Composition Class Portfolio Workshop I: Selecting The Right Materials for your Portfolio

Reminder: What is the portfolio? Pay attention to the requirements in your specific class! The portfolio is an evidence-based argument regarding your fulfillment of the course outcomes Every part of the portfolio sh0uld be designed to help you prove to your audience (your writing instructor) that you have done an outstanding job fulfilling the four outcomes

Reminder: What is in the portfolio? Pay attention to the requirements in your specific class! Portfolios (almost) always have the following parts: A Critical Reflection (sometimes called the “Cover Letter”) A “Compendium” of all short and major assignments done during the quarter 3-5 Revised Papers that serve as the “evidence” that you have fulfilled the outcomes

Reminder: What is in the portfolio? The Critical Reflection (or “Cover Letter”) usually includes: An Introduction Several Critical Reflections (organized by paper or by outcome) A Final Reflection The introduction is sometimes assigned as your reflection on your writing before the class. The Final Reflection is sometimes assigned as a forward looking—thoughts about how the skills from the class will transfer to future endeavors. Some instructors give out other specific requirements for the portfolio!

Reminder: What is in the portfolio? The Compendium includes: All the sequence related work (Short and Major Assignments) All assignments must be completed and included to pass the portfolio!

Reminder: What is in the portfolio? The Revised Papers include: 3-5 Revised assignments (including at least one major assignment)

Owning the language of the portfolio assignment and outcomes Go over the language of the outcomes carefully and follow-up with your instructor about parts you don’t understand. If your instructor has a rubric for grading the portfolio, spend time reviewing this rubric (See also the rubric on page 399 of Writer/Thinker/Maker if you have that textbook)

Collecting and Selecting Take your time and think about which papers you will revise Think about your papers “holistically” (You are now working with your papers as body of work that demonstrates the outcomes, not just papers that satisfy an individual assignment) You want to be able to show papers that demonstrate how your writing weaves different outcomes together to achieve different writing goals

Revising Keep in mind that you can revise your papers in ways that better help you demonstrate the outcomes! Keep the outcomes nearby as you revise, and make a note of places that you can use as evidence that you have fulfilled various parts of the outcomes.

Reflecting It is important to keep in mind the following: Show not only WHAT writing strategies and choices you have used to fulfill the outcomes, but explain HOW your writing creates the effects that you say it does and WHY these effects are important and appropriate Consider showing not just the breadth of your writing strategies, but go into detail to show your analytical depth as well. Give examples! Be metacognitive (Show your awareness of your various writing choices in detail!) Breadth is showing all the little (and big) places where you have achieved the outcomes. Analytical depth means you can talk about your writing at-length, showing your metacognition!

Questions and Answers about the Outcomes

Suggestions of writing that would work to demonstrate fulfillment of different outcomes

Suggestions of writing that would work to demonstrate fulfillment of different outcomes

Suggestions of writing that would work to demonstrate fulfillment of different outcomes

Strengths of sample cover letter

Strengths of Sample Writing Regarding: Outcome 2

Weaknesses of Sample Writing Regarding: Outcome 2