By now, you've spent a lot of time this semester working through multiple drafts of each essay, revising after getting feedback, and applying what you learned to your next assignment.
As you work on these final drafts, definitely ask for help (schedule a conference with your instructor, swap essays with classmates who are good at peer critique, go to the Writing Center), but most importantly, take time to think about what you've learned and apply that learning to your final drafts.
After you revise the drafts and reflect on your current strengths and areas for continued growth, write a cover letter of about 500-750 words reflecting on both your writing process and your actual work outcomes. The purpose of this letter is to sum up, to think intentionally, and to set some goals. In all of your courses and in this one especially, it's time to reflect on your experiences and growth. Write a cover letter for your portfolio addressing the four areas outlined below. Use the list of questions as a starting point as you write.
I. Your learning process
A. How did you approach your coursework this semester?
B. What study skills or organizational strategies worked best for you?
C. Describe any changes in your work habits over the semester.
II. Ideas related to creating content
A. Writing and Speaking
- What do you see as your biggest improvement in writing? …in speaking?
- What aspect of writing was most challenging for you? … public speaking?
B. Connecting with Your Audience
- How did you use emotion (pathos), logic (logos), and credibility (ethos) in your writing or speeches?
- Which of these did you find most effective or challenging?
C. Building Arguments
- How has your ability to construct and support arguments changed?
- Give an example of how you used evidence effectively in your work.
III. Ideas related to collaboration
A. Working with Others
- Describe a positive experience you had with group work or peer review.
- How did collaboration impact your learning?
B. Using Technology
- What new technologies or digital tools did you use in this course?
- How did these tools help (or challenge) your learning?
IV. Goal setting
A. What are your main goals for improving your communication skills going forward?
B. How do you plan to apply what you've learned in future courses or your career?
Write in first person, and be honest with yourself. Remember to use specific examples from your work this semester to support your points. This is your chance to showcase your growth and self-awareness as a communicator.
Tip: Before you start writing, review your major assignments and feedback you've received. This will help you identify key areas of progress and challenge.
Finally, end the letter by giving yourself a grade on your portfolio; the grade should represent what you think this set of writing should earn, not what you think you should earn in the entire class.
For your final assignment, you'll revise your essays and add or expand writer’s statements as needed, and submit the final drafts in an electronic portfolio on Tartan along with the Cover Letter.
Cover Letter w/ indication of grade you think you deserve at the end
1st Writer’s Statement
1st essay
2nd Writer’s Statement
2nd Essay
3rd Writer’s Statement
3rd Essay
Next semester in English 120, you'll continue to enhance the communication skills we've emphasized in this course, with more focus on research and argumentation. As you end this course, remember that every characteristic of good writing and speech discussed in English 110 also applies to all of your other courses; use these skills, and know that you will have many more practice opportunities at MC for the next several years. As you turn in this portfolio representing your best work in English 110, take time to celebrate your successes so far!