1. The portfolio will be worth 200 points.
2. The portfolio will include:
1) all previous assignments that have been turned for credit (as well as those that failed to receive credit).
a) all drafts and comments should be included (for those doing electronic submissions, copy and paste all commentary on drafts [try to keep the comments in color by pasting into an e-mailer that supports HTML.])
2) the portfolio will also include at least two new poems (of any type) or 1 short story of approximately 800-1000 words.
3) The scoring will break down according to the following point scale.
Completeness 30 points Revision of previously submitted poems 70 points Ability to master skills and concepts discussed in class 100 points
completeness will be determined by the above criteria [two new poems or one short story of 800-1000 word length]
Revision of Previously Submitted Poems:
Points will be given based on how well and to what extent the submitted drafts were revised according to the comments. Included for consideration will be:
1) development—to what extent did the author try to develop the piece beyond the initial submission which may have included only one scene or point of focus. Development may also include the degree to which the author included associative thinking.
2) use of specific imagery—to what extent did the author use specific tangible objects or behavior and avoid using abstract descriptors.Also the ability to evoke some larger notion through the use specific imagery will be taken into consideration here.
3) attempt to attach human significance to the poem (theme)—the poem/story should try to relate more than just the personal story of the speaker. The poem/story should be related in a way that some sort of larger commentary is made on the human condition.
Ability to master skills and concepts discussed in class:
Points will be given based on how well and to what extent the following skills were mastered:
1) development—to what extent did the author try to develop the piece beyond the initial submission which may have included only one scene or point of focus. Development may also include the degree to which the author included associative thinking.
2) use of specific imagery—to what extent did the author use specific tangible objects or behavior and avoid using abstract descriptors.Also the ability to evoke some larger notion through the use specific imagery will be taken into consideration here.Also, clichéd language should be avoided.
3) careful attention paid to diction and the sound of words included in poems/stories—to what extent did the author use words that indicated some attention was paid to the "sound" of the writing and avoided the use of solely commonplace speech.
4) the ability to avoid writing exclusievly end-rhymed poems—to what extent the author attempted to write poems that did not employ a rather sing-songy end rhyme with obvious meter.
5) the ability to present complex characters and a resolved conflict within the plot—main characters should be round, not flat.They should avoid using steretypes or clichéd characters. Also, the characters should be involved in a plot where they clearly have something at stake.
6) some development and consideration of perspective—what perspective the story is told from should be given some apparent consideration. Also, the continuity of perspective should be realized throughout an entire piece.
7) the attempt to attach human significance to the poem (theme)—the poem/story should try to relate more than just the personal story of the speaker. The poem/story should be related in a way that some sort of larger commentary is made on the human condition.