Final Writing Assignment: Writing Portfolio Assignment DUE Friday May 28, 2010

Throughout the course of the year we have engaged in a number of writing assignments, with the goal of improving all aspects of the writing process. You were asked to keep all of these papers, along with drafts, in order to reflect back on your writing, and to take that writing with you to your next English teacher so that they can better understand not only your development as a writer, but also how you see yourself as a writer. Now that the end of the school year is upon us, we will embark on the final leg of our journey towards becoming better writers.

The goal of your final writing assignment is to reflect back on your writing from September to June, and to express who you are as a writer to your next teacher, and/or professor.

The role you are taking on is that of a reflective student who better understands who they are as a writer.

The audience is of this assignment will be future peers and teachers/professors who want to know more about who you are as a writer.

The standards are those listed on the attached rubric.

The final product will be a well organized writing portfolio, in which you will include this self reflection and analysis on the writing in the portfolio. The self reflection can take the form of a “Dear Reader” letter, and should include the following:

Who are you? What works of writing are included in your portfolio? Who were you as a writer at the beginning of the year? What was the most significant challenge you faced as a writer? How did you overcome this challenge? How did your writing progress as the year went on? What piece of writing are you most proud of? How did you go about writing this piece? What makes you so proud of this particular piece? Who are you as a writer now that we have reached the end of the year? What are your plans for writing in the future?

Keep in mind that this is a final writing assignment, and will be given a final test grade, which means that the letter should be well-organized, well-developed, and contain a significant amount of information, self-reflection and analysis. CATEGORY Exemplary Proficient Developing Beginning 4- 20 3 - 15 2 - 10 1 - 5 Topic & The letter skillfully and The letter skillfully develops, The letter is not fully The topic is Purpose creatively develops, and and addresses all required developing all aspects of unclear or does addresses all required questions related to their the writing portfolio, or not address the questions related to their writing portfolio. The does not fully address assignment. writing portfolio. The students shows a well the assignment to the students shows an in depth composed self analysis for extent that it is missing self analysis for their their progression as a writer some of the progression as a writer from from the beginning to the requirements of the the beginning to the end of end of the year, as well as assignment. the year, as well as their their future plans for writing. future plans for writing. Organization Uses a clear and logical Uses clear and logical Organizational structure Little or no organizational structure, organizational structure, with is present, but weak or organizational with paragraphs, paragraphs, transitions, and unclear; paragraph structure; writing transitions, and other other structures as division is inappropriate; is all one structures skillfully chosen appropriate. may lack transitions. paragraph. and applied

Content, Strong, well chosen and Required content, good use Some content, Missing supporting perceptive content, of supporting details and supporting detail and significant details, use of supporting details, and evidence from their portfolio evidence from their content, few or evidence evidence from their appropriate to the portfolio are used, but no supporting portfolio beyond the assignment. not sufficient or details or requirements of the appropriate to the evidence. assignment. assignment. Word Choice Skillful and varied word Effective and varied word Simple or repetitive Incorrect or choice appropriate to the choice appropriate to the word choice. inappropriate audience and purpose. audience and purpose. Uses word choice. Uses specific words with specific words with imagination and accuracy. accuracy. Sentence Complete sentences with Complete, well structured Most sentences are well Few or no Structure varied structure and length sentences. structured; some complete appropriate to the purpose fragments or run-ons. sentences. and audience. Mechanics Few or no errors in Some errors in spelling, Some errors in spelling, Serious problems spelling, grammar, grammar, punctuation or grammar, punctuation, in spelling, capitalization, punctuation presentation that do not or presentation that grammar, or presentation. interfere with interfere with punctuation or communication. communication. presentation.

Final Self-reflection Grade: