Professional portfolio

ENG 500, Fall 2008

Summary

Create the self-promotion documents you’ll need to achieve your professional goals in English studies—curriculum vitae, résumés, statements of purpose, letters of application, etc.

Objectives

Of course, landing a job or getting into graduate school requires the right documents prepared in the right way. But life in English studies requires many similar documents—tenure & promotion files, award and grant applications, conference abstracts, etc. All of these documents involve some level of self-promotion, and that often makes humanities types uncomfortable. This assignment will help you learn to “blow your own horn” while simultaneously becoming fluent in the forms of professional discourse in English.

Use language which shows your knowledge of the discipline;
Follow stylistic conventions of English studies (conservative design, MLA format);
Maximize legibility with careful use of subheads, lists, and other advanced organizers;
Proofread and edit to ensure a polished, professional appearance.

Forms

Select three documents based on your professional needs. For some forms, you will need to find award announcements, job postings, or other materials and write as if you are applying. I will add samples for each form to the course web site ASAP.

Abstract or proposal for a conference or essay: A short summary of a conference presentation or essay you have planned. Written to answer a call for proposals.
Award application: Narrative describing your qualifications for an award. Written to answer award criteria.
Biography: A biography focusing on your professional interests and activities. Write both long and very short versions.
Cover letter: Letter which accompanies a job or grant application, or similar document, providing context, contact information, and sometimes a short summary.
Curriculum vitae (CV): "Course of life," the quintessential academic form, a chronological listing of your academic work.
Lesson plans: Detailed plans for activities in an English course, suitable for peer review.
Résumé: Short document which includes objective, employment history, and references.
Statement of purpose: Two pages describing one's intent for an academic program or position, most commonly acceptance to graduate school or grant application.
Syllabus: An original syllabus for an English course, including a list of texts. Written to satisfy a course description and/or standards.
Teaching philosophy: Two or three pages describing pedagogical motivations, often naming influential theorists or commonly recognized schools of pedagogy

I can loan reference materials (specialized books) to anyone interested. Also, the graduate program keeps an archive of sample documents; expect to hear more about that from Mark Mossman in late September.

Milestones, schedule, & grading breakdown

We will begin drafting the portfolio in class long before the draft is due. You will turn in a complete draft and a final portfolio as below.

Milestone	Description	Due date	Points
Draft	A complete draft. Please double-space to facilitate editing. Email computer files to me as well. Attach a separate sheet with any questions you have.	11/19	30
Final	Your final portfolio. If possible, submit the draft as well.	12/17	70

Return to the main ENG 500 page.