portfolios ENGL227 Introduction
to creative nonfiction workshop
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LEE TORDA 310 Tillinghast Hall Bridgewater State University 508.531.2436 [email protected] www.leetorda.com |
Fall 2016 Office Hours:
M/W 11:30-12:30 T 11:00-12:00 and by appointment. Need to make an appointment? Click here: https://goo.gl/3CqLfo |
Overview. Portfolios work in different ways in different classes. Sometimes they are used to simply collect the work that a student has done over a period of time. Sometimes they are used to mark progress via revision. And sometimes they are used as a way to assess student work—not simply his writing work but his effort and progress in class. Finally, portfolios in the creative world are a showcase of an artist's best, most representative work.
The portfolios you will turn in will do a little bit of all of those things, depending on which portfolio we are working with. The midterm is a chance for you to collect and reflect on your work, to think about what you’ve done well and what you still need to learn. I’ll ask you to write about this in a reflection letter that you include with the portfolio. Another way you will showcase your progress is through revision. You’ll write about this in your reflection letter as well. The final portfolio, on the other hand, is really all showcase.
Both times you turn in a portfolio, I will use them as a way of assessing your effort, your progress as a writer and as a student, and the quality of your written work. I will read the portfolios and include a lengthy letter to you when I return them. That letter will detail your entire career in this class up to that point. It will give you feedback on the quality of the portfolio itself, and I will give you a letter grade that marks your progress in a way that is valued by the college.
Midterm Portfolio
The midterm portfolio is a moment to figure out where we are both at in the semester. It's time to take stock to see what you've learned so far and what you want to learn in the rest of the semester. You will include the following material in your midterm portfolio:
1. A selection of Reader's Notes. Please select one or two Reader's Notes that represent very important moments of learning for you in our class--an essay that inspired you, a moment where you really began to understand the genre, a reading that helped you to understand what you wanted your writer's voice to "sound" like. You do not need to revise the Notes. Just stick them in the portfolio, comments and all. In addition to the actual Notes, please include a half page, single-spaced, typed reflection on why you chose the Note or Notes you did. Please Note: not a half page for each set of Notes you include, but one half page on all of the Notes you are including.
2. A selection from your Writer's Notebook. Similarly to the selections from your Reader's Notes, select a few (two to three) entries that mark something important in your learning so far this semester: perhaps you liked the writing; perhaps it inspired a longer piece; perhaps it did not end up as an essay just yet, but you believe in it; perhaps it shows a moment when you really started to get what it was to write in this genre. You do not need to revise the WN selections. Just stick them in the portfolio, comments and all. In addition to the actual entries, please include a half page, single-spaced, typed reflection on why you chose the entries you did. Please Note: not a half page for each entry you include, but one half page on all of the entries you are including.
3. A revision of your first Draft for Feedback. Include the initial draft you turned in to me with my comments on it. You do not need to turn in the workshop drafts.
4. A completed version of your second Draft for Feedback. Include the workshop and/or conference draft along with the finished draft so far.
5. A Midterm Portfolio Reflection Letter. You will write this reflection in class the day the midterm is due. I would appreciate it if you could type it on a computer--you may bring your laptop to class for that purpose or you can use a computer available on campus. If you insist, you may handwrite your reflection. In roughly two, typed, double-spaced pages, respond to this prompt: Based on what you've read and written so far, what are the important qualities of good creative nonfiction? What is difficult about it as a writer? As a reader? Use the readings we've done in class so far to help you make your point. Additionally, refer to your own writing and process of writing to help you answer this question.
**NOTE: It can be tempting in a night class to do the work of the reflection letter outside of class, but I am asking you to respect the assignment and use the class time I will give you to do this work. You can come prepared with notes, but do the writing in class. Save your out of class time for revising and polishing your essays.
On the day the portfolio is due, I will give you a manilla envelope to put everything in to. Please don't use another folder or binder. The manilla envelope system, fancy as it is, is my way of lightening the load of papers I carry (back and forth on the train) and keep things organized. In roughly a week to two weeks, you'll get a grade letter back with information about your performance in class to date.
The portfolios you will turn in will do a little bit of all of those things, depending on which portfolio we are working with. The midterm is a chance for you to collect and reflect on your work, to think about what you’ve done well and what you still need to learn. I’ll ask you to write about this in a reflection letter that you include with the portfolio. Another way you will showcase your progress is through revision. You’ll write about this in your reflection letter as well. The final portfolio, on the other hand, is really all showcase.
Both times you turn in a portfolio, I will use them as a way of assessing your effort, your progress as a writer and as a student, and the quality of your written work. I will read the portfolios and include a lengthy letter to you when I return them. That letter will detail your entire career in this class up to that point. It will give you feedback on the quality of the portfolio itself, and I will give you a letter grade that marks your progress in a way that is valued by the college.
Midterm Portfolio
The midterm portfolio is a moment to figure out where we are both at in the semester. It's time to take stock to see what you've learned so far and what you want to learn in the rest of the semester. You will include the following material in your midterm portfolio:
1. A selection of Reader's Notes. Please select one or two Reader's Notes that represent very important moments of learning for you in our class--an essay that inspired you, a moment where you really began to understand the genre, a reading that helped you to understand what you wanted your writer's voice to "sound" like. You do not need to revise the Notes. Just stick them in the portfolio, comments and all. In addition to the actual Notes, please include a half page, single-spaced, typed reflection on why you chose the Note or Notes you did. Please Note: not a half page for each set of Notes you include, but one half page on all of the Notes you are including.
2. A selection from your Writer's Notebook. Similarly to the selections from your Reader's Notes, select a few (two to three) entries that mark something important in your learning so far this semester: perhaps you liked the writing; perhaps it inspired a longer piece; perhaps it did not end up as an essay just yet, but you believe in it; perhaps it shows a moment when you really started to get what it was to write in this genre. You do not need to revise the WN selections. Just stick them in the portfolio, comments and all. In addition to the actual entries, please include a half page, single-spaced, typed reflection on why you chose the entries you did. Please Note: not a half page for each entry you include, but one half page on all of the entries you are including.
3. A revision of your first Draft for Feedback. Include the initial draft you turned in to me with my comments on it. You do not need to turn in the workshop drafts.
4. A completed version of your second Draft for Feedback. Include the workshop and/or conference draft along with the finished draft so far.
5. A Midterm Portfolio Reflection Letter. You will write this reflection in class the day the midterm is due. I would appreciate it if you could type it on a computer--you may bring your laptop to class for that purpose or you can use a computer available on campus. If you insist, you may handwrite your reflection. In roughly two, typed, double-spaced pages, respond to this prompt: Based on what you've read and written so far, what are the important qualities of good creative nonfiction? What is difficult about it as a writer? As a reader? Use the readings we've done in class so far to help you make your point. Additionally, refer to your own writing and process of writing to help you answer this question.
**NOTE: It can be tempting in a night class to do the work of the reflection letter outside of class, but I am asking you to respect the assignment and use the class time I will give you to do this work. You can come prepared with notes, but do the writing in class. Save your out of class time for revising and polishing your essays.
On the day the portfolio is due, I will give you a manilla envelope to put everything in to. Please don't use another folder or binder. The manilla envelope system, fancy as it is, is my way of lightening the load of papers I carry (back and forth on the train) and keep things organized. In roughly a week to two weeks, you'll get a grade letter back with information about your performance in class to date.