Portfolio and Reflective Essay Assignment

On the final day of class, you will turn in a portfolio of your work this quarter and a reflective essay evaluating what you have learned.  Please submit your portfolio and reflective essay in a file folder labeled with your name and course/section number.

Length and Due Date

Length:  2-3 pages, formatted according to these guidelines
Due:  Friday, March 10

Guidelines for Portfolio Selections

For your portfolio, you will select from your essays, Web site, homework responses, and peer critiques.  The portfolio must include the following items:

1) A writing assignment that you improved significantly from first draft to final version.  If you select an essay, include both the first and final version of the paper in the portfolio.  If you select your Web pages, include your hard copy of the first draft and the URL of the final draft.

2) Two peer critiques, one in which you effectively evaluated a peer's writing and one in which you could have offered more effective comments.

3) Two homework or viewing journal assignments, one of which represents your "best" response to an assignment and the other of which represents your "worst."  You may select any of your homework responses or viewing journals, not only the graded ones.  If you need to refresh your memory of the assignments you have done this quarter, go to the class Web page and click on "Homework" for a complete list.  

Guidelines for the Reflective Essay

Your reflective essay will explain your portfolio selections and evaluate what you have learned in English 197C this quarter.  While your essay should discuss specific skills, concepts and changes in thinking related to your own writing and writing process, you need not limit yourself to a consideration of your growth as a writer.  You may also describe learning related to the study of film, collaborative work, library research, or other significant issues.  Successful essays will contain the following elements:

• Title
• Thesis paragraph
• Brief explanation (1-2 paragraphs) of portfolio selections.  Your explanations should not simply echo my comments; instead, offer your reasons for deeming a selection "most improved," "best" or "worst" 
• Discussion of what you have learned as a result of your work in our writing course linked to the study of film; in the discussion, you should refer to specific assignments, drafts, and peer critiques as necessary
• Discussion of what you would like to learn more about
• Conclusion