Valley View High School

The Portfolio

English Department Portfolio Policy

***INTERDISCIPLINARY PORTFOLIO ~ SENIOR PAPER/PROJECT***

40% of the students' semester grade will be based on the completion of the interdisciplinary portfolio//senior paper/project. The work is graded by two or more teachers other than the student's English teacher. The grade is based on the standards indicated on the rubric which is provided to the students and posted in the school and classrooms.
ONLY COMPLETED PORTFOLIOS WILL BE SUBMITTED FOR DEPARTMENT GRADING. The minimum grade on a complete portfolio which meets the lowest standards is a D or 65%.
PORTFOLIOS WHICH FALL BELOW THE MINIMUM STANDARD WILL BE GIVEN A ZERO.
NO PORTFOLIOS WILL BE ACCEPTED LATE.
DUE DATES ARE GIVEN OUT IN REGISTRATION PACKETS.

1. NO Late Portfolios will be accepted after Department Deadline. Students who have been out ill the week portfolios are due (and who haven't made a habit of absences) should make arrangements prior to the final deadline and return to school with completed portfolios which must be submitted no later than Wednesday of the next week. Any other request for late portfolio submission must be taken directly to the Department Administrator (who does not expect to receive more than two or three such requests per semester.)

2. To receive English credit for any course (9 - 11), students must submit a complete portfolio with an evaluation of his/her learning or ability to communicate in the four domains. Seniors must complete the senior project to receive 2nd semester English credit -- this includes all elective courses.

3. Each portfolio will contain a minimum of three essays and four other pieces per semester. (See pieces to include.) In addition, there will be a minimum of one submission from each course in which the student is enrolled (including ROP, RCC, UCR or other off-campus courses).

4. Portfolio equals 40% of semester grade for the class. Students who do not turn in portfolios cannot pass English.

5. Students who do not agree with their score may submit a request for rescoring within two days of receiving their returned portfolio. The request must be an analysis of their final essay with a point by point comparison to the rubric score they feel they should have received and detailed evidence of how they accomplished this in their original essay.

6. Teachers will make and collect regular portfolio assignments throughout the semester to aid students with the completion of their portfolios in a timely fashion.

7. Class sets of "formula writing" will score no higher than 76%.

8. Portfolios will be stored in the English Office to be retrieved by the next year's teacher. Students will include the best piece from the previous years in their current portfolio.