Portfolio Guidelines

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The Portfolio: Making Thinking Visible

Success comes to a writer, as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him [or her] to look back and realize the heights to which he [or she] has climbed.

—P.G. Wodehouse

To help you realize your success, throughout the term you will organize your handouts, exercises, drafts, revisions, and final products in a portfolio. When you’re finished, you will have an archive of your work, a record of your learning, a way to make thinking visible.

To construct the portfolio, you will need a three-ring binder and some dividers. Life will be easier if you keep your portfolio up to date daily (or at least weekly). You’ll also need some dividers. The criteria and rubric for the portfolio are as follows:

Is the portfolio neat and distinctive in appearance?

        _____ (25) Presentation
        Cover / Title page
          Divided, labeled sections
          Class notes and handouts, dated, in order
          Neat presentation
          Creativity / originality /theme

Does the portfolio highlight your strengths and growth as a writer?

_____ (25) Introduction:

At the end of the term, you’ll write a reflection to introduce your portfolio to readers outside of the classroom, explaining how the contents show you meet course objectives. Add a “Keeper Response” for five extra-credit points.

_____ (25) Writer’s Workouts and Exercises:

Print your workouts daily. Preface this section with a Writer’s Memo.

_____ (25) Graded Assignments:

Dreadful Prose
          Writer’s Profile
          Comma College
         *Personal Writing
         *Outside Reading
         *Academic Writing.

For (*assignments, include the Memo, final draft, drafts with revisions).

_____ (25) Research Project:
Keep yellow research handouts in this section. Add a copy of your Memo and your paper at the beginning of this section.

Write on! (Sorry. It was just too tempting.)

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