Description
Writing Portfolio Requirements
To successfully complete the portfolio (and pass the course), you must include all of the following:
Table of Contents that organizes the contents of your portfolio
Standards of Acceptability in Technical Writing Handout, annotated and filled out throughout the whole semester
A Revised, Polished version of either the resume package, the technical description & recommendation project, the written instructions, or the interview report. You cannot get a course grade higher than a C+ if you do not revise and polish at least one of these projects.
A Letter of Reflection (at least 2 full pages or 600 pages) that is to be addressed to me, your instructor, where you how you feel you have improved in your writing and what areas you feel you can improve on moving forward. This is NOT an evaluation of the course.
Standards of Acceptability in Business Writing Handout
Throughout the semester, you will be expected to annotate and complete what is called a Standards of Acceptability in Technical Writing Handout. This handout is designed to help you meet the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) of RWS 392W by focusing on rhetorical, structural, and cosmetic aspects of writing that will serve as a basis for the type of writing we will do in this course.
You will be required to annotate and complete this handout at least 3 times. You will be expected to submit updated versions of this handout to provide proof you are working on it. Once this is completed, you will be required to include this in the final draft of your Writing Portfolio. Standards of Acceptability Check-ins will count as Writing Process Deliverables (“WPD”).
Revised, Polished Writing
When you turn in your Portfolio at the end of the semester, you will be expected to include a revised and polished version of either the resume package, the letter writing project, or the online business promotion assignment. To have this writing be accepted for the portfolio, your revision must address the feedback that has been provided for you to the best of your abilities.
To show proof you have done this, you must include both 1) the original evaluated draft that was submitted by their respective due date and 2) the revised version as a method of side-by-side comparison. The idea is designed to emphasize the importance of revision and show evidence of your engagement with the writing process. Be aware that taking a previously submitted assignment but not addressing or engaging the feedback given by your peers or myself (i.e., not revising and/or polishing) will not count towards meeting this requirement and result in putting you in a lower grading track.
If you are aiming for an “A” in the course, you will complete at least (2) revised, polished versions of any of the first three major projects and/or the Extra Project for the Writing Portfolio. If you have done everything required for an A (see the A track of the Grading Table) and the Writing Portfolio satisfies the portfolio checklist, the number of Revised, Polished Writings listed below determines your final course grade:
1 Revised, Polished Writing = A- (Grade Point 3.7) Course Grade
2 Revised, Polished Writings = A (Grade Point 4.0) Course Grade
3 (or more) Revised, Polished Writings = Bragging Rights (You Just Being Awesome!)
Letter of Reflection
You will write a letter or memo addressed to me, your instructor, that reflects on the contents of your portfolio. You want to explain what is included in the portfolio, why those documents were included, the significance these documents have to you as a learner in the class, and any other information that readers will need to know to best understand the portfolio as a demonstration of your learning journey. This letter of reflection needs to be at least 2 FULL pages (or 600 words) or more. Please note that this NOT an evaluation of the course!
How you approach this essay is up to you as long you address ALL the following questions:
What are areas you feel like you have improved as a writer, particularly as a someone who plans to write as an aspiring student of Engineering? What are areas you feel you need to further work on?
Based on your experience writing for the course, what is your new or current understanding of writing for engineering? In what way(s) does it relate to the Standards of Acceptability in Technical Writing?
How and why does the work presented in this portfolio demonstrate your proficiency in the Student Learning Outcomes of the RWS 392W?
Portfolio Checklist
You will be provided a checklist of what to include in the portfolio. In order to successfully complete the portfolio, it must meet the checklist (and thus meet the standards of acceptability as discussed as a class). Failure to have your portfolio meet the checklist runs you the high risk of being bumped into a lower grading track. For example, if you are the “A” track but your portfolio does not meet all the requirements for that grade (or there are elements that are incomplete), you will be bumped into a lower grading track such as a “B” or lower, depending on what is missing or incomplete.
