Letter of Introduction

Write a letter in which you introduce the contents of your portfolio. The letter should be addressed to your reader; if you want, you can address it to me (most people usually end up doing this). You should write in a casual manner -- as you ordinarily would in a letter.

The letter is a chance for you to introduce, to explain and to reflect -- to introduce and to explain your pieces and to reflect on your writing.

For example, you may respond to any of the following questions:

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?

What are you surprised by?

Which piece are you happiest with?

Which are you least satisfied with?

What else do you want or need to tell me?

In general, how do you feel about the body of work included in your portfolio?

Do you need to explain anything about any of your pieces?

How did your poems evolve out of the exercises we did in class?

Where did your anything piece come from? How is it derived from the activities we did in class?

Did you, or do you, find one genre to be more natural or easier than another genre? Why is that?

What, if anything, should I know, or keep in mind, as I read your writing?

How did your pieces change during the final revision process?

Did you surprise yourself in any of your pieces? If so, where and how?

What readings, exercises or comments had an effect on you?

Did workshopping help you as a writer?

In what way(s) do you think you’ve grown as a writer over this marking period?

Would you consider trying to publish (in Omega or elsewhere) any of your work? If so, what? (If not, why not?)

How is the class “going for you”? What are you looking forward to doing next quarter, or during the rest of the year? Do you have goals for yourself? Do you have any ideas or input regarding what the whole class might do?

Explain anything that needs to be explained or anything you want to explain. Share your feelings about the process and products.

Table of Contents

You will create a table of contents in which you list the title of each piece as well as the type of writing piece it is.

Sample table of contents (portion)

I. Let’s Eat …………………………… personal essay about a place

II. A Girl Named Sue …………………..poem written in response to

III. What’s Up……………………………short story