Through the Looking Glass

Back to English Literature To Portfolio Rubric

English Literature Portfolio

“Reading is not just a matter of standing safely outside of texts, where their power cannot reach us. It is a matter of entering, of passing through the looking glass and seeing ourselves on the other side.”

—Robert Scholes

Your looking glass will be a portfolio, which you will keep in a three-ring binder; a couple of three-ring punches will be available for your use. Life will be easier if you keep your portfolio up-to-date daily (or at least weekly).

You’ll also need some dividers. Arrange your portfolio this way:

Introduction and Reader’s Profile—Early in the course, you will complete a reader’s profile and examine your reading process. At the end of the term, you’ll write an introduction to your portfolio by examining your work and asking questions such as What have I done? What am I doing? How did I change? What remains to be done?

Next, construct a section for each of the major periods we’ll be studying. These are as follows:

*The Anglo-Saxon Period, 449-1066

*The Medieval Period, 1066-1485

*The English Renaissance, 1485-1625

In these sections, keep your notes, handouts, and Reader Response Journal entries. Notes should be dated and have a topic heading; handouts should be dated and punched. RRJs will employ a variety of formats. These sections should be kept in chronological order. Do this daily, not the day before you turn in the portfolio.

End Letter and Response—Toward the end of the term, you’ll receive directions for writing a letter directed to your parent(s) or to another significant non-school person in your life about yourself as a reader/learner. You’ll be asked to share your portfolio with the person (people) you choose. The sharing part is optional (the letter is not), but if you do share and collect a short response, it’s worth extra credit. More on this later.

Items marked with a * indicate the section should be prefaced with a brief reflection. This is an informal (but typed and proofread) piece of writing. You’ll be provided with ideas of what to write about in this section, but you are not limited to these ideas. Feel free to add your own.

Back to English Literature To Portfolio Rubric