Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing Portfolios, The

Rating:
Summary: The Portfolio Press
Review: Claywell walks her readers through the entire process of portfolio writing in an easy to follow plan. First, she provides tips on getting started, and how to avoid procrastination. Next, she takes the student reader through the selection process, the revision, and finally the completed portfolio. By going through the process in this complete manner, the reader, by following the guidelines, will most certainly be able to produce a quality portfolio for his or her class.

Rating:
Summary: Review of Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing Portfolios
Review: Freshman English has to be a difficult class to teach. How does one teach how to construct a portfolio, the end result of most freshman comp classes, at a level that will help those who need to firm up their basic skills without alienating students with a firm foundation? When faced with this challenge, Dr. Gina Claywell took matters into her own hands and wrote her own guide for students entitled, "The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing Portfolios." This guide clearly and concisely lays out the groundrules for making a portfolio without talking down or talking over students. However, even though the content of this book is very helpful, the layout of the appendices could use some work. Students under much pressure and with little time view the task of constructing a portfolio as an overwhelming monster. However, this book which takes only an hour or two at most to read, helps students banish that monster by explaining step by step in logical manner exactly what is expected. This gives students time to plan each part of the busy portfolio process around their crowded schedules. Directions are straightforward and easy to understand so that no time is wasted looking up words in the dictionary. The tone is enthusiastic without being overly bubbly. Finally, the first chapter actually explains the whole point of the process so that students don't feel like they are wasting their time. The only confusing part of this book is the layout of the appendices. The page is split with Claywell's comments at the top and student papers at the bottom. That's fine when Claywell's remarks fit in the space above the students paper, but it's confusing when they continue to the next page and the reader has to flip back and forth. One example of this can be found on pages 87-89. In conclusion, this book is highly valuable to students who need to construct portfolios. Without it they would be wandering around in the dark.

Rating:
Summary: Review of The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing Portfolios
Review: The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing Portfolios by Dr. Gina Claywell, is a very effective and informative "how-to" book. The well-organized, clear approach proves helpful to students who may be unfamiliar in portfolio writing. Recently, I wrote my first portfolio and this book was an invaluable resource. Its step-by-step, easy to follow message, led me through my writing process and helped me create a portfolio that I am truly proud of.