In Response

The Writing Portfolio is an important issue for students at USCA, and yes, completing the requirement can seem arduous. However, the Writing Room Consultants would like to address some misconceptions about the project, specifically those mentioned in Ms. Pressley’s 2 February article on the subject.

First of all, the project has not been referred to as the Rising Junior Writing Portfolio (RJWP) for over a year. Currently, it is known as the Proficiency Portfolio in Writing, or PPW, and it is a degree requirement for all majors. It is true that you are encouraged to submit your PPW when you have completed 60 credit hours; however, USCA does allow students to submit before the 60 hour mark. Ultimately, each student must have submitted a PPW and received a passing grade before he or she can apply for graduation.

Yes, the PPW must be submitted in a specific folder, which is available in the USCA Bookstore for $18. To put the fee in perspective, remember that the alternative to the PPW is much more expensive. Tuition for AEGL 201 costs around $1000 and requires you to write roughly twice the number of papers required for the PPW. Add to that the inconvenience of rearranging your schedule, and an $18 folder seems like a bargain. As for all that writing? The PPW requires only one original paper, which is no more than an introduction of yourself and your three submission choices; the other three are papers you have already written and submitted for a USCA class.

The point of the PPW is to assess your ability to write in various disciplines, so you can submit anything you have previously written and submitted for a class, from memos to lab reports. It may seem unusual, but the USCA faculty want to make sure you are leaving the campus with the communication skills necessary for any career path you might choose.

The English Department and several others do require the PPW as a prerequisite for some upper level coursework, so you should check with your advisor and the department head for your major if you have any questions about this issue.

It is very easy to become worried about the PPW, especially if you try to do it alone. The Writing Room Consultants are well aware of the requirements for the PPW and are more than willing to answer any questions or concerns you may have about submitting. We are located in H&SS 112 and are open Mon-Thurs 9-6 and Fri 9-2. We observe all campus holidays and are closed on weekends, but feel free to leave us a post on our Facebook wall at USC Aiken Writing Room.