Professional Writing Unit

A complete portfolio will consist of the following:

A finalized writing sample (the Common Application essay)		20
A cover letter		20
A resume		20
The rough draft of the writing sample showing your edits		15
A revised essay of your poetry project’s essay on an American poet’s poem		15
A chart displaying your strengths, weaknesses, and improvement strategies		10

When complete, this portfolio will:

1. list and explain your experience
2. introduce yourself and your goals
3. show your writing abilities
4. illustrate your ability to revise and rethink
5. exhibit your ability to revise writing
6. display how you can continue to succeed in your work

Writing Sample: Many colleges, universities, and employers need an essay or a writing sample that demonstrates you are competent in your written communication. Additionally, many colleges and universities now accept the Common Application essays—you need to write a finalized draft of this essay. Consult your notes from class. (2.25-3.4)

Cover Letter: In general, a cover letter should follow this outline: 1) first paragraph - Why you are writing 2) middle paragraphs - What you have to offer and 3) concluding paragraph - How you will follow-up. The cover letter should, if possible, address a certain position you wish to have (whether that be college or a certain job). Consult your notes from class. This should be 1 full page. (3.5-3.11)

Resume: In an acceptable and professional format, you will include all the necessary parts of a resume, such as your name, address, goals and objectives, education, awards, any work experience, and your interests. The resume should be less than one page. Consult your notes from class. (3.12-14)

Rough Draft of Writing Sample: You need to include the rough draft of the writing sample that illustrates your own revisions.

Revised Essay of the Poetry Project: You must take the essay you wrote on an American poet in your project and revise that essay. (Throughout)

Strengths, Weaknesses, and Improvements Chart: You will create a finalized version of a chart detailing your writing strengths and weaknesses followed by specific strategies you can use to improve those weaknesses in your writing. We will work on this throughout the weeks. (Throughout)

*The resume, cover letter, writing sample, and revised essay must be typed: size 12 font, Times New Roman, 1 inch page margins. The Resume and Cover Letter must be single spaced. The 2 essays should be double spaced.

*You can use my room, the library, or home. Include no fancy graphics or pictures.

*I am also strongly encouraging you to submit an electronic version of those four documents. Each should be in Rich Text Format (.rtf) or Word (.doc), and the file name should be in the following format (McKenna_Shawn_Resume.doc, McKenna_Shawn_CoverLetter.doc, or McKenna_Shawn_WritingSample.doc). Email them all to me when they are all complete—NOT ONE AT A TIME.

*Your portfolio should have a cover. That is your choice. The documents must be in the order displayed above.

*The last piece in your portfolio must be this paper.