Depending on when you first came into the MAWRD program, you either have already, or will complete your Mid-Program Portfolio. The portfolio is to be completed after you have finished your first six courses in the program, but before you have taken your ninth course. So, if you’re a full time student like me and began your WRD career in Autumn Quarter 2020, your portfolio should be due after the completion of the upcoming Spring Quarter and before Autumn Quarter 2021 is completed so that you can officially register for your ninth course.
As described in the MA Portfolio Requirement Guide (.pdf download), the Mid-Program Portfolio “is a draft of your Professional Portfolio and is intended to help you both to reflect on your path through the MAWRD program and to prepare for your post-graduation plans.”
In contrast to the final Professional Portfolio that will be used to display your best work completed during your time in WRD in order to supplement your résumé and to launch your teaching or professional writing career (as described in a previous post), the Mid-Program Portfolio is a more reflection-based project. It is geared towards figuring out how your work thus far in MAWRD situates your overall career goals, the learning outcomes of the program, and the learning outcomes of any concentration you may have declared. For example, since I plan to become a science writer, I will try and connect my writing samples to skills that coincide with my career choice (being detailed oriented, and academic in style).
As I approach the time when I need to begin thinking about, and working on, my mid-program portfolio I am doing a few things:
- Keeping in touch with my advisor (as they are who reviews and approves the project). Meeting with them to go over your Goals Statement from Proseminar would give you some direction.
- Making sure all of my course work is saved, organized, and easily accessible while clarifying any feedback questions I may have with previous assignments.
- Begin to narrow down my four to six works that I will be using as my showcased pieces. After I have selected a variety of works that best showcase my skills, I will make any final revisions and improvements based on the feedback that has been provided.
- As I make revisions, I will also make comments on my document, almost sign-posting type notes, that discuss the importance of certain sections or ideas, and how they work to fulfill the assignment, as well as the learning outcomes and my career goals, and how any feedback was addressed and incorporated.
- After my commentary has been completed and my pieces are finalized, I will begin to draft my reflection. The learning outcomes of the program are laid out on the website but your individual career and personal goals will likely carry-over from the reflection piece written in Proseseminar.
The final work samples (with commentary on your process and any relevant class notes or activities) along with the reflection will be presented in a digital format (like a WordPress site) with an About page, CV/résumé, and contact information. The portfolio is submitted through this Google Form, and reviewed by your advisor who will suggest revisions necessary for the portfolio to “pass”.
Good luck and happy planning to those about to begin the Mid-Program Portfolio process!