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Task 4: Personalizing with a Purpose
One of the key elements to a meaningful portfolio is to use it as a space to personally express yourself and your writing. However, it is important to keep in mind that the personalization in the portfolio can have its own rhetorical consequences. Just like with the rest of the portfolio, the choices you make when personalizing the portfolio should be accountable to the three main questions:
Portfolios are a requirement for every student in UWRT classes and therefore, UWP instructors see hundreds of portfolios every year--the good, the bad, and the unimaginable.
Although every instructor looks for something a little different in student portfolios and each instructor has her own personal quirks, there seems to be some commonalities among problematic portfolio designs. In case you want to avoid the problematic, here's a list of the USUAL SUSPECTS that have committed crimes against portfolios.
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What is my PURPOSE in making my choices?
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What does each choice SAY about the content or about me as a writer?
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Will my AUDIENCE recognize my choices and my purpose? Have I given enough CONTEXT for a reader?
Alcohol and Party Pics. This first one should be a no-brainer. Your portfolio is a university assignment and it should be treated as so. There is no place for alcohol or other illegal substances on your personalized portfolio space.
Not-so Stealthy Solo Cups. We know what's in them and it's not university-sanctioned. Keep it classy, Niner Nation.
Cursive or Hard-to-Read Fonts. When you're composing online, it's tempting to use all of the pre-loaded fancy fonts that you can find. But before you go with that calligraphy font, ask yourself how easy it will be for your reader.
Swimsuits, Selfies, and
Beach Shots. Even if it's your favorite picture of all time, if it shows more skin than what we see in the classroom--pick a different one.
Excessive Clip Arting. Digital composition asks you to think about images, videos, and graphics that further enhance the written message. If you choose random clip art to fill in the blank space, then it takes away from or completely obscures the written message. Make sure that every element has a purpose.
Offensive or
Inappropriate Language.
When you are writing, sometimes the best word is one of the four-letter variety; however, when choosing what to say in your portfolio, please keep your audience and purpose in mind. Ask yourself if this truly is the best choice to get your point across to your intended audience or if you're just going for shock value.
Crazy, flashy, busy layouts.
We usually operate under the assumption that bigger, better, faster, busier is always better, but that's not the case with digital design. Be careful when choosing how much multimedia and moving parts you add to your portfolio because at the end of the day, it's a document that has to be read. Don't make it harder for your reader with flashing screens and difficult-t0-read fonts.
Unabashed Ingratiation.
The portfolio is a place for you to display YOUR work throughout the semester--your thinking, your writing, your accomplishments. The portfolio is not the place to attempt to curry favor with the professor by offering mounds of flattery and acclaim to her (him). The professor is not your only audience member/reader--make sure that your writing is directed at the appropriate audience.
