FINAL PORTFOLIO (30% of the final grade)
This is a take-home assignment- your final exam submission
Your submission assignment must be typed, double-spaced and have a font of 11 or 12.
It is due for submission on Blackboard no later than 11:59 pm Dec 14, 2022.
As part of your Final portfolio, you are asked to submit polished versions of any three (3) types of writing
from the following choices: 1.Literary Analysis 2.Media Analysis 3.Literary Review 4.Media Review,
5.Memoir 6.Profile 7.Editorial 8.Public Service Message.
Please remember to follow the following instructions:
The final portfolio must also include a learning letter in which you discuss your progress as
a writer over the course of the semester, provide detailed descriptions of the revision
choices you made, and analyze how each piece of writing addresses issues of context,
purpose, and audience.
In total, the word count for each type of writing (from the 3 types you choose to submit in
your portfolio between literary or media analysis, literary or media review, memoir or
profile, editorial, and public service message) must be 700-800 words. The Learning Letter
must be around 300-400 words. In total, your Final Portfolio should carry a total word-
count of 2400-2800 words.
All the types of writing, indicated in the choices available to you above, seek to provide a
broad ambit of choices in topic/subject and analyses for the students. This is deliberate so
that the students are able to narrow down their personal choices of writing to specific
issue(s) or themes that they want to focus on.
The final portfolio must be well-organized and coherent in its structural and semantic flow.
It needs to carry appropriate academic structure, including a title page in the beginning, in-
text citations and a references section in the end. You can include one collective section of
references for all the 3 types of writing you choose or you can include a separate
references section for each.
You must provide in-text citations and references for ideas and information taken from your
source materials. Answers that are not referenced will be penalised.
You will be evaluated on your ability to explain, theorize and apply the concepts and ideas in
the course readings.
I am particularly interested in learning of your understanding/interpretation of the issues
you discuss in your answers. Hence, I would value your original thought and understanding,
along with strategic utilization of secondary sources. Ideally, I recommend a proportion of
50:50 to the equation of ‘original ideas: cited/secondary resources.
Be sure that you have a clear, arguable thesis statement, and that you use formal, academic
paragraph structures and language for your portfolio.
The assignment must demonstrate your ability to critically interrogate ideas and present
your understanding of the text(s)/topic(s)/idea(s) discussed on an academic level, suitable to
the level of this course.
Do not follow any unfair academic practices such as plagiarism- they will be strictly
penalised.
Remember to proofread the exam for grammar, spelling and coherent, comprehensible
language.
The word-length must be included at the end of the paper
Only PDF document file (.pdf) are accepted. Any other format will be penalised. You are to
submit your exam on Blackboard and your document must be labelled as follows-
FinalPortfolio_firstname_lastname
There will be no extensions granted on the deadline for the submission of the final exam.
Please note: Some tips for compiling a portfolio may also be found in Chapter 34 of the
textbook for this course. However, the instructions given in this document must be held as
the predominant requirements for this assignment, and Chapter 34 should only be taken as
offering some helpful recommendations.
Grading Rubric
The Rubric automatically includes the Instructions that have been given in the beginning of this exam.
Criteria/ Grade A (25-30) B (19-24) C (12-18) D (0-11)
Argument student’s chosen types Student’s chosen types limited argument; Minimal argument;
of writing and the of writing and the Conclusion may not Conclusion may not
following arguments following arguments follow from argument; follow from argument;
well developed; addressed but sources barely cited sources not cited
Conclusion follows unevenly; Conclusion
from argument. follows from argument
Sources cited
Sources cited
satisfactorily
satisfactorily mostly
Use of course Key concepts and ideas Most key concepts and Limited use of key Minimal or inaccurate
readings well utilized ; Student ideas utilized well; concepts and ideas; use of key concepts
shows very good grasp student shows good student shows little and ideas; minimal or
over readings grasp over readings grasp over readings no grasp over readings
Explanation Accurate; Source(s) Accurate; Source(s) Accurate but Inaccurate; Minimal use
well chosen and well appropriate but not fully incomplete; Limited or poor choice of
used; student used; student use of sources; sources; no explanation
convincingly explains convincingly explains student barely can or argumentation
and argues and argues most of the explain and argue
time
Example Illustrates concept; Illustrates concept; Connection to concept Minimal connection to
Source(s) well chosen Source(s) appropriate assumed rather than concept; Minimal use
and well used; Student but not fully used; argued; Limited use of or poor choice of
shows innovation in Student mostly shows sources; Student sources; Student shows
choosing examples innovation in choosing barely shows no innovation in
and connecting them examples and innovation in choosing choosing examples and
to their argument connecting them to their examples and connecting them to
argument connecting them to their argument
their argument
Significance Demonstrates Demonstrates Connection to concept Minimal connection to
usefulness of concept; usefulness of concept; assumed rather than concept; Minimal use of
Source(s) or personal Source(s) or personal argued; Limited use of sources or poorly
experience well experience appropriate sources or personal chosen personal
chosen and well used; but not fully used; experience; Over- experience; Over-
Student’s own words Student’s own words reliance on direct reliance on direct
quotations quotations
Some additional FAQs on the Final Portfolio, for your reference:
1. Do we choose our own topics? If so does it matter what topic we choose? : Yes, you have to
choose your own topic, and the topic can be on any thing.
2. Do we use the same topic for all three writing pieces? : No. You are advised to think of a
different topic for the different pieces you attempt.
3. Do we include the images, media links, and so forth within the text, at the end of the document
or on another document? : Follow the APA/MLA formatting guidelines on this
4. Do we use the same thesis statement for all three writings?: No. You are advised to have a
different thesis statement for each piece you attempt since they would have different topics.
5. Is there any example that we can look at to better understand the project? : Examples are
available for each genre in the textbook. Some others will be uploaded in the Lectures content
section on Blackboard in the days to come. Also consult the Instructions once again for a brief
discussion about the specific chapter in the textbook for reference.
