• Explain your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. What have you worked on? What needs work, and how will you address these issues in the future? Comment on how your perspective on critical thinking, reading, and writing has changed as a result of the class. Note how your work reflects these changes.
• Explain your choice for the Portfolio Papers and what you did to improve them. Be specific.
• Your letter is an argument: make claims and provide evidence from your own writings. This means making specific references to your papers. Remember that I already know what I said, so don’t quote me extensively– I’m interested in hearing ideas in your voice, even if my ideas influenced you.
• Your letter should be critical, rigorous, convincing, honest, and polished.
• Use letter format. Your letter must be single-spaced and around 500 words. Stay under 1,000 words.

This letter is important. If done well, it can go a long way to compensate for a bad paper.

BE NEAT! Presentation matters! Organize your portfolio and submit it in some sort of folder. ***NOT a three-ring binder!*** Your portfolio must be submitted in-person on the last day of class.    NO late portfolios will be accepted.

Which papers should I choose for the Portfolio Paper?

Choose the paper you are most sincerely interested in working on, as writing that you care about tends to be better writing! You do not need to choose the paper that you think is the worst (especially since the portfolio grade will not “replace” your prior grade). Think about the “issues” you have as a writer, and select the paper where you can most productively and successfully address those issues.

How do I do original revision?

You’ll find that when looking at your older papers, there are now things you’d clearly need or want to do differently. This is a good start, but be methodical too– go through all the handouts to refresh your memory of what it is you’ve learned. Give yourself time to revise (don’t try to do it all in one day!). Finally, the readings are a great resource– go back and reread passages for key terms!

Should I really talk about my weaknesses in my reflection?

Yes! Being a writer is a lifelong process, and it is important to know what is left unconquered. That said, for your reflective letter, focus on the course– obviously I have not taught speech writing or literary analysis. Focus on what you have left to master in the sort of critical and argumentative writing we have done in the course.