THE WRITING PORTFOLIO PROJECT
The writing portfolio assignment is a method for teaching writing and related skills in context. More
specifically, it’s a nine-month project that allows students to improve individual areas of need,
understand that writing is about process instead of mere product, and learn editing and revising
skills in a meaningful way. It permits them (as well as their instructor) to view progress over time,
and it gives teachers the opportunity to base writing assessment on improvement—a strategy that
encourages growth and allows for more accurate grading.
In a nutshell, the assignment calls for students to take part in the following:
1. Create a variety of rough drafts for narrative, persuasive, expository, and descriptive pieces.
2. Learn about numerous writing skills that can improve these pieces and put these skills to use.
3. Meet with teachers, parents, and other students to seek advice, discover areas of need, and edit
their work.
4. Learn how to become critical editors of their own work.
5. Revisit and revise past writing by adding to it, subtracting from it, and making meaningful
changes.
6. Maintain a physical collection of their efforts throughout the school year that they (and their
teacher) can review in May to see how they’ve improved.
What are the advantages of taking part in this assignment? Below are just a few of the research-
based benefits that portfolio writing can achieve.
• It permits teachers to individualize writing instruction in a manageable, effective manner.
• It allows students (and teacher) to see how writing has improved throughout the school year.
• It allows teachers to assess writing in context rather than through a random test or paper.
• It teaches students that the writing process is just as important as the final product.
• It encourages students to see themselves as true authors.
• It forces students become decision makers for their own writing.
• It makes students apply what they’re learning in class to a real-life experience.
• It helps students become more effective communicators.
• It encourages students take responsibility for their learning.
• It teaches organization, dealing with long-term assignments, and using time efficiently.
• This project is difficult. Because of this, students truly (and rightfully) feel that they have
accomplished something when they’ve completed it.
• This project can be kept for life. Students can always look back and see what they wrote, and
they can always remind themselves how much they’ve learned over the years.
