Writing Portfolios

One of the main issues that I have encountered when teaching composition is poor student confidence. While all students do not lack confidence in their writing, numerous students have difficulty producing written composition. For these students, I believe writing portfolios are an excellent idea. I have tried them with my students and they really helped with easing student fears of writing. Although some students desire a grade for each paper they produce, portfolios are a useful tool that allow students to view their progress while also giving the teacher a gage to the progress that each individual student makes over the course of the class. There are different ways of using the portfolio. In a remedial class, the portfolio can reflect the different milestones that students reach throughout the course. Another possibility is allowing students to select the works which they would like to be included in their portfolio that reflect what they consider to be the best of their writing. These works can always be improved and part of the goal is for students to produce quality writing. Lindemann discusses how most writing is geared toward English academia. However, with a writing portfolio, there can also be a focus on a particular area such as a career field and the students can gear all of their writing toward whichever career they seek in their future. While there are conventions of writing that students must adhere to in order to be understood, a portfolio is an excellent opportunity for students to develop their writing voice which is a process that simultaneously boosts confidence and eases the fear of composing.