Communication 102 Portfolio Requirements Academic Year

Transcription

1 Communication 102 Portfolio Requirements Academic Year The Communication 102 portfolio requirements for the academic year apply to ALL UC students regardless of the year the student enrolled. In order to receive credit for Communication 102, students must submit a portfolio of their writing through the electronic portfolio system, Chalk & Wire. Students can access Chalk & Wire from their elearn course or directly from the UC Current Student webpage. I. Purpose of the Communication 102 Portfolio The purpose of the Communication 102 portfolio is to demonstrate that students have met the Communication writing outcome at a more sophisticated foundational level. This outcome states that a student must demonstrate that he/she writes effectively for a variety of audiences and purposes. At this introductory level, effective writing is demonstrated when a writer does the following consistently, strongly, and purposefully: Establishes and maintains a clear purpose; Sustains a single point of view; Makes logical transitions between ideas; Constructs introductions and conclusions that are integral; Uses precise language to define, describe, explore and reflect; Displays logical order or sequence; Presents information, ideas, and details specific to the topic; Demonstrates an awareness of audience and task; Employs standard mechanics, spelling, capitalization, and usage; and Identifies strengths and weaknesses in own communication. Although the competencies listed above are the same for the Communication (COMM) 101 portfolio, the level of expectation for meeting these competencies is higher. Readers for the COMM 102 portfolio are looking for more sophisticated language and organization, deeper and more detailed analysis, critical thinking that goes beyond simply reporting information, subtle transitions, a variety of sentence structures (e.g., simple, complex, compound, and compound-complex), and few mechanical and grammatical errors, etc. The writing in the COMM 102 portfolio is designed to prepare you for the types of writing that will be expected of you in your mid-level courses. The communication 102 portfolio will be graded as a whole. If any of the required parts are missing from the student s Chalk & Wire portfolio, it will receive a failing grade. The portfolio will only be graded when all required pieces are submitted. In addition, in the Communication 102 portfolio, the writer will demonstrate the following competencies at a foundational level: Create logical, well-researched, and persuasive arguments for a variety of audiences;

2 Assess and apply own communication to achieve subtle language control and sophisticated expression; Pose a research question and present a thesis-driven argument that is supported by thorough research. Use figurative language and descriptive language, dialogue, and creative constructions to achieve effect appropriate to context, purpose, and audience. II. Requirements of the Communication 102 Portfolio In order to receive credit for Communication 102, students must submit a portfolio of their writing. The writing requirements include the following: A.Turnitin.com REPORTS (not receipts): Students completing their portfolios in an FYE course will be required by the FYE instructor to submit their essays to Turnitin.com and the instructor will review the Turnitin report; these students are not required to upload their Turnitin reports to Chalk & Wire. It is common for to show percentages of similar material from direct quotations and bibliographies. However, all TII reports may be reviewed to assure the absence of any clause that violates the academic integrity policy. B. Writing Assignment Direction sheet (primer)-provided by the student s instructor. Depending on instructor s preference, this should be copied and pasted into the text box on the appropriate page in Chalk & Wire or uploaded before each essay document, so that it accompanies the essay for which it applies. C. Reflection essay (750 words) that addresses the following: Acknowledges and welcomes the reader to the portfolio Provides the reader with some background information about the writer s major and/or career goals. Provides the reader with a discussion of the purpose and audience to which EACH piece of writing was addressed from both COMM 101 and 102. Gives an honest evaluation of the writer s strengths and weaknesses and a detailed explanation of what the writer has learned about writing over the course of his/her first two semesters. Briefly analyzes how the writer views the difference between the writing and compiling of the COMM 101 and 102 portfolios. D. Two Different Writing Assignments from the following list: Comparison/Contrast (discusses the similarities and/or differences between several subjects) Classification/Division (classification breaks a subject into subgroups or categories while division breaks a subject into the parts that make up the whole) Cause and Effect (analyzes the causes and/or effects of an issue or event) Argument/Persuasion (chooses an issue, takes a position, and defends that position using a variety of rhetorical strategies.) Problem/Solution (presents a problem and proposes a solution) Critique (reviews a movie, CD, art exhibit, performance, book, etc.)

