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ENGLISH 098: DEVELOPMENTAL WRITING

PORTFOLIOS

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS

THE WRITING PORTFOLIO

Students will submit a portfolio of selected written work. Each student’s portfolio generally consists of three completed final drafts of essays with earlier drafts attached. Each portfolio will be introduced by a reflective letter from the student who will discuss his or her writing process and progress, specifically referring to the works in the portfolio. Each developmental writing faculty member will be the first reader of his or her students’ portfolios; these portfolios will be brought to a general reading of the portfolios at the end of the semester.

ENGLISH 098 PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS

Students in English 098 will submit a portfolio containing the following assignments:

• A reflective cover letter in which the student discusses his or her writing process, evaluating the pieces in the portfolio.

• A 3-4 pages personal narrative; previous drafts must be attached.

• A 3-4 page argument with a central thesis and supporting points developed through library research; previous drafts much be attached.

• A 3-4 page paper based on a whole text. This paper should discuss an author’s ideas and the student’s interpretation; previous drafts must be attached.

• An in-class writing assignment, ungraded and unmarked.

RUBRIC FOR PORTFOLIO EVALUATION
Departments of Chicana/o Studies and English

STRONG PORTFOLIO

The papers in a strong portfolio demonstrate strong writing, but may have minor flaws which do not distract or confuse the reader.

The papers in a typical portfolio in the strong category

• address the topic of the paper clearly and with insight around a thesis or focusing statement
• are clearly organized
• are well developed with reasons and well-chosen examples
• display syntactic variety and facility in the use of language
• have a few errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

ADEQUATE PORTFOLIO

The papers in a passing portfolio demonstrate adequate college writing. They may have some errors that distract the reader, but they do not significantly obscure meaning.

The papers in a typical portfolio in the adequate, passing portfolio

• address the topic of the paper, but in simpler ways
• are adequately organized, but may be more simplistic and/or repetitive
• are adequately developed, generally supporting ideas with reasons and examples
• demonstrate adequate use of syntax and language
• may have some errors, but generally demonstrate control of grammar, usage, and mechanics

FAILING PORTFOLIO

These portfolios may not be complete, missing one or more of the required assignments. Even if complete, the papers in a failing portfolio reveal one or more of the following weaknesses.

The papers in a typical failing portfolio

• address its topic less clearly, with a weak focus or thesis
• are inadequately organized
• are poorly developed, presenting generalizations without adequate and appropriate support or presenting details without generalizations
• have limited control of syntax and vocabulary
• have an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics that interfere with meaning.
  

Readers should not penalize ESL writers excessively for slight shifts in idiom, problems with articles, confusion over prepositions, and occasional misuse of verb tense and verb forms, so long as such features do not obscure meaning.