Portfolio FAQ/9th Literature

Cover Sheet:

  1. What should it look like? The cover sheet should be aesthetically pleasing, and should include your name, your teacher’s name, the class period, and the due date. You should also include an interesting title.
  2. Can it be on the inside of the physical cover? Yes.
  3. May I do an online portfolio? No. All portfolios should be presented in the physical format.

Dear Reader Letter:

  1. What do I write? You should write a formal letter with a “dear” and a “sincerely” at the end. The letter should thank the reader for reading your work and should point to your favorite pieces in your portfolio. You may also want to discuss a little about your hobbies, goals, and aspirations and your experiences during your semester of high school.
  2. How long should it be? At least fifteen lines, typed with 12 point font.
  3. What format is it in? You may choose the font, but it should be in standard letter format, with a salutation at the beginning and a farewell or good-bye at the end, followed by your signature.
  4. Why am I writing this? You are writing a Dear Reader letter as a courtesy and a “thank you” to your readers. All published writers include some form of a dear reader in their work.
  5. Where does it go in my portfolio?The letter should be after the cover and before the Table of Contents.

Table of Contents:

  1. Where does it go?The table of contents should go after the Dear Reader letter and before your Original Pieces.
  2. What is it?A table of contents,usually headed simply "Contents" and abbreviated informally asTOC,is a list of the parts of a book ordocumentorganized in the order in which the parts appear.Just like books have a TOC to guide readers to certain chapters, your portfolio’s table of contents will serve as a guide for readers to find certain pieces of writing.
  3. Is there an easier way to type it? The easiest way to create a table of contents is to use the built-in heading styles. You can also create a table of contents that is based on the custom styles that you have applied. Or you can assign the table of contents levels to individual text entries. See do students usually miss on this element? The most common mistakes that students make are forgetting to number the pages of their portfolio, not organizing the portfolio according to rubric specifications, and not including details on the table of contents.

Original Pieces:

  1. How many total?You will need to turn in ten typed original pieces by the final due date. See the Portfolio Checklist for checkpoint requirements.
  2. Do I need reflections for all of them?Yes.
  3. Will we write these pieces in class? We will write most, if not all, of these pieces in class. You may have to type and/or edit at home.
  4. How am I going to accumulate at least 10 good pieces of writing? That seems like a lot! It may seem like a lot, but think about it. In the first two weeks of school, you have already written (or will write)two essays, journals, and several claim statements.
  5. Do they need to be typed? Yes
  6. If my original piece is more than one page long, how do I place it in the binder? Because it is difficult to remove packets of stapled papers from sheet protectors, please place multiple pages front-back in sheet protectors so that I can see each page of your work.
  7. Can I use originals that the teacher hands back to me? Do not use originals that are creased, marked on, or torn. Students should print a clean copy for the portfolio.
  8. Which originals do I use? Do I have a choice? You certainly have a choice when deciding on “portfolio-worthy” pieces. Choose your best work! Be proud of what you have accomplished. Each piece must be at least ten complete sentences (or lines, if a poem).
  9. I’m starting to freak out! How can I get all this done? Students who make use of the ample class time given have no problem finishing the project before the due date. So, when you receive an assignment back from the teacher, why not write and save your reflection then, instead of waiting? Students should also buy their portfolio notebook and sheet protectors immediately, so that they can start their project from day-1.

Reflections for Originals:

  1. What’s a reflection?A written reflection is your way of telling your teacher and audience what you “got” or “learned” from the assignment. When we reflect on something, we consider what worked, what didn’t work, and what we would do differently the next time.
  2. How long does it have to be? One solid paragraph of at least 15 lines, typed, with references to the Georgia Standards of Excellence.
  3. How can I make sure I don’t get any points off on this element? Be authentic and write from the heart. Do not simply copy and paste the same reflection for each original entry. Make sure to thoughtfully connect appropriate standards (skills you mastered) to each written piece. Use the example you were given as a model.
  4. Do teachers really read these? Absolutely! Because we have already read your originals, we love to read the reflections so we can understand your learning process.

Revised Pieces:

  1. What makes a great revision? A true revision is really a “re-write”; therefore, your first and last draft must be very different. A good revision has been polished: Be verbs removed, extra words removed, punctuation corrected and grammar mistakes corrected, more evidence for arguments added, etc. Additionally, you may want to add a paragraph or stanza to an original in order to show growth and depth.
  2. How many total?The final project requires four revised pieces. You MUST include the “before” and the “after” (side-by-side) in your portfolio.
  3. Do I need reflections for all of them?Yes
  4. What do I write for these reflections? Consider these reflections as your justification for why you feel you did a good job revising. Tell your teacher exactly what you changed and why. Highlight your changes on your papers to make it easier for the teacher to see.
  5. Will we revise these pieces in class? We will revise at least two of them as a class assignment; the others you will complete either during lab time or at home.

Works by Famous Writers/Artists:

  1. How many total?Two
  2. Do I need reflections for all of them?Absolutely. The reflections ARE the work for this section (which makes sense since you are not actually writing these pieces).
  3. How long should they be? These reflections should be at least one page, typed.
  4. Will we write these pieces in class? You will complete these either during lab time or at home.
  5. What do I need to include with the written reflection? Consider each reflection an actual literary analysis in which you deconstruct the elements of that specific work of art and make a claim about its worth. If you choose a favorite song, show a print-out of the lyrics and analyze specific literary elements and rhetorical choices that make the song resonate with you. For a book, you may want to focus on a section or on the theme as a whole. These pieces need to be your absolute favorites, not anything you just happened to find online. For paintings or photographs, include a color picture of the picture or the actual painting.
  6. How do I cite my famous works? You must give credit to the author, producer, publisher, performer, etc. of any piece you choose to showcase. See the portfolio handout and rubric for further instruction, OR go to easybib.com for an easy way to create a bibliography.

Portfolio Due Dates and Check Points:

  1. What do I need to have with me on the day of the check points? On check-point days, you will need to bring your NEW portfolio binder with the paper copies of what is due. Make sure that you have organized your work according to category for quick and easy assessment.
  2. How will the check points be graded? You will participate in a pinwheel discussion in which you will have one-two minutes to show your work to the class and demonstrate that you have met the requirements of the check. For every missed element, you miss a point.
  3. What if I know I will be absent on the day of a check point? Alert the teacher and turn in your work BEFORE the due date, NOT after. You will still receive credit for completing the required elements.
  4. Will we have lab time to work on our portfolio? Absolutely. Before every check-point, we have scheduled lab time. However, you will probably have to finish your work at home.
  5. What if my printer is broken? You can print from the school media center before school, after school, or during lunch, or you can arrange a time to print in a lab with a teacher.
  6. What if I am sick - - can I have an extension on the final due date? Because this is such a long term assignment, I expect you to turn in your work on time. So if you are sick, you should have a parent or friend deliver the hard copy to me on the day it is due.
  7. I still have questions…what do I do? Feel free to email me or ask me questions. I am also available before and after school for tutoring.