3 All writing assignments must meet the following criteria: 1. One essay must be 750 words in length and one must be at least 1000 words in length. Additionally, the research paper must be at least 1,500 words. 2. The purpose for writing each assignment must be clear. 3. The audience to which each assignment is addressed must be obvious. 4. The organization and writing style should be appropriate for the type of writing. 5. If the author used any outside sources (e.g., books, encyclopedias, Internet/web resources, journal/magazine/newspaper articles, etc.), he/she must cite these sources properly using the applicable stylebook such as APA, MLA, or Chicago Style Manual. E. One Research Paper that meets the following criteria: Charts and graphs may be used when appropriate; however, since the purpose of the COMM 102 is to demonstrate proper writing skills, you must have at least words in your document, excluding title page and bibliography. The paper must pose a research question/issue/problem. The paper must be thesis-driven and issue-driven; that is, the paper must include a thesis statement that answers the research question/issue/problem. The writer s thesis must be supported with details, quotations (direct and paraphrased), and explanations. The paper must show evidence of critical thinking. The paper must use at least five sources. The types of sources may include books, professional journals, popular newspapers/magazines, reputable Internet/Web sites, specialized handbooks, encyclopedias, and reference books. It is recommended that each type of source be used no more than twice. For example, the writer could use two books but not three books as separate references. Students are encouraged not to over rely on a single source but to use all sources rather evenly throughout the research paper. All sources must be properly cited, documented, and referenced according to the appropriate stylebook (e.g., APA, MLA, etc.). The instructor may also place further restrictions on the type of references used (i.e. only peer reviewed books and journal articles). III. All communication portfolio documents must be submitted to the student s Liberal Learning Outcomes portfolio in Chalk & Wire. If an assignment is being uploaded through a course in the elearn UC site, the link will take you to the appropriate page for uploading your work. Add content as directed by your instructor either by uploading or by entering text directly onto the page. To upload work into eportfolio directly: Click the Chalk & Wire link under Current Students on the UC webpage Log on using your campus address and your Chalk & Wire password Click on the Work tab Select My Portfolios

4 Select Liberal Learning Outcomes portfolio Use the menus on the left to choose the correct page for COMM 101 or COMM 102 Add Content as directed by your instructor (i.e. uploading content or pasting content). IV. The communication portfolio will constitute a separate grade from the FYE course in which the student is enrolled. A. The portfolio will be graded solely by the UC Writing Rubric; therefore, it is possible that a student may receive a different grade for the portfolio than the grade received for the FYE course. B. A student may complete the communication 102 portfolio outside of the FYE community as long as the papers submitted meet the requirements outlined in the communication 102 portfolio and are submitted to Chalk & Wire. V. Communication Portfolio work outside of the FYE community must be approved by the Communication Portfolio Director. Assignments that meet the communication 102 portfolio requirements will be given to the student by the Communication Portfolio Director. Frequently asked questions about COMM 102 Portfolio: Where can I find information on portfolio guidelines, policies and procedures for COMM 102? COMM 101 and 102 policies are located on the Current Students page of the UC website, under Academic Resources. What opportunities will I have to complete assignments that can be used in the COMM 102 portfolio? The writing assignments in each of your FYE community classes can be used toward your COMM 102 portfolio. In fact, each FYE community has been designed to provide students with multiple writing opportunities, that is, varied types of writing assignments for varied purposes and audiences. In addition, you may submit a piece of writing that you completed in a course outside of the FYE community. For example, some students may choose to submit papers from classes that they take in their major; others may choose to submit a piece of writing they wrote in UNIV 102 If I submit a piece of writing from a class outside of my FYE community, should I make any special preparations?

