You need a portfolio demonstrating, through samples of your work, what you can do -- the communication documents you can produce. You may have a print portfolio and/or an e-portfolio. "Portfolio" is used to refer to the holder or container holding your samples as well as the samples themselves.

At least two weeks before the CAP, you submit your portfolio (print and/or e-portfolio) to members of your comprehensive assessment project committee.

Below is information about deciding items to include , presenting your work , and learning from student samples .

Items to Include

You need to demonstrate the types of documents you've prepared (such as brochures, newsletters, short manuals, marketing writing, and web sites). You need to demonstrate your abilities in areas such as writing, editing, and design. You need to demonstrate your abilities to use various software and technologies (your computer and technology abilities).

As you begin your career, your portfolio will contain work prepared as part of class assignments, internship(s), and other work experiences. You may also include work completed on a volunteer basis and for other non-English classes that you complete. 

As you become established in your career, you should keep all possible portfolio items formatted and in file box or similar container. Then when you prepare your portfolio for a job interview, you can pull out the items appropriate for the position you're applying for. You should choose 5 to 10 items, depending upon the requirements of the position and the items you've completed.

As part of comprehensive exam ...

Your portfolio should contain at least 10 items demonstrating as wide a range of work as possible. You may include more items if you wish. These items can be both practical applications (e.g., brochures, multi-media presentations, hypertext documents and web sites, and business plans) and academic papers (e.g., literature reviews and critical analysis papers).

If you want (not required), prepare cover pages for each item included, pages indicating information such as title, date, audience/ client, purpose, hardware and software used, and challenges involved. Use the "challenge" section to point out what abilities the item demonstrates. For example, a research paper might demonstrate your abilities to research using interviews, print/library sources, and internet resources as well as to organize, synthesize material, and present it in an appropriate style. With a print portfolio, you can also use the cover page for each item to show your design abilities. It can be 8.5" x 11" page or a 4" x 6" page formatted on a colored (including black) page.

The portfolio should also contain a resume and your completed computer abilities form (fulfills research skills requirement).

As part of job interview process ...

If you complete cover pages for your CAP portfolio, you would probably include those pages only if you are mailing a sample portfolio, not if you were meeting with the employer face-to-face. When you go to an interview, you are to "retain control of your portfolio." If possible, work your portfolio samples into the interview if the interviewing person doesn't. And then don't hand the portfolio to the interviewer. Point out and "sell" the items appropriate for the position that you are interviewing for.

One word of warning: Never (never!) leave originals of portfolio items with persons who are interviewing you. Likewise, never mail them to potential employers. Xerox the items to leave or mail.

Presenting Your Work

Choose something to hold your portfolio items. You do not need an expensive portfolio to hold your portfolio items for your CAP. What you choose may depend upon your portfolio items and your intended career. For the CAP, you do not need a "professionally prepared" portfolio. 

Think about the most appropriate method of displaying the following items:

• "Thin" items such as brochures, press releases, and newsletters
• Items such as spiral-bound reports, 30- to 40-page annual reports, and somewhat lengthy manuals
• Electronic documents, such as web sites, that may dictate having both print version and disk version
• Items of difference sizes, from 8.5" x 11" to 10" x 17" or larger

Find out what is expected for your career path. Some positions in fund-raising and what is called "Institutional Advancement" require a leather, top-quality portfolio because your contacts will be persons with money. Positions in non-profits require a professional, but modest portfolio. Places such as Staples and Wal-Mart often have acceptable portfolios at a reasonable cost. Also watch for sales at business supply stores. Also determine whether you should have an electronic portfolio or a print portfolio.

Consider using plastic sheets, when appropriate, to hold items. Normally, you will want to use the ones that have a matte finish (not glossy) and probably the heavier weight plastic sheets. If you are formatting a 10-page paper, you do not need to put each page in a separate sheet; put the entire paper stapled in one sheet.

For items 10-pages and longer, consider "binding" them.

Some items may be best presented in "pocket holders." Note that you can make your own pocket holders out of white envelopes, punching holes as needed for this "pocket holder" to fit in your portfolio and cutting the envelope diagonally for easy retrieval of the items.

If you have a web site, you should print the site or sample pages from the site on paper specifically for this type of document. Colors look better on this heavier weight paper and don't bleed through.

If you have a document that was never actually "published," consider printing a limited number on textured paper (such as fancy text linen or pumice) or matte glossy. Be sure to obtain an estimate first. Some students have paid much more than they should have.

Some Student Samples -- print versions

In this section, you'll find links to student samples illustrating the matters discussed in the preceding section. Some disclaimers:

• The photographs are often not high quality.
  

• Sometimes I failed to remove the plastic sheets containing the portfolio samples, forgetting that the sheets would reflect.

• The pages are graphics-heavy and will probably download slowly.
  

• The pages may extend beyond your right margin.

• Occasionally, all the photos don't download (just because).

Given those disclaimers, here are some student samples: JennyL   |  EllynH   | HollyB