COM 101 and 102 Information

Communication Resource Center 

 Communication 101 Portfolio Requirements
Academic Year 2006-2007

Note: The 101 portfolio requirements for the academic year 2006-2007 apply to ALL UC students regardless of what year that a student enrolled in the university.

In order to receive credit for Communication 101, students must submit a portfolio of their writing. The Comm 101 portfolio may be assembled from the essays completed in the student’s ICE community. However, THE COMM 101 PORTFOLIO WILL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE GRADE FROM THE ICE COURSE IN WHICH THE STUDENT IS ENROLLED. Please keep in mind that the portfolio will be graded solely by the UC communication scale; therefore, it is possible that a student may receive a different grade for the portfolio than the grade received for the ICE course.

I. Purpose of the Communication 101 Portfolio
The purpose of the Communication 101 portfolio is to demonstrate that students have met the Communication writing outcome at an introductory level. This outcome states that a student must demonstrate that he/she “writes effectively for a variety of audiences and purposes.” At this introductory level, effective writing is demonstrated when a writer does the following:
• Establishes and maintains a clear purpose;
• Sustains a single point of view;
• Makes logical transitions between ideas;
• Constructs introductions and conclusions that are integral;
• Uses language to define, describe, explore and reflect;
• Displays logical order or sequence;
• Presents information, ideas, and details specific to the topic;
• Demonstrates an awareness of audience and task;
• Employs standard mechanics, spelling, capitalization, and usage; and
• Identifies strengths and weaknesses in own communication.

II. Requirements of the Communication 101 Portfolio
The writing requirements include the following:
A. Checksheet
B. Turnitin.com REPORTS (not receipts)
C. Cover page with the following:
• Student’s name
• Date of submission
• Course name and number
•  Instructor’s name
• Home address and telephone
• School address and telephone
• All current emails
D. Table of Contents with titles of writing assignments and page numbers (pages should be in sequential order)
E. Introduction that addresses the following:
• Acknowledges and welcomes the reader to the portfolio and provides the reader 
          with an overview of the various items in the portfolio, including a discussion of the 
          various purposes of writing and varied audiences to which the assignments were
          addressed
•  Provides the reader with some background information about the writer
•  An explanation of what the writer is most proud of, least proud of, and an honest  
          evaluation of the writer’s strengths and weaknesses
F. Four Different Writing Assignments from the following list: 
• How-to or process paper (i.e., process paper, explanation of procedures and analysis of results)
• Laboratory report
• Definition (defines an issue, situation, or event)
• Description (uses descriptive language to tell the reader about something,  i.e., an experience, situation, or event)
• Informative paper (i.e., explains or informs the reader about something)
• Narrative (i.e., tells a story about oneself or something)
• Critique (i.e., review of a movie, CD, art exhibit, performance, book, etc.)

All writing assignments must meet the following criteria:
1. Each must be a minimum of 500 words.
2. The purpose for writing each assignment must be clear.
3. The audience to which each assignment is addressed must be obvious.
4. The organization and writing style should be appropriate for the type of writing.
5. If the author used any outside sources (e.g., books, encyclopedias, Internet/web resources, journal/magazine/newspaper articles, etc.), he/she must cite these sources properly using the most appropriate stylebook such as APA, MLA, or Chicago Style Manual.
6. All writing assignments must be turned into turnitin.com before they will be accepted. If you submit a paper outside the ICE community, you must get a turnitin.com report from the instructor.

III. Frequently Asked Questions About Comm 101 Portfolio?

• Where can I find information on portfolio guidelines, policies and procedures for Comm 101?
Check the Communication Resource Center’s (CRC) web site for complete information on Comm 101 and 102. Each ICE Community has also been encouraged to link to the CRC web site, so this information should also be accessible on the web sites for all three Communities.

• What opportunities will I have to complete assignments that can be used in the Comm 101 portfolio?
The writing assignments in each of your ICE community classes can be used toward your Comm 101 portfolio. In fact, each ICE community has been designed to provide students with multiple writing opportunities, that is, varied types of writing assignments for varied purposes and audiences. In addition, you may submit a piece of writing that you completed in a course outside of the ICE community. For example, some students may choose to submit papers from classes that they take in their major; others may choose to submit a piece of writing they wrote in UNIV 101.

• If I submit a piece of writing from a class outside of my ICE community, should I make any special preparations?
The purpose of the writing assignment and the audience to which it has been written should be obvious to the reader.

