Portfolio Success – Focusing on LL254

By Roberto Valle Mojica

As current LL254 students, you may be wondering about your portfolio class. What exactly is the point behind it, and what work will it entail?

To put it simply, the LL254 portfolio class is an ongoing effort towards a final compilation of your best work or efforts, as completed throughout the term. This portfolio is intended to best represent your development as a student. It is a tangible indication of how much you have evolved and have grown academically during your time at Plaza College.

For some students, the portfolio semester can be a stressful time, especially when approaching the final due date. This doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. In an effort to have a successful, stress-free portfolio semester, there are some key components worth considering. Someone who has successfully completed his portfolio class, Anand Lochan, has offered some of his expertise to current LL254 students. Here are a few tips from an experienced Plaza student that will surely prepare you to thrive as the semester goes along.

Go to class! As basic as that sounds, Lochan asserts that a key ingredient to success in any class you are enrolled in is consistent attendance. I’m sure your professors have repeatedly mentioned how vital it is to be present in class. However, since a little reminder never hurt anyone, here it goes again: attendance is crucial. By missing class, you’re missing out on valuable information that will help you in the process of organizing your portfolio. Arthur Tugman, a poet and an author, once quoted, “Education only helps those inattendance,” suggesting that showing up to class is simply the only way to gain knowledge of school work. Invest the time, and you will reap the benefits.

Secondly, Lochan reminds us that professors are always available at the learning center to help you further your understanding of the curriculum. If you’re uncertain about how to do your work, a professor is always willing to guide you in finding the answer. As with everyone at Plaza College, you are not alone in your academic journey. Take advantage of every opportunity offered to you, and extend that same effort back into your own work as well.

One way to find support in completing a successful portfolio semester, is attending the bi-weekly Writing Fellows meetings. According to the Director of Library and Research at Plaza College, Kathleen D’Aprix, this is a great chance to receive, “supplemental instruction for your LL254 Composition and Research portfolio”. Simply put, increasing the time and effort put into your studies here at Plaza will increase the opportunities you find for career success after graduation.

More key strategies from the professors who teach LL254

1. This is a research portfolio. You must include quotes, summaries, and paraphrases from reliable sources. All sources must be properly cited within the essay, and if you use a source, it must be listed on your Works Cited page.
2. If you think you may use a source, print it or make a copy of it for your records. This will make citing your sources and writing your Works Cited page so much easier. When you submit your portfolio, you must include copies of all the sources that you used in the paper.
3. Read each source carefully – and invest in some highlighters. Highlight the facts/statistics/data/opinions that will help provide reliable evidence for the points in your body paragraphs.
4. Remember: In your research essays, you must properly cite all direct quotes, summaries, AND paraphrases. Even if you are paraphrasing or summarizing someone else’s work without using a direct quotation – you still MUST cite your sources with an in-text citation. These sources must also be listed on your Works Cited page.
5. Avoid plagiarism! In order to do so, you must be extremely careful. Give proper credit to all sources that you use in the paper.
6. You must pass this portfolio in order to graduate from Plaza College. This class teaches you the fundamentals you will need to succeed in all the other portfolios at Plaza, AND it gives you the foundation to write research papers in all your future courses, regardless of the degree you are pursuing. In other words, this class is IMPORTANT.
7. If you have a question – or even a trace of a doubt about something, ASK your instructor or a specialist in the Learning Resources Center. As is the case with all your portfolios, there are no stupid questions!

Here are some more pointers from those who have been there, done that, and earned an ‘A’ on their LL254 portfolios:

“LL 254 is an exciting class to help improve your writing and research skills. The best advice I can give to current and future students is to keep a positive attitude, and be sure to hand in your work on time to receive much needed feedback. The feedback from professors like Professor Howle helped me better understand the assignments; as a result I received an ‘A’ on my portfolio. Remember: remain positive. All of your hard work will pay off in the end.” Letrisha Duncan

“LL 254 is a fun class that allows you to showcase your writing abilities. My advice to those students currently taking LL254 or who are about to take this class is to not get discouraged! Critique from your professors will only improve your skills and enhance your writing.” Jesilyn Hernandez

“LL254 is a great and challenging class. Not only will it push you to your full potential, but it will also bring your writing to whole new level! Don't get side-tracked keeping up with dates or things that are due. As long as your priorities are in order, and you’re focused on your main goal, everything should fall into place. Most importantly, ask questions. Failure is not an option. This is college; we are ALL adults. You should not have to be told exactly what to do. Be responsible. Remember, the grade you earn is the grade you get. Good luck!” Jalise Hackle

So remember, your portfolio is a reflection of your talents and hard work—make it count!