Chapter 23 Writing Portfolios
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.23 | 2 Chapter overview Looks at the use of portfolios, as well as their benefits for students and teachers Looks at how portfolios are evaluated What to include in a portfolio Use of reflective letter, revised assignments Case study, including commentary Online portfolios
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.23 | 3 Benefits of portfolios for students Students may select which documents to present for evaluation (depending on the requirements of that teacher or department). Students show their instructor how they have handled writing and revising. Students reflect on how they have developed as writers, students, learners, and people.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.23 | 4 Benefits of portfolios for teachers Teachers get a range of writing at which to look. Teachers can make fairer and more accurate appraisals of student writing if they can read various types of writing.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.23 | 5 Options for evaluation Sometimes portfolios are evaluated by one or more teachers doing blind reading. Sometimes they are submitted to and graded by the student’s teacher.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.23 | 6 What to include in a portfolio Generally includes samples of various kinds of writing. Your teacher will give you specific instructions. Generally includes four or five pieces of writing. Almost always includes a reflective letter or essay.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.23 | 7 Reflective letters The purpose of writing a reflective letter (or essay) is to introduce yourself and your portfolio, and to persuade your instructor that you have accomplished the goals of the course. Depending on the requirements, it might discuss choices made in selecting pieces for the portfolio.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.23 | 8 Sample reflective letter See pages for a sample student reflective essay. The writer shows evidence of planning, with a focused introduction, body and conclusion. The writer discusses her writing selections and provides her reasons for her choices. She closes by commenting on what she has learned and how she hopes to use writing in the future.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.23 | 9 Case Study Pages present a case study, which is a collection of documents for one assignment, and generally includes: A working draft Peer commentary Final version of the essay The writer’s explanation of how he or she worked on the paper
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.23 | 10 Online portfolios While many students are doing traditional, or paper portfolios, some schools are moving to electronic or even online portfolios.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.23 | 11 Student Companion Website Go to the student side of the Web site for exercises, chapter overviews, and links to writing resources for this chapter: