ENG 396 Final Portfolio Assignment
Final Portfolio:
The final portfolio is a chance for you to put together a collection of your best work during the
semester, and to reflect on this work. Revision is arguably the most important step of the
writing process, so this is your chance to revise your work as diligently as you wrote it and
leave the class with a collection of truly “polished” creative work.
Components:
I. Critical Introduction
When creating your portfolio, I want you to reflect on what you’ve learned this semester and
what you hope to do with your writing in the future. In an introduction that is at least 800
words (no max.), please address the following:
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Conceptual Core: What is at the center of your writing? What is the essence of the work
you’ve done?
Creativity/Originality: What makes your writing unique and uniquely yours?
Genre(s): Have you written in multiple genres (e.g. poetry and prose together) or stayed
in one genre? Why? Which genre do you prefer? Within the genre, which form(s) do
you prefer? (i.e. lyric vs. topical vs. narrative essays)
Outside Class Context: What kinds of relevant experiences and encounters with people
and texts outside of our class influenced your collection, either positively or negatively?
(i.e. what’s going on in your life, either locally or globally, that you feel affected this
collection?)
Authorial Influences: Which authors that we have read this semester have influenced
your writing, and in what ways?
Revision/Changes: Which texts have changed? How have they changed? Why did you
revise them in the manner you did?
Future: Where do you hope to take your writing next? What’s in store for you as a writer
after this class?
II. Collection of work
Over the course of the semester, you may have developed a preference for one genre over
another. On the other hand, maybe you enjoy all three genres equally, or maybe you want to
revise something from each genre to get equal experience. In order to meet your needs, I am
presenting you with three options:
1. Six polished poems
2. Three polished pieces of prose (fiction and/or nonfiction)
3. One polished piece of prose (fiction or nonfiction) and three polished poems
At least one piece that you submit must be a revision of something you turned in during class
(either for workshop or not for workshop). All of the other pieces may be from class, too, or all
of the others can be new work. If you choose the poem option, you’ll definitely be writing at
least two “new” pieces.
For revision(s), I expect SUBSTANTIAL edits, meaning big structural changes, cuts, and/or
additions. In other words, just changing a few words here and there will not be enough. For
every revised piece, please include behind it the original draft (the one with my comments on
it). Keep in mind that poems must be tight and polished and prose must be well-developed,
clear, and complete.
*Each prose piece in your portfolio must be at least 1,000 words, with no upper limit. (Except
lyric essays, which must be under 500 words).
III. Outside Reading Write-Up
In the back of your portfolio, you will include a short (500-word min., no max) writeup about
the outside reading you attended. Please make sure you include where and when the reading
was held, who you heard, and what your reaction was to the reading. Remember to be as
specific as you can be about what you liked, didn’t like, and what you learned from the
experience. You need to be as specific as you can be so that I can clearly see you actually
attended the reading.
Format:
You may turn your portfolio in as a hard copy, in a folder or binder, or you may choose to save
some paper and ink and submit an electronic portfolio instead. To do so, you will log into the
course Wiki and click “Create a page” on the upper righthand screen. Next, name the page
your full name and click “create page.” On the page, you will upload your files and create clear
links for everything so I can see where things are and download your documents. I don’t care
which format you use—whichever works best for you.
All work should be typed in TIMES NEW ROMAN, 12-point, BLACK font. Prose should be
double-spaced and poems should be single-spaced. Make sure your name is on everything.
Checklist:
Critical intro:___
6 poems OR 3 pieces of prose OR 1 piece of prose and 3 poems:___
Original drafts of anything you revised (with my comments):____
Outside reading writeup:__
ENG 396 Portfolio Rubric
A
Content:
Positives
Content:
Avoiding
Negatives
Critical Intro
Outside
Reading
Writeup
Revisions
Technical
(typos,
grammar,
punctuation,
format)
B
C
D
Average level
of
craftsmanship
in regards to
language,
image,
metaphor, and
meaning.
Obvious
attempts at
creative risktaking.
Obvious
attempts made
to avoid
melodrama,
clichés, and
show rather
than tell. Little
inessential
mystery.
Below-average
level of
craftsmanship
in regards to
language,
image,
metaphor, and
meaning. Not
compelling or
interesting
material.
Little to no
attention to
craftsmanship.
Several
distracting
instances of
melodrama,
clichés, and
inessential
mystery.
Generally more
telling than
showing.
Little to no
deep thought or
reflection.
Many instances of
melodrama,
clichés, and
inessential
mystery. Much
more telling than
showing.
Not enough
detail to prove
the student
actually
attended the
reading. Little
to no complex
reflection.
Only minor
revisions
attempted;
nothing
substantial.
Not enough detail
to prove the
student actually
attended the
reading. No
complex reflection.
Missing.
Portfolio
contains many
technical issues
that make the
portfolio look
sloppy.
Technical issues
are so rampant that
the portfolio is
largely
incomprehensible.
Extremely high
level of
craftsmanship
in regards to
language,
image,
metaphor, and
meaning.
Highly
successful and
engaging
creative risks.
No melodrama,
clichés, and
consistently
more showing
than telling. No
inessential
mystery.
High level of
craftsmanship
in regards to
language,
image,
metaphor, and
meaning.
Successful
creative risktaking.
Highly
sophisticated;
shows critical
thought and
firm grasp of
writing craft.
Extremely
thorough, full
of very specific
details and
sophisticated
reflection.
Sophisticated,
complex, highlevel reflection
Sufficient,
appropriate,
and wellchosen
reflection.
Excellent level
of detail,
sophisticated
reflection and
clarity.
Enough detail
to prove the
student actually
attended the
reading.
Substantial,
well-thoughtout, intelligent,
and successful
revisions.
Structural
overhauls, large
additions, large
cuts, or all of
the above.
Portfolio
contains only
one or two
grammatical,
mechanical, or
typo issues.
Perfect
Thorough,
aggressive
smart, and
appropriate
revisions to
pieces from
class.
Aggressive and
substantial
revisions
attempted
throughout,
even if not all
were
successful.
Portfolio
contains a
handful of
technical issues
that do not
largely affect
the meaning.
Portfolio
contains many
grammar
and/or
mechanical
issues, but few
conflict with
Almost no
melodrama,
clichés, and
much more
showing than
telling. Nearly
no inessential
mystery.
F
Disappointing,
sloppy, or
incomplete
reflection. Missing.
No revisions, or
only very minor
ones (only
changing a word or
two, reworking
sentences, or fixing
typos).
formatting.
the work’s
meaning or
look sloppy.