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WSU Junior Writing Portfolio – DDP Students

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Overview

At WSU, completion of the Junior Writing Portfolio is a General Education Requirement for graduation for all students, including transfer students with an AA or AS degree, who began their post-secondary education fall 1991 or later.

If you are required to complete the Junior Writing Portfolio, your DDP academic advisor will indicate that you need to do so on your academic progress report.

The Writing Portfolio Consists of Two Parts:

  • the Packet (three samples of writing you've already done)
  • the Timed Writing Exam (a two-part, impromptu essay)

Time allowed to complete the Junior Writing Portfolio

All DDP students are required to complete at least one of the two parts the semester after reaching 60 credits. The other half needs to be completed the following semester. Transfer students are held to the same requirement. Ideally, you should complete the Junior Writing Portfolio prior to enrolling in the Writing in the Major [M] courses.


Instructions for completing the Junior Writing Portfolio:

  1. Sign up for WP 99 (see instructions below). WP 99 is not an actual course and there are no credits associated with WP 99. Signing up in WP 99 allows you to monitor your portfolio progress through myDDP.
  2. Turn in three (3) papers from college-level courses that are signed off by the course instructor(s) (see instructions below).
  3. Take the timed writing exam (see instructions below).

How to enroll in WP 99

  • Log in to myDDP and review your contact information, including your e-mail address. Update your contact information if necessary.
  • Select Register for Writing Portfolio from the "My Courses" tab.
  • If you have any comments or questions, enter them into the “Comments” box.
  • Select the “Sign up for WP 99 (Writing Portfolio)” button to complete your WP 99 registration.
  • A confirmation window will appear on screen to indicate that your enrollment is complete, and you will receive a confirmation e-mail message.

Collect and submit three papers

Form 1: Packet Envelope Cover Sheet - To be taped on the outside of a 10" x 13" envelope. You must provide an envelope.

Form 2: Writing Portfolio Cover Sheet - 1 for each submission.

  • The three papers must be of the original work from three different courses, submitted and returned with the instructor’s comments and grade earned. As a transfer student you may submit writing from courses at the institution(s) from which you transferred.
  • There are two equally acceptable ways for an instructor (DDP or otherwise) to submit his or her approval for a student’s submission:

    1. Physically sign the official WSU Writing Portfolio Cover Sheet with an endorsement of "Acceptable" or "Outstanding."
    2. Approve the submission by e-mail. In many cases, it may be unreasonable for a student to get a physical signature (e.g. papers written online, at another institution, while studying abroad, and so forth). Students have had the option to send an e-mail to the instructor – with the writing assignment attached – and request the instructor reply to the e-mail. This option is meant to eliminate any need for students to mail materials or drive to previous institutions.

      A reply should include verification the work was written by the student and that it deserves a rating of "Acceptable" or "Outstanding."

      I verify Jane wrote "The History of the World" for my History 101 class. I give it a rating of Outstanding. --Prof. X.

      The student will print this e-mail and attach it to the official cover sheet when they turn in their Writing Portfolio. This e-mail fulfills the same purpose as a signature.

  • Once you have collected the three papers and cover sheets, put them in a large envelope with the Envelope Cover Sheet attached. Put the envelope packet in another envelope and send to the WSU Distance Degree Programs Office:

    WSU Distance Degree Programs
    Van Doren 104
    PO Box 645220
    Pullman, WA 99164-5220

Take the timed writing exam

The exam consists of composing two handwritten essays in two hours under the supervision of an acceptable proctor. See Proctored Exams.

What to bring to the exam:

  • Photo ID
  • Two pens (no pencils)
  • Dictionary (optional)

DDP will mail the exam to proctors along with a blue book in which to take the exam; proctors will return the completed exam (blue book) to DDP, and DDP will forward it to the WSU Writing Programs Office for evaluation.


Writing Portfolio Registration Hold

This hold is placed on a student’s registration if he or she has completed 60 semester credits and has not requested enrollment in WP 99 and turned in either three writing portfolio papers or taken the writing placement exam. Once a second registration hold has been placed, a student must complete the portfolio in order to request that a hold is lifted. To request to have the hold lifted, contact Myrna Davis at the DDP Students Services office at 800-222-4978.


Fees

DDP students completing the WSU Writing Portfolio will be assessed $16.70 from WSU and $20 from DDP for the costs associated with administering the portfolio.


Monitor your exam progress

You can track the date your timed writing essay was sent to your proctor, as well as the date the exam is received by DDP by logging in to myDDP, select the "My Courses" tab, then "Proctored Exams."

Your timed writing essay will be listed as "WP 99 - Timed Writing Exam." You can see the date you requested the exam, the date DDP sent the exam to the proctor, and the date DDP receives the exam from the proctor.


Evaluation and results

Because your Junior Writing Portfolio fulfills a General Education Requirement, it will be evaluated by a team of faculty readers from several departments across the university. That committee will give it one of three ratings:

Pass with Distinction:

The work represents the top 10% of WSU junior-level writing. This achievement will be entered into your WSU transcript. Your Writing Portfolio requirement will be fulfilled.

Pass:

The work shows a proficiency in writing suitable for upper-division work at WSU. Your Writing Portfolio requirement will be fulfilled.

Needs Work:

The work shows a need for additional, structured writing assistance in upper-division course work. Additional assistance may be in the form of Gen Ed 302 (a one-credit tutorial taken concurrently with a Writing in the Major [M] course) or a three-credit writing course, depending upon the level of assistance needed.

The Writing Assessment Office will notify you of the course needed to fulfill this requirement. All of the courses are available through DDP. You must complete the additional course assigned to you in order to satifsy the Writing Portfolio requirement.

Results will be sent to your myWSU account in the form of a notice.


Questions? Contact Myrna Davis at myrnad@wsu.edu or 800-222-4978.






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