5 The purpose of the writing assignment and the audience to which it has been written should be obvious to the reader, and it must meet the requirements outlined in the communication 102 portfolio policy. Can I resubmit a paper for my COMM 102 portfolio that I submitted as part of my COMM 101 portfolio? No. The purpose of the Communication 102 portfolio is to demonstrate your ability to go beyond the introductory level of writing. The readers of the COMM 102 portfolios will be looking for more sophisticated language and organization, deeper and more detailed analysis and interpretation, subtle transitions, a variety of sentence structures (e.g., simple, complex, compound, and compound-complex), few mechanical and grammatical errors, etc. You must prove that your writing is strong enough for you to write in a range of modes in your mid-level courses. Can I include the same type of paper more than once in the same portfolio? No. The University of Charleston s Liberal Learning Outcomes state that you must demonstrate that you can write in a diversity of ways for various purposes and audiences. That means you need to submit a range of assignments. For example, even though you may complete more than one laboratory report in your Science FYE community, you may submit only one laboratory report. How do I prepare my COMM 102 portfolio for submission? 1) Check the requirements and ensure that your portfolio contains all required papers from all sections along with assignment direction sheets for each essay. 2) Work with your instructors, mentors and utilize academic resources ( in preparing your portfolio for submission. 3) Be sure that each piece has been submitted to Turnitin.com, as well as submitting the instructions (primer) and that you include the reports for each piece of writing if you are submitting outside an FYE course. What assistance can I receive if I need some help with my writing or in putting together my portfolio? There are many places to which you can turn for help in putting together your portfolio. Your FYE instructors can assist you with individual writing assignments. In addition, all UC students have access to academic tutoring to assist with writing. For specific information on available resources please go to the tutoring link found on the Current Student UC webpage:

6 When can I submit my portfolio? You are strongly encouraged to submit your COMM 102 portfolio by the end of your second semester. If you feel as if you need some extra time to complete the portfolio, for example the winter or summer break, please work with you instructor to make a plan of completion. In most cases, you will not be allowed to register for your mid-level courses until you have completed both COMM 101 and 102 portfolios. Where should I submit my portfolio? You will submit your portfolio through the Chalk & Wire site. If you are in an FYE community, your instructor will guide you through the submission process. If you are NOT in an FYE community, you can contact the COMM Portfolio Director for guidance on this process. How will my portfolio be graded? Your portfolio will be graded using the University of Charleston s Holistic Scoring Guide for Communication. This scale is a rubric that allows the portfolio readers to make a judgment about the quality of your writing as a whole. This rubric contains a set of criteria for effective writing and various levels of performance. Your papers will not be graded individually; rather, the portfolio as a whole will receive a holistic grade. More than likely you will not receive written comments on your papers. If you would like more information about why you received the grade that you did, make an appointment with your instructor who will discuss the portfolio with you. At the end of the semester, all passing grades will be submitted to the registrar for posting on that semester s transcripts. Two (2) appropriate readers will assess your portfolio using the University of Charleston s Holistic Writing Rubric. Each evaluator will assign a point value (1-5), and both grades will be added together to produce the final grade. If the two evaluators disagree on the grades (i.e. if they are more than one point apart), a third reader (arbiter) will read your portfolio. The following grade scale is used: 10-9 A 8-7 B 6-5 C 4-3 D 2-1 F Note: Students with a combined score of 2 or less will receive no credit and must revise and resubmit the portfolio. What other information do I need before submitting my portfolio? Any graphs, tables, charts, and/or pictures must be easy to read and clear. Remember easy-toread and graphically pleasing portfolios make a good impression on your reader. Likewise, your

7 goal is to prove to your reader that you have satisfactorily met (or in some cases exceeded) the Communication learning liberal outcomes. Finally, you must submit each piece of your portfolio to the University s anti-plagiarism site, turnitin.com. Your essay will not be graded if you do not provide proof that each piece has passed turnitin.com. What if I m not satisfied with my grade? Students dissatisfied with their scores need to make an appointment with the Communication Portfolio Director. However, there are revision restrictions. Students who earn a grade of A, B, or C may NOT revise or resubmit their portfolios. Students who earn a failing grade may revise their portfolios one time and submit it only during the semester following the semester in which the grade was earned. Students who earn a grade of Incomplete may revise and resubmit their portfolios during the semester following the semester in which the incomplete was assigned or the grade will be converted into an F. How will I know my grade? Grades will be submitted to the registrar as soon as they are available. The COMM Portfolio Director will notify any student of an incomplete or insufficient grade via within three weeks of the end of the semester. It is the student s responsibility to contact the instructor and/or Director with questions. Resubmitted portfolios should be sent to the instructor via Chalk & Wire. Feel free to contact the COMM Portfolio Director with questions. Allison Grassie Director of the Academic Success Center Communication Portfolio Director 302 CTB, Schoenbaum Library 3 rd floorallisongrassie@ucwv.edu (304)