Selecting Work for Your Portfolio

Most likely, your instructor has given guidelines for the types of writing that you must put in the portfolio. These guidelines may be used across all the sections of the course you are in, or they may be unique to your class. In either case, read and follow them carefully. Make sure you include everything that is required and your work is neat. As with much else in life, first impressions can count a great deal when instructors look at portfolios. Your instructor loves to see how far you have come since the beginning of the term, so show him or her your best work.

How do you select your best work? What exactly is your instructor looking for? If he or she provided a rubric for the portfolio, keep that handy and refer to it throughout the process of selecting work. Generally, instructors want to see a range of writing in the portfolio, so include different types of writing. For instance, if you are allowed to include two formal essays, you might use one that is more personal and one that is more objective. In some cases, your instructor may want to see your pre-writing, your rough drafts, your peer-review worksheets, and any notes from meetings with him or her or with a tutor. For this reason, as you work throughout the semester, you may find it a good idea to keep everything together neatly in a folder, binder, or e-portfolio.