English 100 Portfolio Guidelines

• Every English 100 class at Cabrillo College includes a portfolio as part of the course.

• The English 100 portfolio must contain a combination of at least three pieces of writing; at least one must include textual analysis. Two essays must be revised and completed outside of class, while one essay is written as an in-class timed writing.

• At least one of the out-of-class essays should be a form of analytical writing, such as comparison/contrast, definition, cause/effect analysis, process analysis, argument, position paper, persuasive writing, research paper, or close reading or interpretation of a text, among many other forms of analytical writing.

• Assignment by the instructor of a cover letter is optional.

• The in-class, or timed writing(s), will be determined by each instructor in response to readings and other questions; sample reading selections and question prompts are available as a resource and as models for teachers. (See below)

• Complete portfolio policy and procedures

• English 100 Portfolio Rubric

English 100 Portfolio In-Class Essay

• Every English 100 course needs to include one essay written as an in-class timed writing. There are a few options available. Please read on.
  • Choose college level essays that range between 3 to 7 pages. All instructors may choose their own articles or choose those in our Portfolio Readings and Questions Bank.
  • Give students a choice. It is strongly suggested that you give students the option to choose between three questions.
  • You may choose articles and/or excerpts from your course textbook.
  • You may choose articles from the Cabrillo College databases. 
  • You may go online and find articles that are “free” and posted for anyone to download.
• Here is a “blank” prompt/question that you may alter to fit the articles you choose:
  • Authors Full Name                          "Article Title"
  • In "Article Title," Author’s Full Name describes x, y and z.  In a well-developed essay, identify what you think Author’s Last Name’s main point is, and discuss how the  essay  x, y and z.   Please use examples from the essay and your own observations and experiences to support your ideas.  Be sure to give your essay a title of its own.
• You may also present students with questions that are not based on a text as long as one of the two out-of-class essays include textual analysis. For sample questions see Timed Essay Prompts not Using a Text
• For sample articles that you may download from this site and the corresponding test questions, please visit our Portfolio Readings and Questions Bank.