Some parts of a writing portfolio may be more heavily edited than others: Midterm reflections might go through several drafts while topic proposals are often tentative and open-ended. And a writing portfolio might contain peer editing and other fairly off-the-cuff items. Yet the overall project should look competent, feel conscientious, and show attention to design.

With a career portfolio, plan on submitting nothing less than your best work — from cover to cover.

Polish your portfolio. If you complain that pop quizzes or one-shot finals don’t reflect your true abilities, what can you say when you turn in a bungled course portfolio? This is not an assignment to do at the last minute. So keep up with all prompts and activities — and that includes giving timely feedback to the work of your classmates. Online portfolio platforms may help keep you on track, but you’ll still need to meet due dates and submit important documents.

Understand the portfolio activities. You may be unfamiliar with some of the specific features of a writing portfolio. If you’ve never done a literacy narrative or a topic proposal, ask your instructor for models. If your instructor suggests brainstorming activities, look to Chapter 19. If you have questions about peer editing, see Chapter 36. Other questions? Ask your instructor and talk with classmates.

Give honest feedback to classmates. Most students seriously underestimate the value of the comments they make on their classmates’ work. Simply because you are an experienced reader, you will recognize when ideas are unclear, arguments are hard to follow, evidence seems unconvincing, sentences are confusing, and so on. You don’t have to fix the problems you point to; writers just need to know where they are and how you are reacting to them. Be as clear as you can and focus on big issues: content, organization, audience, style. It’s fine to point out problems in grammar and mechanics, but they shouldn’t be your first priority when you are a peer editor. And don’t forget to mention what in a paper strikes you as distinctive and successful. Writers need to know that as well. You’ll be surprised how much you’ll gain from peer editing.

Here’s a screen from a portfolio program that allows students to highlight a passage and comment on it.

Take advantage of multimedia. Portfolios routinely include examples of whatever genres of writing are important to a field or discipline (lesson plans, field reports, problem-solving logs, etc.). They may also display important kinds of media and can do so easily in electronic platforms. You can display and get feedback on digital images, podcasts, slide presentations, and videos you produce as part of your course work.