This week is the time to revise your essays to prepare your portfolio.  The portfolio project is your opportunity to demonstrate how much you have learned this semester. For this project, you will be revising each of your writing assignments. You will also write a introduction letter for your portfolio in which you describe in detail some of the things you have learned this semester and why you have made the changes you made in your papers. You will put all of your essay revisions and the letter into a 3-ring binder for submission to me no later than May 13 by 10 am.

Part One: Review each of your writing assignments. When you revise, you are doing more than simply correcting editing errors that have been marked by your instructor. When you revise, you re-think the ideas you have presented.

            What are you trying to say?

            Why are you trying to say it?

            Who are you trying to say it to?

            Why is this something your readers need to / want to know?

How do my outside sources support my point and how well have I analyzed how my outside sources support my point?

If all you do is make corrections, you are not showing that you have learned anything. It doesn’t take any thought to simply make corrections. Also, don’t assume that I have marked every error. In many cases, once I have made a correction, I expect you to carry that over for the rest of your essay.

For each revision, you must change at least 25% of the original work. This means I expect to see some significant changes in each of the essays.

Response Paper #1: This assignment is a summary.  I will be looking for a strong description of the authors' original main idea and references to key supporting details.  I will be assessing that you do not express your opinion. I will also be double checking your MLA documentation.

Essay #1. This assignment was an essay on a controversial topic.  I will be looking for a strong thesis statement that shows your position on the topic and relevant sources to support your thesis.  Additionally, I will be checking that you have followed the classical argument structure and MLA guidelines.

Response Paper #2: This was an evaluation of an argument.  I'll be looking for your detailed assessment of the original work with specific attention to the writer's use of ethos, pathos, and logos.  Your understanding of these concepts along with relevant passages from the original that show how the authors used these concepts should be clear in your revision.  MLA must be accurate.

Essay #2:  This was an essay for a reluctant audience.  I will be most specifically looking at your organization pattern in terms of how it is sensitive to a reluctant audience.  In your revision, you need to be clear that your position is adequately supported with relevant outside sources, but that you also address the concerns of your reluctant audience.  MLA must be accurate.

Essay #3:  This proposal essay must have a thesis that asks your audience to accept some kind of change.  I will be looking for a clear organizational pattern, such as the classical argument structure or one of the two patterns described in the proposal chapter in the text.  Like the other essays, I will be assessing your use of relevant sources and your ability to analyze their usefulness for your thesis.  Standard MLA will be assessed as well. 

Part Two: Develop a two page introduction essay for your portfolio. In your essay talk about some of the specific things you have learned this semester about yourself as a writer and as a student. You will want to use specific examples in your essay. Don’t just say, “I learned more about grammar.” What exactly did you learn, and how did you learn it? Did you learn it through the comments on your essay? Did you learn it by working with the tutors in the Writing Center or the Academic Support Center? Did you learn it when you talked to me during a conference? As I read your letter, I will be looking for lots of details. Like the other essays, be sure that the introduction essay has an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Part Three: You will put your portfolio together in a small 3-ring binder. The first thing in your portfolio will be your introduction essay. After the introduction essay, you will include the revision for each essay followed by the original graded draft that has my comments on it.

I expect the presentation of your portfolio to be professional. You are trying to demonstrate to me how much you have learned and your seriousness toward university level work. Sloppy workmanship on this assignment will only demonstrate laziness, so take care with your presentation.

As you prepare your portfolio, I strongly urge you to make time to work with the tutors in the Writing Center. You may also consider setting up a conference appointment with me to discuss your work.  The more you put into this, the better the final result will be.

This portfolio assignment accounts for 30 points of your final course grade. This means it can make you or break you. This portfolio should represent the very best work you are capable of doing.