The Cumulative Writing Portfolio (English 9)

The purposes of creating a Cumulative Writing Portfolio are many. First, a Cumulative Writing Portfolio emphasizes that writing is a process. Instead of viewing writing assignments as mere “assignment completion,” students are meant to see that good writing takes time. Additionally, with the implementation of a portfolio, teachers are able to reach each student individually via conferencing. Finally, with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, it is clear that the skills gained through writing must be secure for each student prior to graduating from high school. The following criteria have been implemented this year within Mr. Martin’s English 9 classroom:

• Only certain writing pieces from the school year will be included within the Cumulative Writing Portfolio. The first of these assignments is the "'St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves' Mini-Unit--End-of-Mini-Unit Assessment/Writing Assignment" essay. Mr. Martin will typically let students know which pieces are “Cumulative Writing Portfolio writing pieces” prior to beginning the writing process.
• In order to be accepted for inclusion within the Cumulative Writing Portfolio, a writing piece must receive a score of 80% or higher, a score indicative of effectiveness. When a student receives a score of 80%, the student can simply submit the writing piece to the portfolio--he or she has already demonstrated effectiveness throughout the writing process for that particular assignment.
• Any Cumulative Writing Portfolio writing piece that does not meet the effectiveness score must be revised and resubmitted. Prior to resubmission, a student must highlight all changes that have been made, then print out (if completed via word processor) and resubmit both the original piece and the updated version.
• When resubmitting revised work, a student must make an appointment with Mr. Martin so that he or she can process the revisions with Mr. Martin. In fact, it is strongly suggested that a student schedules an appointment prior to revising his or her work as well so that both student and Mr. Martin can process the original writing piece together.
• Once a portfolio assignment is resubmitted in this manner, Mr. Martin will re-score the assignment to determine an updated score for the writing piece. This score will be used to calculate the overall score for the portfolio. Please be aware that the original score for the assignment "is what it is" within the writing score of the quarter average.
• As soon as a portfolio assignment is handed back, a student can and should begin the revision process. Upon receipt of the evaluated writing piece, the student will have one month to revise in order to achieve effectiveness.
• A student who fails to meet the final due date for effectiveness will be assigned central detention in order to create a time period in which he or she can obtain that effectiveness level. Central detentions will continually be assigned, if necessary.
• The Cumulative Writing Portfolio will be scored later in the school year and account for a substantial portion of a student's overall grade in English 9. (For example, if a student has four assignments within the Cumulative Writing Portfolio with scores of 86%, 98%, 90%, and 85%, this substantial writing grade would be an 89.75%!)