The Electronic Writing Portfolio (EWP) is a graduation requirement at Eastern Illinois University. Students submit a document for every thirty hours completed at Eastern from a list of writing-intensive or writing-centered courses. Students work in conjunction with instructors of these courses to choose appropriate writing samples, ideally those that highlight their writing strengths and academic interests. There are no requirements as to genre or length, but each submission must be assessed as at least minimally competent by the instructor based on an established rubric.

Benefits of the portfolio system are many. The EWP reflects the kind of writing that will be expected of students once they graduate and begin to work in their specific disciplines. In addition, students have at least some choice as to what to submit, thus permitting them to appraise their own writing and reflect on issues of audience, genre, and convention. If a student's document does not meet the criteria for minimally competent, students have the chance to revise the paper. With its stress on revision, the Electronic Writing Portfolio thus takes into account the importance of writing as a process.

Note to Instructors:

Students have until one semester after taking a writing-intensive course to submit an essay. The Center for Academic Support and Student Achievement (CASA) accepts submissions all semester. Some instructors have set internal class deadlines that supersede the previous rule; these should be noted in the syllabus.

Important Reminder:

For graduating seniors, April 9th is the last day to submit for a Spring 2004 submission.

Links:

EWP Submission Information
http://www.eiu.edu/~assess/submission_form_general_informat.htm

List of Writing-Intensive and Writing-Centered Courses
http://www.eiu.edu/~assess/writing%20intensive%20list.htm