PressBook (Portfolio)

Due: Upload revised projects to PressBook by class on Friday 5/31. Submit reflections to Canvas (here) by 11:59am on Friday 6/2  

Download or Preview the Portfolio prompt here Download here.

English 182 Spring 2023

Instructor: Sarah Moore, srmoore2@uw.edu

Portfolio Assignment

Due: Submit on June 2 by 11:59pm via Canvas

Overview

Your final assignment for this class is an online portfolio, which is worth 70% of your final grade. The portfolio is your chance to show both yourself and me that your writing has developed over the course of the quarter. As such, the focus of the portfolio is revision of your original assignment and reflection on the writing process. Your online portfolio will include the following components:

• Introductory Reflection
• Showcase: a section of your revised assignments
  • Includes 2 short assignments (SA) and 1 major project (MP).
  • A brief Reflection for each assignment.
• Conclusion

Process and Components

The portfolio consists of a combination of revised writing and reflection on that writing. You can think of the reflections as combining to form one large narrative: there is an introduction, three major sections, and a conclusion. The reflections are also a practice in meta-cognition, that is, thinking about the writing process. This is useful in that it makes you, the writer, aware of the choices you are making as you write. It also allows you to make those choices visible to me, your reader. With that in mind, think about your reflections as opportunities to make visible your deliberate writing choices and revisions.

Introductory Reflection (300–500 words)

Your Introductory Reflection is your opportunity to reflect globally on the portfolio revision process and to make visible the labor that went into that process. Your Introductory Reflection is also a short argumentative essay, and as such it should have a central claim that is supported with detailed evidence.      

As you write your introduction, be sure to include:

• A thoughtful exploration of the writing skills you brought into this course and how you have developed and/or added to those skills through this quarter.
• A summary of the four main course outcomes and what they mean to you.
• Which projects you have chosen to revise and why.

The Showcase

This section includes three revised assignments, each with a reflection essay. You should have one Major Project, and two Small Assignments. Which assignments you choose is up to you—you could choose based on a project you enjoyed and would like to revisit, or a project that you feel could really use some improvement, or a project that you think you would benefit from spending more time with.

Each assignment should go through significant revision. Remember, revision is different from proofreading! Your revised projects should reflect careful thought and consideration as to how you can better convey your message or claim. As you begin revising, consider:

• What have you learned over the course that you could now apply to improve your writing? Think especially about the Big 5 (WTM 275-283): central claim, counterargument or concession, evidence, stakes, and road map. Consider also audience, genre, and rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos, and Kairos). You do not have to apply all of these, but this may be a good way to begin thinking about the process.
• Return to the feedback you have received both from me (your instructor) and your peers. This is an excellent place to get ideas for how you can improve your project.
• Each of your three showcase pieces must show evidence of substantial revision Aim to increase each rubric area at least one grade e.g. a “good” to a “strong” or a “strong” to an “outstanding.”

Each revised paper must be accompanied by a 200-400-word critical reflection, in which you will explain the revisions you made, how you made them, and why. This is an opportunity to make visible all the labor that went into your revision. To do this, you should:

• Use your revised essays as evidence to argue how you have met one or more course outcomes. In each part of your critical reflection, choose 1-3 outcomes to discuss. Between the three assignments, you must discuss all four outcomes.
• Include direct quotations from essays and from feedback that are contextualized and explained in support of a specific claim about your learning/progress in regards to specific outcomes.
• Explain how you addressed instructor and peer feedback in your revision.

Conclusion (200-400 words)

Here you will conclude your portfolio by addressing its "stakes." This is a genuine opportunity for you to explore how, and if, you see yourself applying these writing skills beyond this class. Like the rest of the reflections, it should be an exercise in metacognition, or thinking about how you write. You could ask, for example:

• Why does it matter that you have learned to apply the these writing skills?
• How will the these writing skills help you in your future classes? Your major? Your career?
• How do you see the work you've done this quarter translating to other situations, either in or out of school?
• What still needs improvement? How will you continue to improve?

The Compendium

A complete portfolio includes every assignment you have been asked to complete over the quarter. Therefore, you must have submitted work to all assignments in this class. Incomplete portfolios will receive a failing grade. Prompts for missed assignments are available on the course website. Note: To be considered complete, assignments must meet the required page count.

Compendium checklist:

• Short Assignment 1: Elevator Pitch
• Short Assignment 2: Infographic
• Major Project 1: Slide Deck
• Short Assignment 4: AI generated Art
• Major Assignment 2: Exhibit

Rubric

Expectations for Revisions:

A 4.0–3.7 revision:

• Substantially changes or enhances original work (from poor to good, or from good to great).
• Demonstrates hard work.
• Addresses feedback received, whether from instructor or peer.
• Demonstrates thoughtful consideration of original work.
• Engages with the Course Outcomes
• Examples of 4.0–3.7 revision could include:
  • More detailed analysis
  • More focused essay (clear, concise)
  • Better organized
  • Clarification of stakes in writing/project
  • Rewrite of intro
  • More depth or complexity
  • Adding details from text

A 3.6–3.1 revision:

• Includes changes, but they do no substantially change or enhance the project.
• Includes purposeful edits that improve the project but still leave clear gaps with more room to grow.
• Revisions are present, but are not addressed in the reflection.
• Does not address feedback received either from instructor or peers.
• Only superficially engages with Course Outcomes

A 3.0-2.5 revision:

• Is mostly proofreading.
• Revision not substantial enough to merit reflection.
• Does not engage with Course Outcomes

A 1.9–1.0 revision:

• Is incomplete
• Is not accompanied by a reflection

The reflections, as writing exercises, will be assessed using the same outcomes rubric used for previous assignments (available on Canvas).

The overall quality of the three revised showcase projects will be assessed according to original prompt (it is okay if they go over the word limit).