Junior Writing Portfolio

The Writing Portfolio is a two-part, mid-career diagnostic to determine if your writing abilities are ready to handle the challenges of your Writing-in-the-Major (M) Courses and other upper-division courses that assign writing.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I turn in the Packet (three samples of writing)?

What if I can't find my instructor to sign my cover sheet?

What is the Timed Essay, and how do I sign-up?

How do I get my Writing Portfolio evaluation result once I've completed everything?

What if I get a needs work rating?

Where can I get an extra cover sheet?

What if I'm not a Pullman student?

How do I remove my registration hold?

STEPS TO SUBMIT YOUR WRITING PORTFOLIO

You may complete the Packet and the Timed Writing in the order you choose.

PDF version of the text below

THE PACKET

The Packet consists of three samples of your writing that you have completed for three different college-level courses.

To complete the Packet, follow these steps:

Step 1: Purchase a Writing Portfolio envelope at the campus bookstore (approx. $1) or download the required forms below to submit with your own 10" x 13" envelope:

Form 1: Packet Envelope Cover Sheet - (1 total) To be taped on the outside of a 10" x 13" envelope. ATTENTION: YOU MUST PROVIDE A 10" x 13" ENVELOPE.
Form 2: Submission Cover Sheet - (3 total) 1 for each sample.

Step 2: Choose three pieces of your best writing. This includes any assigned college-level writing: lab reports, case studies, group projects, creative work, memos, in-class writing, traditional essays, work from other schools, and so forth.

Step 3: Fill out a cover sheet for each selection. Cover sheets are provided in the envelope or are available to download on this site.

Step 4: Ask the instructor who assigned and graded the paper to sign the cover sheet as "Acceptable" or "Outstanding."

If the instructor is unavailable to sign the cover sheet (i.e. transfer paper), an email from the instructor will be an acceptable alternative and should include verification that the paper is your work and deserves a rating of "Acceptable" or "Outstanding." Print the email and attach it to a cover sheet.

Step 5: Turn in the Packet to your campus Writing Portfolio office.

THE TIMED ESSAY

The Timed Writing consists of two impromptu essays written during a single, supervised two-hour session. One essay will be argumentative and the other will be a self-evaluation.

To complete the Timed Writing, follow these steps:

Step 1: Sign-up for a Timed Writing session.

Pullman students
Branch Campus and WSU Online students (Contact your campus Writing Portfolio coordinator for registration details)

Step 2: Attend your scheduled session and complete the exam.

Bring a photo ID and two pens (no pencils) to the session. We will provide a Blue Book.

Students with Disabilities: Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and may need accommodations to complete the Timed Writing, please visit the Disability Resource Center (DRC). All accommodations must be approved through the DRC, which islocated in the Washington Building, room 217. Please stop by or call 509-335-3417 to make an appointment with a disability specialist.

COMPLETING YOUR WRITING PORTFOLIO IS EASY

AFTER COMPLETION

RESULTS

Your Writing Portfolio will be evaluated after you submit the Packet and complete the Timed Essay. (We do not evaluate the Timed Essay by itself.)

Results are sent to your zzusis account in the form of a notice.

IMPORTANT: It is your responsibility to check your results once you have turned in your Writing Portfolio. Failure to do so may result in the delay of your graduation.

Because the Writing Portfolio fulfills a General Education Requirement, it will be evaluated by a cross-departmental committee of WSU faculty. The committee will give it one of three ratings:

PASS WITH DISTINCTION

The work represents the top 10% of WSU junior-level writing. This achievement will be entered into your WSU transcript. Your Writing Portfolio requirement will be fulfilled.

PASS

The work shows a proficiency in writing suitable for upper-division work at WSU. Your Writing Portfolio requirement will be fulfilled.

NEEDS WORK

The work shows a need for additional, structured writing assistance in upper-division course work. You will be required to take additional course work in the form of a one-credit writing tutorial taken in conjunction with one of your Writing in the Major [M] courses, or a three-credit writing course. You must complete the additional course assigned to you in order to satisfy the Writing Portfolio requirement.

In the case you believe the evaluation result is inaccurate, you have 120 days to formally appeal the decision.