Portfolio Requirements
Download forms to accompany the portfolio.
There are two components to a Writing Portfolio, and depending on the length of each paper (see length criteria below), a Writing Proficiency Portfolio may consist of two to five papers. The first component is one new essay (of at least five full pages) answering a question about a set of readings provided by the Writing Proficiency Requirement Office; second, you will need to provide fifteen pages of supporting materials (two to five graded course papers) each certified by the instructor. All papers must demonstrate proficiency according to the standards outlined below and in The Elements of Writing Proficiency.
1. The supporting course papers must meet all of these criteria:
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The course papers must meet all of these criteria:
- Each must be a graded paper written for a course taught at UMass Boston (such as, but not limited to, English 102, First Year Seminar, Intermediate Seminar). All papers should be printed or typed; but, if the original was handwritten, a typed transcription (not a revision) must be attached to the original.
- At least one of the papers must come from a course at the 200 level or higher (such as, but not limited to, an Intermediate Seminar).
- All course papers must be analytical essays written in English, and demonstrate the criteria outlined in the Elements of Writing Proficiency.
- At least two of the three or three of the four supporting essays must be based on the analysis of two or more readings. Only one paper may be based on the analysis of one reading or on the analysis of information gathered through observation, interview, or experimentation.
- Each paper must come from a different course; however, papers can be from the same professor.
- Each portfolio must have two to four course papers that total fifteen full pages. No single paper can be less than three full pages and one paper must be at least five full pages (double-spaced, 1" margins, maximum of 12-point type, on 8 1/2" X 11" paper).
- Each paper must be certified as the original graded paper. Please start the process of certification as soon as you can; the closer it gets to the end of the semester, the harder it becomes to connect with instructors to get papers certified. Although chairs may sign on behalf of a faculty member who is on leave or is no longer at the university if you provide them with the original graded paper, please be advised that department chairs are under no obligation to certify papers simply because you waited too long to seek the instructor’s signature.
- Each original graded paper must have attached to it a completed certification form signed by the instructor who graded it. If you do not have an original graded paper, but you have an original paper stored on a drive, you may print out a copy of the paper and use it if and only if: a) the professor to whom the paper was submitted signs the certification form and writes “I remember that this is the paper submitted for the course”; and, b) the professor writes the original grade on the paper. (A department chair may sign the certificate only if the instructor is no longer here or is on leave; however, the chair can not certify a paper if it is not an original graded paper.)
- Just because you have “good” grades on your supporting papers does not automatically mean the portfolio will be a pass because the criteria that an instructor uses may not match those in the Elements of Writing Proficiency.
- Students must fill out completely and sign a Portfolio Submission Form and hand it in with his or her portfolio. Both the Certification and the Portfolio Submission forms can be downloaded at http://www.umb.edu/academics/wpr/forms.html.
- Completed portfolios must be submitted in an envelope or folder, with your UMS number and name clearly written on it, before 4:00 p.m. on the due date.
- Any Portfolio that is submitted but does not meet all of the requirements will be graded as a “Void,” and the student will have to submit a new portfolio in the next testing period.
2. Please read carefully: There is an Exception to 15-page supporting-paper requirement but it only applies to a new transfer student, who will have completed 75 or more credits at the end of his/her first semester at UMB. If, and only if you are a transfer student who has not yet completed your second semester, then you may submit a mid-semester portfolio (March or October) that consists of either two or three supporting papers, which total at least 10 full pages. Additionally, you are still required to submit the new essay on the reading set. You must submit at least two supporting papers, they must be from UMB courses, and they must total 10 full pages: one must be at least five full typed pages or more in length and no paper can be less than three full pages. All papers must analyze two or more readings, and must be original graded papers (see full criteria for supporting papers above). At least one of the papers must come from a course at the 200 level or higher. Note: Please write on the Portfolio Submission Form that you are a new transfer student and the date you transferred to UMB.
3. The new essay, based on readings and a question distributed by the Writing Proficiency Office, must be a full five typed pages or more in length (see format requirements above) and must contain, on its cover page, this statement, signed by the student verifying its truth: "I certify that this essay is entirely my own work and has not been revised or altered by anyone else."
4. Students must fill out completely and sign a Portfolio Submission Form and hand it in with his or her portfolio.
Important: a.) Please see the policies on academic honesty and plagiarism to understand the university policies on academic honesty and plagiarism. This policy applies to all papers submitted in a Writing Proficiency Portfolio. Violating this policy has serious consequences, which may include suspension or expulsion. If faculty graders question whether a portfolio paper is the student’s own work, then additional evidence may be requested as part of an investigation. Students should retain copies of drafts for the new portfolio essay until after the grades have been received. If you have any questions, please visit the On Line Writing Resources on our website to help you to avoid plagiarism: http://www.umb.edu/academics/wpr/LinkstoonlineWritingSources.html.
b.) Occasionally, faculty graders question whether a particular portfolio represents the student's own work. In such cases, additional evidence may be requested as part of an investigation. In such cases, graders give a grade of Void. Therefore, students should retain copies of their drafts and/or working notes for the new portfolio essay until after the grading has been completed.
c.) Discussing the readings in a workshop or with friends is an appropriate way to help prepare to write the essay. However, it is not permissible to engage the assistance of another person, whether for payment or not, in writing, revising, or editing the final essay. Students composing essays on a word-processor may use spell-checkers for light editorial assistance.
Portfolios are kept on file for about 10 years. If you wish to reclaim your original essays, make photocopies of your graded papers before turning them in. When you have successfully completed the proficiency requirement you may exchange the copies for your originals. If you have questions, call the Writing Proficiency Office (617 287-6330) and make an appointment with a counselor.