The Valley High School Writing Portfolio is a collection of student work that has been developed over time. The intent of this requirement is to show student growth in English and to create continuity between the four levels of English, starting in the ninth grade and ending in the twelfth grade. The portfolio requirements may differ from level to level; however, the emphasis will be on the writing process. The portfolio will be assessed at scheduled intervals by both the teacher and the student.
As shown on the class syllabus, 40 percent of the student’s semester grade will be based on the portfolio. Failure to hand in a portfolio in any level of English may result in semester failure of that level. No late portfolios will be accepted. Due dates will be near the end of each semester. Specific due dates will be given approximately one month in advance.
Students who do not agree with their scores may submit Requests for Rescoring within two school days of receiving their returned portfolios. A request must be logical and must show discrepancies between the grade assigned and the rubric used for determining that grade. The portfolio will then be graded by two other English instructors, using the same rubric.
Teachers will make and collect regular portfolio assignments throughout each semester to aid students with the completion of their portfolios in a timely fashion. As the portfolio is a cumulative project, assignments not completed in any one level will affect the overall portfolio grade in other levels. Ex: A missing assignment in the English I portfolio will negatively affect the portfolio grade in English II. A student may resubmit a missing assignment in that same year of English to improve his or her grade. Once the student has completed that year of English, he or she may no longer resubmit. The student is required to inform the teacher that an assignment has been added or revised.
Writing is a process of revisions and edits, and it is important for each student to show his or her development as a writer. Students will be responsible for making the specific revisions or edits on their papers as annotated by the teacher during the first round of grading. These revisions and edits must be shown in the “clean copy” added to the portfolio. If the required changes have not been made, the student will not receive revision points on the portfolio scoring rubric. If the student makes only some of the revisions, he or she will receive only a portion of the available points. If the graded copy is not in the portfolio, no points will be given for the revised copy as the teacher cannot be asked to grade the entire paper once again.
Ethical Issues of Portfolio Writing Students must have total ownership of their portfolios. Teachers, peers, and parents may serve as mentors, responders, encouragers, and critics, but the students must compile their own work. This includes the handwriting or typing. No one other than the student may make corrections or revisions in the portfolio documents. Plagiarism is not acceptable and will result in a zero for the portfolio. A student will need to complete a Portfolio Exemption Form for any assignment that he/she is missing due to legitimate reasons. This exemption must be signed by both the student’s English teacher and the principal. A legitimate reason may include a prolonged illness or bereavement.
Grade Level Specific Requirements Ninth Grade
Contents
Grammar – mastery of parts of speech
Chronological list of works read (novels, plays, short stories, poems, etc.) One novel at appropriate reading level is required per quarter for a C grade. Two novels per quarter earns an A grade.
Identification of literary devices in a work
Summarization
Compare and Contrast Essay with MLA format
Creative writing piece
Student’s choice (one per semester)
Reflection sheet for each entry
Tenth Grade
Contents
All required assignments from 9th grade portfolio
Grammar – mastery of parts of speech and parts of a sentence
Chronological cumulative list of works read (novels, plays, short stories, etc.) One novel per quarter is required.
All required assignments from 9th and 10th grade portfolios
Grammar – mastery of parts of speech, sentence, and phrases
Chronological cumulative list of works read (novels, short stories, plays, etc.) One novel per quarter is required.
Identification of literary devices in a work
Persuasive essay with MLA format
Cause and Effect essay with MLA format
Student’s choice (one per semester)
Reflection sheet for each entry
Twelfth Grade
Contents
All required assignments from 9th, 10th, and 11th grade portfolios
Grammar – mastery of parts of speech, sentence, phrases, and clauses
Chronological cumulative list of works read since 9th grade (novels, short stories, plays, poems, etc.)
Recommendation to friend based on works read
Identification of literary devices in a work – Beowulf Essay
Academic literary analysis with MLA format – The Canterbury Tales Essay
Research Paper with APA format
Student’s Choice (one per semester)
Overall response to cumulative portfolio
Reflection sheet for each entry except overall response
Digital Portfolio Map
* Your digital portfolio must follow the layout given here. * Home page Links to: 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
Include a brief blurb about yourself that includes an introduction to your portfolio.
9th Grade (English I) Links to: English I Works Read List Grammar Reflection Literary Devices Identification Summary & Reflection Compare and Contrast Essay & Reflection Argumentative Essay & Reflection Narrative & Reflection Semester I Student’s Choice & Reflection Semester II Student’s Choice & Reflection 10th Grade (English II) Links to: English II Works Read List Grammar Reflection Literary Devices Identification Personal Narrative & Reflection Research Paper & Reflection Book Review & Reflection Semester I Student’s Choice & Reflection Semester II Student’s Choice & Reflection 11th Grade (English III) Links to: English III Works Read List Grammar Reflection Literary Devices Identification Persuasive Essay & Reflection Cause and Effect Essay & Reflection Narrative & Reflection Semester I Student’s Choice & Reflection Semester II Student’s Choice & Reflection 12th Grade (English IV) Links to: English IV Works Read List Grammar Reflection Literary Devices Identification Argumentative Essay & Reflection Literary Analysis Essay & Reflection Research Essay & Reflection Digital Project & Reflection Semester I Student’s Choice & Reflection Semester II Student’s Choice & Reflection