"House of Wits": Instructions for Preparing Your Final Portfolio

 
"House of Wits": The James Family

Bryn Mawr College
Spring 2010

Anne Dalke

In this portfolio, due by 12:30 p.m. on Friday, May 14th (for seniors: by 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 8): I am asking you to collect and reflect on the written work you have done for this course. This portfolio project invites you to chronicle what has happened in your evolution both as a writer and a speaker in class, and to contribute to and assist me with the evaluation of your work. So--

* Complete your final 12-pp. project (or equivalent).

* Write up a description of your final performance in the class, and post it in your commonplace book.  This can take one of various forms: it might be the script you used for that performance, a description of what you were doing in it, or of what happened during it (anything that surprised you?).

* Gather together everything else you’ve already written for this class: copies of all your postings in your "commonplace book" as well as all your on-line papers, including my comments. Verify that all of your papers are posted correctly (if the formatting looks screwy, save the paper as TEXT ONLY, then re-cut and paste it into your blog).

* Arrange all this material in a folder, chronologically, placing the most recent material (which I haven't yet reviewed) on top. Review all you’ve gathered together in the portfolio; ruminate for a while on what you’re seeing as you do so.

* Then write a short (2-3 pp.) essay tracing where you were when we began this process, where you are now, and what’s been happening in between.

Be specific and descriptive, but also evaluative:
**Review your participation in our group work: how present-and-contributing have you been in our discussions, both large and small, what role have you assumed in our group dynamics, both in-class and on-line? How and what have you contributed to the learning of others?

**Review also your written work: how much effort have you put into the web postings and each of your essays? What can you say about the quality of the final products? What have you learned about your writing and thinking processes in this class? Where have you "moved"?

*Complete the checklist and place it in the front of your portfolio.

In my response to your portfolio, I'll be giving you a grade not just for the quality of your written work, but also for class participation and process. Your self-evaluation will assist me with my own, as I reflect on your engagement in the course.

I very much look forward to seeing what you come up with, as well as what you have to say about it.

Thanks for joining me in getting acquainted with the James family this semester.
I've enjoyed it very much, and learned a lot from you all--

Anne