Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to complete the Writing Portfolio (WP)?
Albion College believes that writing proficiency is an important part of a liberal arts education. In order to graduate from Albion, all students must demonstrate college writing proficiency; the Writing Portfolio (WP) is one option for students to demonstrate this proficiency. For more information, see the Writing Proficiency Requirement in the Academic Catalog.
Do not confuse the Writing Portfolio with the SOAR English Placement Test: these are separate evaluations, and your results on one have no bearing on the other.
When should I complete the WP?
Upon reaching junior status or 16 to 24 credits, any student who has not yet fulfilled the writing proficiency requirement will be automatically registered for and required to complete the WP during their junior year. Students will receive information about their scheduled submission one month prior to the submission date.
In addition, students planning to study off campus during their junior year may fulfill their writing proficiency requirement either before the semester they will participate in their program, or immediately after that program, pending approval of Professor Danit Brown, whom they can contact at [emailprotected].
What happens if I have not passed the WP by the end of my junior year?
Students who have completed 16 to 24 units, but who have not fulfilled the writing proficiency requirement (WPR) will be automatically registered for a WP submission date, and they will receive an email notifying them of this.
If a student does not complete the WPR by the end of their final semester at Albion College, they will not be able to graduate until they submit and pass the WP.
Transfer students who have completed 16 units or more (including transfer courses) should review the Writing Proficiency Requirement in the Academic Catalog to learn how the WP policies apply to their particular situation.
What happens if I fail the WP?
It is very unlikely that you will fail the Writing Portfolio, especially if you schedule a consultation at the Writing Center and/or meet with Professor Danit Brown or Dr. Angela Zito to go over a draft ahead of time.
If you do fail in your initial submission, you will receive feedback on your work, and you will be asked to revise that work and resubmit it at a later WP submission date.
Again, we strongly encourage you to attend a consultation at the Writing Center or schedule a meeting with Prof. Brown or Dr. Zito BEFORE submitting your portfolio. You can reach Danit Brown at [emailprotected] and Dr. Angela Zito at [emailprotected].
What are the WP dates for the academic year?
There are multiple submission deadlines for the Writing Portfolio evaluation – see the schedule.
What are the logistics of the WP?
- You will be notified via email of your scheduled submission deadline for the WP one month in advance.
- You will develop a draft of your portfolio and receive feedback on that draft from Professor Danit Brown, the Director of Writing Consulting (Dr. Angela Zito), or an appointment with the Writing Center.
- You will submit your portfolio on the Moodle Writing Portfolio page by 11:59 p.m. on the day of your scheduled submission deadline.
- You will receive your results within one month of submitting your WP.
When are students notified of their test results?
Students are generally sent their results one month after the submission deadline. Results will be sent to your Albion College email address.
Where do I get more information?
For more information, review the English Department WP webpages and the Academic Catalog. If you still have questions after reviewing this information, contact Professor Danit Brown at [emailprotected].