Portfolio+Classes

Taking the timed impromptu writing test at mid-term is optional for portfolio classes. If teachers opt to have their classes take the departmental mid-term, teachers are required to attend a norming and scoring session to score the papers. Mid-term assessment in portfolio classes is primarily based on work presented in the mid-term portfolio. Students assemble a collection of their best work written during the first half of the semester. The midterm portfolio includes the following:
 * __ ESL Portfolio Classes: mid-term assessment __**


 * A cover letter: A reflective introduction in which the writer briefly describes each piece of writing and the reasons for choosing it. The writer may include observations on his/her approach to composing, progress made, or pertinent personal information.
 * 1 out-of-class essay with multiple drafts: All drafts must be attached. This essay should have been written and written either during or outside of class over a period of time.
 * 1 in-class essay: This essay should have been completed within a single class period (90 minutes) with no collaboration.

Midterm portfolios are read by the classroom teacher and another teacher teaching a portfolio class. At midterm, the assessment objective is to give the students detailed feedback on various aspects of their writing to enable them to produce a passing portfolio by the end of the term. This feedback is given via a criteria sheet on which scores are indicated and comments are written to provide additional feedback to the student.