Guidelines for your Portfolio

What goes into it?

Title page
Include a photo of yourself, if you like, and other graphic elements, like the Baker Hall window, other architectural elements from the university, the logo, etc. Play with the appearance of the title page.

Table of Contents
Include an Overview (see below), and eight pieces of work you prepared for class, along with up to three revisions (see below).

Sequential numbering of pages.
Number the pages sequentially throughout, so that your Overview (see below) can reference individual items by page number.

An Overview (1000 words).
Introduce the reader to your portfolio. Discuss the scope of the course and briefly describe each assignment you have included. Make the reader understands how the individual assignments fit into the larger structure of the course. Consider the course as a whole and write a few paragraphs that tell the reader what you learned from this course. You can refer to specific ideas you thought meaningful, skills you developed, valuable perspectives you gained, or how you think history can best inform policy. Make this a personal, but formal statement.

Revisions.
Include up to three revisions of work you have already submitted. With each revision, include a copy of the original draft and place a covering note of no more than 150 words in front of each revision. The note should tell the reader what you hoped to achieve in your revision that you didn't succeed in doing as well in your earlier draft.

Binding.
For your portfolio, we would like you to use a black, one inch, insertable Samsill three ring binder, on sale in the University Shoppe for four dollars. This binder has clear plastic overlays on the front cover and the spine. Insert a copy of your title page under the front cover and insert a strip of paper with a shortened title and your name in the plastic covering the spine.

Who is this for?
Make it good enough to show a prospective employer, and a parent, friend or spouse who wants to know more about how you are spending your time.