Course Portfolio
Throughout this semester, you have learned that writing is a process of revision that occurs over time, not writing that occurs in a single sitting. Included in the process are freewriting, journaling (in-class freewrites), planning, drafting, discussion with instructor and peers, re-drafting, and editing. The portfolio is a culmination of this process, and allows writers to assemble a collection of their best work that they have completed throughout the semester.
In order to pass ENG 1021, students must submit a portfolio of written work that includes an annotated table of contents, an earlier piece of writing before the class began, ONE revised essay from the term (visual analysis), several blog posts, and a reflective essay.
THIS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO ULEARN AS ONE MS WORD FILE, AND THE ITEMS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN THIS ORDER:
Introduction to Older Piece of Writing
Older Piece of Writing
Introduction to Visual Analysis
Revised Visual Analysis
Introduction to Scene Analysis
Scene Analysis
Introduction to Blog Posts
Blog Posts
Reflective Essay
Please keep in mind that your portfolio should demonstrate the following:•Your development as a writer
Your development as a writer•Your ability to write from and about a text, to write multiple interpretations of a text
Your ability to write from and about a text, to write multiple interpretations of a text•Your ability to write for different audiences and purposes.
Your ability to write for different audiences and purposes.•Your creativity
Your creativity•Your understanding of film and film terminology
Your understanding of film and film terminology• Your understanding of the big ideas of science fiction
Overview of Steps to Complete Portfolio (more detailed instructions below the overview); Complete the steps in this order only:
Step 1: Set up ONE MS Word document for the portfolio.
Step 2: Select a piece of writing that you completed before this class began that best illustrates what your writing ability was like before this term. Place this in your single Word document that you have labeled "Portfolio."
Step 3A: Revise the Visual Analysis Essay written this term and be prepared to discuss how it illustrates your development as a writer.
Using the graded copy of this essay, make any necessary corrections and write a new, corrected draft. Submit this corrected draft to your single MS Word document labeled portfolio.
Step 3B: Include a copy of the scene analysis essay (not revised) and explain what it illustrates about your development as a writer.
Step 4: Write a short introduction to each of the major essays (older piece of writing, visual analysis, and scene analysis)
Step 5: Select 3-5 journal entries from the term (freewrites we did in class).
Step 6: Write one introduction for these three to five journal entries
Step 7: Complete Annotated Table of Contents
Step 8: Write Your Reflective Essay
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH STEP:
Step 1
Create a Microsoft Word document for the portfolio. All of the content for it will be placed into this one Word file and uploaded to Ulearn as ONE document.
Create a Cover Sheet (1st page). On this cover sheet, create a title: ENG 1021 Course Portfolio (centered on the page. Beneath that, list your name, the date you are submitting the document, and my name. All steps for the portfolio will be submitted as one MS Word file and uploaded to ulearn by the due date/time on the course schedule.
Step 2
You should select a piece of writing that was completed before this class began that best illustrates what your writing ability was like before this term. This can be any type of writing—a book report, essay, lab report, short story, poem, etc. If you do not have a piece of writing that was written before this term, select something from another class that demonstrates your ability to write for a different audience or purpose. Place this document into your Word doc.
Step 3A
Make any necessary corrections or changes for your Visual Analysis essay you wrote this term. Any remarks made by the instructor on your draft should be addressed in the corrected copy.
NOTE: This is not simply correcting grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. You must revise based on comments from your graded draft. When this is complete, place your revised essay into the Word document for the portfolio
Step 3B
Although, you do not need to revise your Scene Analysis paper, please copy and paste your final draft into your single Word document labeled Portfolio.
Step 4
Write an introduction to each major essay addressing each of the following questions:
•What did you perceive to be the purpose of this piece?
What did you perceive to be the purpose of this piece?•Who was your intended audience?
Who was your intended audience?•What questions did you ask yourself as you wrote this piece?
What questions did you ask yourself as you wrote this piece?•What did you learn from this piece?
What did you learn from this piece?•What did you see as the strengths of this piece?
What did you see as the strengths of this piece?•What did you see as the weaknesses of this piece?
What did you see as the weaknesses of this piece?•What questions do you still have?
What questions do you still have?•How did this assignment affect your understanding of the term "voice in writing"?
How did this assignment affect your understanding of the term "voice in writing"?Clearly label these Intro to Older Piece of Writing, Intro to Visual Analysis, and Intro to Scene Analysis. Each intro should be placed on a blank page by itself and appear on the page before each essay.
Step 5
Choose 3-5 journal entries (in class freewrites) from the term that you feel demonstrate your growth as a writer. Place these into your Word doc. They will need to be typed. You do not need to revise them. Place each entry on its own page.
Step 6
Write ONE introduction for all these journal entries addressing the following questions:
• What did you see as the strengths of these entries?
•What did you see as the weaknesses of these entries?
What did you see as the weaknesses of these entries?• How do these entries reveal your development as a writer and/or reader, or as a film critic?
- What do they reveal about the development of your critical thinking abilities over the term?
You only need to write ONE intro for the group of 3-5 journal entries. Place this on a single page by itself, and it should be placed before the entries.
Step 7
An Annotated Table of Contents outlines the contents of your portfolio by offering a short abstract explaining the importance of each piece and why you chose to include it (why you chose to include it, what it demonstrates about your growth as a writer and your understanding of purpose/audience, etc.)
Example of an Annotated Table of Contents:
Annotated Table of Contents
•I chose “The Main Causes of the Civil War” from my high school senior exit project partly to be used as a contrast text to the academic cause-effect essay I wrote this semester, and partly because in most cases I prefer to write academically.
