Multi-Genre Portfolio

Create a portfolio demonstrating examples of personal, academic, professional, and public discourse. The portfolio will consist of five essays between 250-500 words long; no more, no less! Below are some pre-approved options; however, you can come and clear another option with me if you want. Each entry into the portfolio must be typed and in MLA format. The completed portfolio will be due December 21st (the last day before Christmas vacation) whether it is an A day or a B day. You do not need to put the portfolio in any special folder but you can if you want to; it can just be stapled or paper-clipped together. You need to have a title page with your name, class, period, date, and a catchy title for your portfolio. Have fun and experiment with voice, style, or any other aspect of writing!

Literacy Influences Essay. Write an essay highlighting events or individuals contributing to your development as a reader or writer. Public Service Brochure. Design and create a brochure for a public service project. Critical Argument Analysis. Write an analysis of a historical speech (such as the Gettysburg Address). Books that Changed Your Life. Write an essay on a book that has changed your life. This I Believe Essay. Tell a story: Be specific. Take your belief and ground it in the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work, and family, and tell of the things you know that no one else does. Your story need not be heart-warming or gutwrenchingit can even be funnybut it should be real. Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs. Name your belief: If you cant name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Be positive: Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell what you do believe, not what you dont believe. Make your essay about you; speak in the first person. Be personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. Find the words, tone, and story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak. *Taken directly from the NPR website Leadership Newsletter Article. Write an article for a newsletter instructing leaders how to incorporate principles of rhetoric in their communication. Letter to the Editor. Write a letter to the editor.

Advocacy Website Analysis. Analyze the design and argument of an advocacy website. An advocacy website is a website that contains content describing a cause, opinion, or idea. These web sites usually present views of a particular group or association. Sponsors of advocacy websites include the Democratic National Committee, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Society to Protect Human Rights. Novel-Based Film Evaluation. Evaluate a novel-based film and how it is similar/different from the book and whether thats a good or bad thing. Advertisement Analysis. Analyze the design and argument of a print advertisement. Photo Analysis. Analyze a work of a recognized photographer such as Walker Evans, Lewis Hine, Dorothea Lange, and Eugene Smith. College Admissions Essay. Write an essay using a prompt from a college application. Kitchen Windows. Write an essay associated with food or eating. Cause Debate. Write an argumentative essay on a cause that is currently in debate (such as abortion or war). Other ideas: o Lab analysis o Journal entry o Interview o News article o Letter to future children o Poem o Creative story (can be more than 500 words) o Advertisement o Song o Scene from a made-up play o Map o Comic o Scrapbook page

*Remember: even if you choose to do something like a brochure or a comic, there must be at least 250 words in it!