• Can I include the same type of paper more than once in the same portfolio?
The University of Charleston’s Liberal Learning Outcomes state that you must demonstrate that you can write in a diversity of ways for various purposes and audiences. That means you need to submit a range of assignments. For example, even though you may complete more than one laboratory report in your Science ICE community, you may only submit one laboratory report.

• What assistance can I receive if I need some help with my writing or in putting together my portfolio?
There are many places to which you can turn for help in putting together your portfolio. First, your ICE instructors can assist you with individual writing assignments. Second, your UNIV 101/102 mentors can assist you with some of the logistics for putting together the portfolio. Third, the peer tutors in the Communication Resource Center (CRC, Room 218 Riggleman Hall) are available at various times to assist you with writing issues. Finally, if you need assistance with more extensive or serious writing problems, you may meet with the writing specialist in Learning Support Services (Room 130 Riggleman Hall).
 
• When can I submit my portfolio?
We, the faculty, strongly encourage you to submit your Comm 101 portfolio by the end of your first semester. When you are satisfied that your portfolio meets the posted requirements (at any time during the semester), you may present it to your mentor for his/her recommendations. If, however, you complete your portfolio early in the semester, please feel free to submit upon completion. If you feel as if you need some extra time to complete the portfolio, for example the winter break, please take the time you need to complete it. At the same time, during your second semester, you should be working toward completing your Comm 102 portfolio, which is recommended to be completed by the end of your second semester. In most cases, you will not be allowed to register for your mid-level courses until you have completed both Comm 101 and 102 portfolios. The deadlines for submission are well publicized in many venues including the CRC web site. You may also check with your instructors, mentors, or the CRC for those due dates.

• Where should I submit my portfolio?
If you are in an ICE community, your instructor will guide you through the process. If you are NOT in an ICE community, you must submit your work in a blue folder sold in the bookstore. The due date for submission for non-ICE students is Dec. 4, 2006 in RH 219.

• How do I prepare my Comm 101 portfolio for submission?
1) Check the requirements and ensure that your portfolio contains all required papers from all sections. Work with your instructors, mentors, the Communication Resource Center (218 Riggleman) and/or the Learning Support Services (131Riggleman) for assistance in preparing your portfolio for submission. Be sure that each piece has been submitted to University’s required anti-plagiarism site, www.turnitin.com, and that you include the reports. Check with your small group instructor for information. Be sure to include a cover page with the following information: your name, date, names of all your small group instructors for fall and spring semesters, course number, home address and telephone, school address and telephone, and all email addresses you use. See sample cover page available on the CRC web page. Be sure to label all entries on the cover page. Keep copies of all your work.

• How will my portfolio be graded?
Your portfolio will be graded using the University of Charleston’s Holistic Scoring Guide for Communication. This scale is a rubric that allows the portfolio readers to make a judgment about the quality of your writing as a whole. This rubric contains a set of criteria for effective writing and various levels of performance. Your papers will not be graded individually; rather, the portfolio as a whole will receive a holistic grade. More than likely you will not receive written comments on each paper; however, your instructor will comment on the portfolio as a whole on the appropriate form.
Students with a score of 1 will receive no credit and must revise and resubmit the portfolio. Check with the LSS (131 RH) office or the CRC web site for a copy of the resubmission guidelines.

• What other information do I need before submitting my portfolio?
Any graphs, tables, charts, and/or pictures must be easy to read and clear. Remember easy-to-read and graphically pleasing portfolios make a good impression on your reader. Likewise, your goal is to prove to your reader that you have satisfactorily met (or in some cases exceeded) the Communication outcomes. Finally, you must submit each piece of your portfolio to the University’s anti-plagiarism site, turnitin.com. Your essay will not be graded if you do not provide proof that each piece has passed turnitin.com

• What if I’m not satisfied with my grade?
Students dissatisfied with their scores can resubmit their portfolios following the resubmission guidelines, available on the CRC Web page or in the LSS office, 131 Riggleman Hall.

• How will I know my grade?
Grades will be submitted to the registrar as soon as they are available. Grades are generally available on the grade reports at the end of the semester or from the Registrar. If you have not received a letter grade of A, B, or C (please check with the registrar and/or your transcript), please contact your small group instructor if you are in an ICE community. Otherwise, contact Dr. Jeannie Dalporto at 357-4733 in RH 219. jeanniedalporto@ucwv.edu

LSS Policy
The LSS office is not responsible for students who fail to respond to information advising them to revise a failing portfolio. Further, the LSS office is not responsible if its staff is unable to locate current contact information for students with failing or incomplete portfolios.