I chose “The Main Causes of the Civil War” from my high school senior exit project partly to be used as a contrast text to the academic cause-effect essay I wrote this semester, and partly because in most cases I prefer to write academically.•The film review essay is my revolutionary piece. I broke out of my academic writing mold and wrote relaxed and conversationally; this was a milestone for me!
The film review essay is my revolutionary piece. I broke out of my academic writing mold and wrote relaxed and conversationally; this was a milestone for me!•The scene analysis essay was the most difficult for me. This paper demonstrates how organization was particularly problematic for me, but I am also proud of my versatility by writing academically about film . Ultimately this paper illustrates the lesson learned on the value of concision.
The scene analysis essay was the most difficult for me. This paper demonstrates how organization was particularly problematic for me, but I am also proud of my versatility by writing academically about film . Ultimately this paper illustrates the lesson learned on the value of concision. Your completed Annotated Table of Contents should be the first page of your portfolio after the cover page.
Step 8
The reflective essay should not be written until after the portfolio is composed. It should be a formal essay in that it should have a formal structure with an intro, body, conclusion, and clear thesis. The language can be informal, though. The reflective essay should be the very last item in your portfolio/single Word document.
It must be between 3 and 5 pages and address ALL of the following questions:
•What was your view of writing before the term began?
What was your view of writing before the term began?•How did your view of writing change as the semester progressed?
How did your view of writing change as the semester progressed?•Was your writing influenced by the work of any of the professional or
Was your writing influenced by the work of any of the professional or student writers we read this semester? •Which of your writings is your best work? Why?
Which of your writings is your best work? Why?•Which of your writings is your weakest? Why?
Which of your writings is your weakest? Why?•What are your strengths as a writer?
What are your strengths as a writer?•What are your weaknesses?
What are your weaknesses?•Can you trace your development as a writer this term?
Can you trace your development as a writer this term?•What have you learned about yourself as a writer this semester? How
What have you learned about yourself as a writer this semester? How does that correspond with what you knew before the term began?• How would you have defined the terms "audience," "purpose," and
"voice" at the beginning of the term? How do you define those terms now?
If your definition changed, did your experiences in this class change how you
defined those terms? If so, how and why?
• Has this class changed how you view the world, how you view others, or
how you view yourself? If so, how and why?
- Has this class changed your view of science fiction or film? If so, how and why?
- What is the most important lesson that you feel you have learned as a result of this course?
NOTE: Your portfolio containing each of the above items must be submitted to ulearn as ONE MS Word document by the due date/time indicated on the course schedule.
Each of these items should appear in your portfolio in the following order:
1.Annotated Table of Contents
Annotated Table of Contents2.Intro to earlier piece of writing
Intro to earlier piece of writing3.Piece of writing that you completed before the semester began
Piece of writing that you completed before the semester began4.Intro to the Visual Analysis Essay.
Intro to the Visual Analysis Essay.5.The revised copy of the Visual Analysis Essay
The revised copy of the Visual Analysis Essay6.Intro to the Scene Analysis essay.
Intro to the Scene Analysis essay.7. A copy of the Scene Analysis essay (not revised).
8.Intro to 3-5 journal entries
Intro to 3-5 journal entries9. Each of your journal entries
10 Reflective Essay
Your grade for your portfolio will be determined as follows:
Total Points: 40
Completes an Annotated Table of Contents (2 points)
Includes a piece of writing before class began (1 point)
Includes two essays written over course of this term (1 point)
Makes necessary corrections on these two essays and includes new, corrected draft
(13 points)
Writes a short introduction to each essay and addresses all relevant points about them (2 points)
Includes 3-5 journal entries (1 point)
Writes an introduction to journal entries (2 points)
Visual Presentation and Design (1 point): Blog is logically organized and visually appealing
Reflective Essay (17 points):
Focus (4 points): Does essay have a clear purpose? Focus on a main idea and clearly identifiable thesis? Are reader’s expectations set and then met? Ideas, examples, and reasons developed in the body of the paper are clearly related to the main focus?
Development (4 points): Does essay address each of the following questions:
• What was your view of writing before the term began?
•How did your view of writing change as the semester progressed?
How did your view of writing change as the semester progressed?•Was your writing influenced by the work of any of the professional or student writers we read this semester?
Was your writing influenced by the work of any of the professional or student writers we read this semester? •Which of your writings is your best work? Why?
Which of your writings is your best work? Why?•Which of your writings is your weakest? Why?
Which of your writings is your weakest? Why?•What are your strengths as a writer?
What are your strengths as a writer?•What are your weaknesses?
What are your weaknesses?•Can you trace your development as a writer this term?
Can you trace your development as a writer this term?•What have you learned about yourself as a writer this semester? How
What have you learned about yourself as a writer this semester? How does that correspond with what you knew before the term began?Organization (4 points): Do ideas and paragraphs proceed in logical and apparent sequence or pattern? Does writer use sufficient audience cues to let the reader know what has been discussed, what is being discussed, or what will be discussed? Does writer use attention-getting title and lead-in, essay map, summary and forecasting statements, paragraph hooks, transitional words and phrases? Do effective conclusions guide the reader from beginning to end?
Style (3 points): Is language clear direct and readable? Are sentences clear, concise, and easily read by intended audience? Is word choice appropriate for audience? Do sentences reveal and sustain appropriate voice and tone?
Mechanics (2 point): Are there obvious errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar? Are there patterns of error?
Grading Scale:
27-30 A
24-26 B
21-23 C
18-20 D
0-17 F
