Matt Wilson

Writing 2 Spring 2017

Final Course Portfolio

All of the work we have done this quarter has been leading to the final course portfolio. In this
portfolio, you will significantly revise two of the three WPs we have worked on this term (see
below for more on this) and include them with a new cover letter indicating how you think they
demonstrate your learning in Writing 2 this quarter.

We have worked on three writing projects this quarter:

In WP1, you analyzed and compared the choices writers make within the conventions of two
non-academic genres. If you choose to revise WP1, your analysis should go more in depth than
in your previous draft. This means that all discussions of conventions will be linked to larger
arguments about audience and purpose. Your analysis should be more specific than in your
previous draft. This will include more careful choices about how to use evidence from the texts,
and how that evidence supports your argument based on the differences in audience, purpose,
and context. As you edit this WP, consider that your audience is a Writing 2 student next quarter,
struggling to understand the idea of genre, conventions, and rhetoric. Using analysis of specific
examples in your two genres, make clear to him/her what genres are, and how authors use
conventions to fulfill their rhetorical purposes.

In WP2, you examined academic literacy practices within two academic discourse communities.
If you choose to revise WP2, your analysis of the discourse communities rhetoric, limitations,
purpose, and use of evidence should go more in depth than in your previous draft. It should also
mean that you present an original argument about the ideals of your discourse communities. As
you edit this WP, consider your audience to be a first semester undergraduate student taking their
first course in the subject. What does s/he need to know about writing and research in the
discipline? What does the discipline consider important? What does the student need to know in
order to make a successful argument in each discipline?

In WP3, you wrote about what you have learned in Writing 2 this quarter through a creative
genre translation. You also wrote a metacognitive essay exploring the decisions and choices you
made in composing your translation. If you choose to revise WP3, your essay should include
more specific details, extensive analysis, and metacognitive thinking. For example, you will
want to make sure you are citing specific examples from your own translation while explaining
your process. You also will likely need to refine your translated piece (part 1) to reflect more
thoroughly what you have learned in this class. Your choices in how to use evidence in the
metacognitive essay should become more strategic. As you edit this WP, imagine that your
translation will be posted to a class blog - where we publish everyones projects - and include a
link that describes the various techniques you used to translate the article. The reader could be
your parents, another teacher, a Writing 2 student next quarter. In any case, it will be someone
who wants to see you apply and show off the skills you have learned in the course.

In addition to these assignment-specific (general) suggestions, you will need to address issues of
organization, style (being concise, making sure that your writing is clear and to the point) and
punctuation/mechanics (grammar) as well. You also should make sure that all your citations
are correct (according to MLA style guidelines) and that every WP that includes a citation also
has a works cited page.

NOTE: You need to pay close attention to the comments you have received, but do not ONLY fix
things I comment on. I suggest that you revise in this order:
1. Choices: content, analysis, citations, examples
2. Organization: Structure, information flow, intro/conclusion
3. Language, style, concision
4. Punctuation, grammar, syntax, mechanics
[Do not do 3 or 4 first, because they might change as you rework 1 and 2.]

Format
The page count for each revised WP:
WP1: 2-3 pages
WP2: 3-4 pages
WP3: 2-3 pages

With the reduced page count, you will need to pay particular attention to your choices, including
information flow and organization. You will also have to be very strategic in deciding which
examples to analyze, and how to use them.
[Please remember that works cited pages do not count toward page length and WPs that do not
follow MLA margin standards will not be accepted.]

Cover Letter
As with the other WPs this term, your final course portfolio MUST include a reflective cover
letter. In this letter, you want to reflect on what you have learned about the course goals for
Writing 2 this term, and where that learning is evident in your portfolio. These goals were
discussed throughout the course, and are posted on our Gauchospace site.

Your letter should consider the following questions:

What have you learned through the process of writing and revising the WPs this quarter?
(Think here about all of the aspects of this work, including writing and reading but also
including class discussion and other activities).
Reflect on your portfolio: Which two WPs did you revise? Why? What exactly did you
revise in them? What are the specific issues (perhaps related to content/organization,
language/style, mechanics/syntax) that you addressed when polishing this draft? (Be
specific! Your reflection should make it very easy for me to identify what is new and
different in the WPs you are submitting). What ideas and types of feedback were most
helpful when revising? What do you like most about your work in this portfolio? What
more would you still like to work or improve upon? How does the work in this
portfolio reflect what youve learned this quarter? How have you changed as a
writer?
IMPORTANT: What will you take from this course as you approach new writing projects
in the future?
Make sure your cover letter has a salutation (Dear Matt,), separate paragraphs where you
answer each question, and a closing (e.g. Sincerely,), your name signed. The length of this
letter should be at least 1.5 pages single-spaced or 3 pages double-spaced.

Grading
The final course portfolio is worth 40% of your grade for this course.
Note that we will have two revision workshops. I am also happy to discuss specific writing
questions of in-process drafts in my office hours. Please email if you need to meet at a different
time.
Final Course Portfolio Schedule

Date Whats Due? In-Class

Monday, 6/5 Portfolio Revision Plan, In-Class Work on
Revised Draft of ONE Portfolio Revisions
WP
Wednesday, 6/7 Revised Draft of BOTH In-Class Work on
WP Portfolio Revisions
Friday, 6/9 Weebly portfolio due by
4pm

Submission
The final portfolio should be posted on a website of your creation. This website
will have [at least] three pages: one for your cover letter, and one for each WP you revise. Please
include your original WP and your final draft.
The URL to your webpage needs to be submitted to Gauchospace by 4pm on Friday 6/9

No late portfolios will be accepted

Final Course Portfolio Revision Plan

Due: Monday, 6/5 at 11AM (Hard Copy in Class)

Instructions: Select the two WPs you plan to revise for your final course portfolio and respond
to each of the following four questions. Be as specific as possible in your revision plan! These
notes will help you immensely throughout the revision process and when it comes time to write
your cover letter.

1. Review each WP that you will revise. Write to yourself: Rereading this draft, what do you
see that you might want to change and why might you want to change it?
2. Reread your peer review comments. Do these point to things you might want to revise? If
so, what?
3. Reread my comments. Do these point to things you might want to revise? If so, what? If
not, why not?
4. Review the portfolio assessment rubric. Does this point to things you want to revise? If
so, what?

Format: You may structure your revision plan in whatever way makes the most sense to you, but
please make sure your thoughts are coherent and well-organized. I expect at least 1 page single-
spaced or 2 pages double-spaced.